CentralArkansas

I'll do my best not to be rude -- but this is the attitude that makes people from the central part of the state roll their eyes at NWA-ites. [And don't mistake my username for a bitter person from Little Rock... I made the choice to relocate to Fayetteville several years ago and love it] Within half a mile of the Marriott in LR: - six hotels (including the nicest hotel in the region) - three performing arts centers/theaters (including one that can host the much larger traveling Broadway shows such as Wicked that the WAC can't host) - River Market Pavilion (which hosts a variety of outdoor events including the state's largest farmer's market) - An outdoor amphitheater that hosts concerts for up to 8,000 people - more fine dining than is available than in the entire city of Fayetteville - at least 15+ other restaurants (including some great options such as Bosco's, Copper Grill, etc) - more bars/clubs than you need in a .5 mile radius - The Clinton Library -- which beyond just the exhibits hosts all kinds of speakers from across the country/world - The main branch of the Little Rock library system - Multiple large white collar/tech companies (Stephens, Acxiom, Crews, etc) - At least two other museums (Discovery, Historic Arkansas) And that doesn't account for the fact that most of that radius includes the river, nor does it include any of the momentum that is going on Main Street and I'm sure other things that didn't come to top of mind. Downtown Little Rock at night? Get out and walk around it sometime....it'll surprise you. I know the "scared of their shadow" folks up here in their bubble see Little Rock as some kind of failed state where your women get raped and the men get shot....it's not. It has its crime issues -- just as every mid-size city or larger in the south does -- but unless you are looking for trouble, odds are you won't find it.

This is an interesting point, and probably deserves its own topic. NWA is at quite the crossroads. The real estate fall out has pummeled the area and now Wal-Mart is moving to decentralize its operations. While it will still be a corporate behemoth, it's probably not going to contribute to any new growth. Wal-Mart has brought thousands upon thousands of talented people to the area. The question is, will these people stick around and become entrepreneurs and/or move to another company in the area? Or will they pickup and move to the next corporate job out of state?

No offense, but this makes me laugh. Comparing an ugly four lane that is bordered by fast food restaurants, and cross sectioned with streets that lead to strip malls and random housing developments to a place like Hillcrest? What sense does that make? Hillcrest has its own style of architecture, its residents typically lead a similar lifestyle, and heck, it's even known for its liberal political leanings. It does require an area more "worthy," if that's the word you want to use. Fayetteville has 70,000 residents. There is no reason for big city monikers like "midtown," and to be honest, if someone from NYC, Atlanta, etc was in Fayetteville they would undoubtedly snicker at the use of such a term for a college town. But, like I said, I digress. If you want to stick big city labels where they don't fit instead of letting a great town like Fayetteville develop it's own identity and own neighborhood designations, so be it.

Again...I'm not trying to be demeaning or insulting. I just want to be clear on that before I disagree with your post...I love NWA as much as the next guy. I chose to live here, after all... ...but, I find it patently absurd to say "midtown" in Fayetteville even remotely resembles a neighborhood like Hillcrest in Little Rock. It's just not true. What makes the area between Dickson and the mall a neighborhood? An unnattractive four lane street lined with chain restaurants (mostly fast food) with several cross streets that lead to random strip centers or residential areas? The area has no identity, continuity, or anything of the like. Hillcrest possesses all of thsoe. And I actually think using "midtown" is much more difficult than describing an intersection. It's not as if Fayetteville is a huge place and "midtown" narrows it down at all. Downstate doesn't bother me at all. After all....that is what it is. I also could understand someone referring to Dickson as "downtown," all though I much prefer just using "Dickson" itself to identify the area. It's the premier entertainment district in the state (and the region, in my opinion), and I like the "Dickson" label as opposed to the manilla "downtown" label. That's just me, though. It's just a pet peeve of mine, and I'm not really sure why. It just seems that some in the area want to pretend the area is something it's not. I don't get that. We have more than enough here to impress and trying to pretend like we're bigger or whatever, and trying to fit labels where they don't belong just doesn't make sense to me.

I think "by the mall" is a much more reasonable way to describe what people are calling "uptown." Uptown just seems ridiculous to me - considering there is no true "downtown" to counter "uptown." I guess it just hits a nerve for me, because the only thing I've found to even remotely dislike about NWA is some of the attitudes. And I would bet, and I could be very wrong (you know what they say about ASSuming), but I'd bet the same people that want to call parts of the city uptown are the same ones that chafe me. Just let Fayetteville (and NWA, for that matter) be what it is - a wonderful, different, growing college town. No need to use big-city monikers to describe parts of the city when it really doesn't fit. Anyway, just a mini-rant from me. Not a huge issue, but for some reason it's something that has always made me wince.

I'm certainly not trying to pick on you, but are people really referring to areas in Fayetteville as "midtown, uptown, downtown"? I really can't put my finger on it, but that drives me up the wall. I guess maybe because I'm originally from Little Rock and I even hesitated to use those terms there (except for downtown), but a town as small as Fayetteville especially doesn't have a true down/mid/uptown.

There is no doubt that more money needs to be diverted to the more populated areas. Sometimes I'll be driving a brand new back road in the boonies and wonder if there's even 500 cars that pass over it per day. I know NWA people get upset thinking that LR gets too much money for roads, but they are really shortchanged as well as NWA. The vast majority of the busiest inersections in the state are in LR and a lot need work. Anyway, it'd be nothing but a benefit for the state for NWA and LR to see increased funding. Also -- any updates on Garland?

I am glad they are growing slowly. UCA really stressed its infrastructure with their booming growth the last ten years. Professors sharing offices, students crammed into overcrowded classes, etc. The UofA has been getting their infrastructure in line first, THEN growing. Much better strategy.

I think the new counting procedures had a lot to do with it....but they've also gotten a TON of bad PR lately, in addition to having to cut their advertising budget because they are so short on cash (which I think needed to be cut anyway). Also, didn't they cap the % of monies that could be used for scholarships recently? I think it is a good thing that UCA's growth is slowing down. They need to do like the UA is doing....get the infrastructure in place first, and THEN grow. Lu was doing it backwards.

Sassy's looks really, really cool. I look forward to trying it. Also - I agree we need some kind of late-night food on Dickson. Just a waffle house type place, except local and much more aesthetically pleasing than waffle house. Maybe Sunrise cafe can fit the bill, but I do hate to give money to Tony C.

That seems to be one of those locations that nothing works in, for whatever reason. Same for the place that had the old Alligator Ray's in it.

Great to hear.

Which plan was approved and taken to LR?

It sounds like to me the state is open to a median, but Jordan isn't pushing it hard enough. When you are committing five million out of 6.5 million total for improvements on a STATE highway, you have a lot of leverage. And apparently Jordan doesn't understand that, and is going to get forced into something the people of Fayetteville don't want (again, despite the fact they are paying for it).

Any word on what they are going to do with Garland?

Nice hedge. You said nothing about perception. You said it was one of the most undesirable places to live in the entire country, which is completely beyond ignorant (and makes me think you haven't gotten outside of the 4 walls of your domicile much). Little Rock isn't Dallas. To compare it to Dallas is the height of stupidity. It is what it is: a great mid-sized southern city, that people who have been around a bit can recognize for the great place to live that it is. It's never going to be NYC, CHI, ATL, or anywhere else like that. And if it is, I'll quit listing it as a place I hope to settle down one day. I don't know of a city in the world that has a "focused, dynamic politcal leadership." Politicians, by definition, screw things up.

Probably the dumbest thing I've read on this board. If you really believe that about Little Rock, you HAVE to get out more.

All I needed to know to ensure I don't waste my time reading your posts from now on. Carry on...

There are less than 500,000 "black folk" in the entire state of Arkansas. There are about six MILLION simply in the city of Dallas, which is just as close to Fayetteville as many of those "black folk." I'm sure that has NOTHING to do with it. What do you want the UA to do, give free tuition to all blacks and punish the rest with even higher tuition? You sound like the racist to me. ....and it sounds like you should vote for your buddy Putin/Chavez/Castro in your next election.

Last time I checked, black students don't pay anymore than white (or any other color) students.

It's ugly. It's cool, I'll give you that. But the exterior is quite bland. It's as if you took the look of the average parking deck and applied it to a building. That's just my opinion; certainly you are much more qualified in this area than I. But I will say I've never heard anyone rave about the building....

Please, never use these words again. Little Rock > Jackson. And, it's not even close. It's like comparing Rosie Odonnell to Jessica Alba.

Surely you aren't suggesting they replicate Bell. That building is an abomination.

Like you said they aren't specific but it looks like the are going to do some cosmetic stuff (that's a technical term) to the outside of the deck facing Garland. I couldn't tell but I hope it looks nice -- that is an attractive road coming into campus and it would be a shame to screw it up with an awful parking deck like Harmon.

You need to realize those people you aren't "making friends" with live in your backyard. Both people (me and the other) that posted on this subject live in NWA. So, you're not only alienating the rest of the state but you are illustrating how ridiculous this idea is by seeing people that live here embarrassed by it. I'm glad this attitude is in the minority up here, because it's downright ridiculous. Of course it's different from the rest of the state, as EVERY area is different. But like I said earlier, if anyone should be trying to distance themselves it's LR distancing themselves from NWA and everyone else, not the other way around. This thought somehow think Midwestern = desirable perplexes me. I would say it's the exact opposite. The midwest to the rest of the country makes people think of vast, boring fly-over country they see between flights to NYC and LA. Southern makes people think of warm weather, pretty women, friendly people, and growing cities. Besides, who would you rather be associated with? Oklahoma? Kansas? Missouri? I think you'll find those states (excepting maybe Missouri) aren't exactly viewed favorably in the rest of the country. I love this area and the people in it, but some people need an old-fashioned reality check. Just like any area this place has it's problems. Infrastructure here is terrible, everything is extremely spread out, and vacancy rates for commercial and residential areas are out of this world. It's not exactly the flawless, utopia area that people think it is. NWA will only hurt itself with attitudes like this. If we ever want to fix our infrastructure, I would suggest you put these attitudes to bed so we don't alienate ourselves from the rest of the state. That money still goes through Little Rock and always will, and the people that decide it aren't ever going to come strictly from NWA.