3392 replies to this topic

[Mith242]

I noticed today that it looks like some of those old businesses near the intersection of Mt Comfort and Garland are now being torn down.  Has anyone heard if the city might be getting around to widening Garland anytime soon?  Last I had heard a while back ago is that the city had put it on the back-burner because of the economic downturn.  I never heard any timetable on when the project might start up.  Not sure if this might be a sign something might happen soon or if someone just decided to tear down the buildings to keep people out of them and vandalizing them.

[aerotive]

There's a story in the paper today about it:

"The state plans to tear that building down by the end of January, said Randy Ort, public information coordinator for the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department."

"In the spring, workers will begin moving utility lines underneath Garland Avenue. After that, the state will award a contract to begin widening the road, set to begin next fall."

http://www.nwaonline...wa-fayetteville

Edited by aerotive, 17 December 2011 - 09:42 AM.

[Mith242]

aerotive, on 17 December 2011 - 09:42 AM, said:

There's a story in the paper today about it:

"The state plans to tear that building down by the end of January, said Randy Ort, public information coordinator for the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department."

"In the spring, workers will begin moving utility lines underneath Garland Avenue. After that, the state will award a contract to begin widening the road, set to begin next fall."

http://www.nwaonline...wa-fayetteville

Thanks.  Yeah I noticed the media picked up on the story after I had posted that.    It will also be nice to see some powerlines going underground.

[countrylivin']

Does anyone know what's going on at the old sale barn location? It's been fenced, the barn is gone and they're moving alot of dirt.

[strmchsr77]

countrylivin, on 06 February 2012 - 03:54 PM, said:

Does anyone know what's going on at the old sale barn location? It's been fenced, the barn is gone and they're moving alot of dirt.

I believe it will be an apartment/student housing complex.

[zman9810]

Here's a link to the sale barn apartments. http://gogrove.com/

[Mith242]

zman9810, on 06 February 2012 - 05:34 PM, said:

Here's a link to the sale barn apartments. http://gogrove.com/

Thanks for the link.  

[Mith242]

News of this came out a little while back.  Although mayors of both Fayetteville and Ft Smith have recently been addressing it.  Both Fayetteville and Ft Smith will be working together on things like transportation.  Makes sense because projects like I-49 will affect both areas.  Most of the bigger transportation developments would probably have some sort of affect on each metro.  Although you'd think both metros would have already been working together on things like I-49.  So I haven't figured out if this is a bit of hype for both candidates.  Or if they hadn't really been necessarily been working together on these issues already.

[zman9810]

Mith242, on 09 February 2012 - 04:12 PM, said:

News of this came out a little while back.  Although mayors of both Fayetteville and Ft Smith have recently been addressing it.  Both Fayetteville and Ft Smith will be working together on things like transportation.  Makes sense because projects like I-49 will affect both areas.  Most of the bigger transportation developments would probably have some sort of affect on each metro.  Although you'd think both metros would have already been working together on things like I-49.  So I haven't figured out if this is a bit of hype for both candidates.  Or if they hadn't really been necessarily been working together on these issues already.

Regional cooperation and all is great but I agree that this is just for publicity. There's not much  the individual mayors are going to do that is going to change things- it is just election year and this was a good chance to make a positive appearance in the news.

[zman9810]

So....the new 600 seat Walton Arts Center facilty in Fayetteville will be built on the university campus. Although it isn't completely clear it sounds like it will simply be a renovation of the Old Fieldhouse into a concert hall. I'm not even sure what the Old Fieldhouse is- surely they aren't talking about the former gym/ museum??? If so, it is quite the slap in the face for the city of Fayetteville. Stay tuned for more details..........

and here are more details straight from the WAC "This extended study revealed that a 600+ seat music venue could be built by renovating the Old Fieldhouse on the UA campus. This facility would better meet UA needs, and meet WAC needs by opening up space in Baum Walker Hall. In addition, the renovation project would be more cost effective than building a brand new venue."

Edited by zman9810, 21 February 2012 - 07:40 PM.

[thewizard16]

zman9810, on 21 February 2012 - 07:33 PM, said:

So....the new 600 seat Walton Arts Center facilty in Fayetteville will be built on the university campus. Although it isn't completely clear it sounds like it will simply be a renovation of the Old Fieldhouse into a concert hall. I'm not even sure what the Old Fieldhouse is- surely they aren't talking about the former gym/ museum??? If so, it is quite the slap in the face for the city of Fayetteville. Stay tuned for more details..........

and here are more details straight from the WAC "This extended study revealed that a 600+ seat music venue could be built by renovating the Old Fieldhouse on the UA campus. This facility would better meet UA needs, and meet WAC needs by opening up space in Baum Walker Hall. In addition, the renovation project would be more cost effective than building a brand new venue."

The old fieldhouse is indeed the former gym turned planetary sciences department/museum. I don't see the city of Fayetteville liking this at all- the way this was originally discussed was centered around an expansion on Dickson to increase the WAC presence there and keep the arts growing on Dickson, especially after they made a big show about considering Fayetteville's submission (which was the best reasoned and took the most effort on the part of the city) for the main WAC expansion only to quickly accept the Bentonville/Rogers proposal we were all afraid was a foregone conclusion. I know why the University would love for this to happen, and I bet they quietly pushed for this when they saw the opportunity. That said I think it may be a bit short sighted for the UA to do that since they won't have as much control over the facility, or as much flexibility, as if they'd done with the old fieldhouse what they were planning/wanting to originally, so it may be a mixed bag in the long run for everyone involved.

[wmr]

Marlon Blackwell designed the expansion for the Montessori School that is underway right now.  This is on the edge of Colt Square, at Green Acres and Township.  I thought it might be of interest that Fayetteville is getting another Marlon Blackwell structure.

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[zman9810]

I imaginethe renovated  600 seat concert hall will be used almost exclusively by the university and they will have first say over whatever happens there. It will be WAC in name only if even that. It is likely that this was all privately understood long ago before the new facility in Bentonville was even announced.

I do wonder what will happen with plans for a parking deck and paid parking in the Dickson Street area. Without a new WAC facility there, a new WAC in Bentonville taking patrons away and less use of the current facility by university students it seems to take the pressure off for a deck. The money collected so far for paid parking could be used to improve the surface parking lots and doing away with paid parking would give a welcome shot in the arm to the Dickson Street economy.

Edited by zman9810, 22 February 2012 - 10:00 PM.

[wmr]

Some work is happening at the old Circuit City on Joyce.

[comreguy]

wmr, on 23 February 2012 - 01:08 PM, said:

Some work is happening at the old Circuit City on Joyce.

Mattress Firm has leased that property for a superstore.

[Mith242]

wmr, on 22 February 2012 - 07:43 PM, said:

Marlon Blackwell designed the expansion for the Montessori School that is underway right now.  This is on the edge of Colt Square, at Green Acres and Township.  I thought it might be of interest that Fayetteville is getting another Marlon Blackwell structure.

Cool, I hadn't heard about this.

zman9810, on 22 February 2012 - 09:59 PM, said:

I imaginethe renovated  600 seat concert hall will be used almost exclusively by the university and they will have first say over whatever happens there. It will be WAC in name only if even that. It is likely that this was all privately understood long ago before the new facility in Bentonville was even announced.

I do wonder what will happen with plans for a parking deck and paid parking in the Dickson Street area. Without a new WAC facility there, a new WAC in Bentonville taking patrons away and less use of the current facility by university students it seems to take the pressure off for a deck. The money collected so far for paid parking could be used to improve the surface parking lots and doing away with paid parking would give a welcome shot in the arm to the Dickson Street economy.

So far the city is still supporting the parking deck saying there was already need for one before all the talk about the WAC expansion even started.

[Mith242]

thewizard16, on 21 February 2012 - 10:41 PM, said:

The old fieldhouse is indeed the former gym turned planetary sciences department/museum. I don't see the city of Fayetteville liking this at all- the way this was originally discussed was centered around an expansion on Dickson to increase the WAC presence there and keep the arts growing on Dickson, especially after they made a big show about considering Fayetteville's submission (which was the best reasoned and took the most effort on the part of the city) for the main WAC expansion only to quickly accept the Bentonville/Rogers proposal we were all afraid was a foregone conclusion. I know why the University would love for this to happen, and I bet they quietly pushed for this when they saw the opportunity. That said I think it may be a bit short sighted for the UA to do that since they won't have as much control over the facility, or as much flexibility, as if they'd done with the old fieldhouse what they were planning/wanting to originally, so it may be a mixed bag in the long run for everyone involved.

Yeah I'm not sure what I think of this myself.  I keep hearing there's been a lot of support for this idea, but I'd have to think it's mainly from the U of A.  I can't see a lot of other people in Fayetteville being particularly excited about this.  What I'm trying to figure out is who's paying for this renovation?  I'm not going to go as far to say this is a bad idea.  But I can't say it's been sitting very well with me either.

[wmr]

Maybe the city will revive those plans for a hotel and retail at Dickson & West Ave.  That strip needs to be developed for Dickson to reach its fullest potential.

[Mith242]

wmr, on 23 February 2012 - 05:48 PM, said:

Maybe the city will revive those plans for a hotel and retail at Dickson & West Ave.  That strip needs to be developed for Dickson to reach its fullest potential.

True, although you would have thought having the additional WAC theater over there would have been more helpful in having a hotel locate right next door.  Granted if this goes through it won't be very far away.  Sorta just down the street.

[Mith242]

In other Fayetteville news.  Apparently we won't be losing out mail processing center to Little Rock.  The Postal Service decided to keep the Fayetteville facility open and it sounds like the Harrison facility will be consolidated into it.  As far as I know the Ft Smith is still also going to be consolidated into the one here.  I believe after all these consolidations the only processing facilities that will be left in the state will be Little Rock and Fayetteville.