Fort Smith, AR

[bchris02]

I wanted to ask a question to see what people think. For quite a while Arkansas has really pushed to land a major plant at a 'supersite' at Marion. Although that's never really come about they have attracted some companies to locate to that area. But I was wondering if people from Ft Smith feel left out. Do people think that perhaps the state should better represent Ft Smith? Should the state try to locate a major plant around Ft Smith? I think most of us know the state has been pushing Marion because it's in a rather economically depressed area of the state. But maybe Ft Smith would be a more attractive location to some companies. I've never heard anyone complain. Are there any forward thinking people that would try to set up a 'supersite' around Ft Smith? Perhaps one of the problems is the city not showing enough leadership. I don't think you can rely on the state to do everything. Especially if the city doesn't make much of an effort to get things started. I admit I'm not very knowledgeable about Ft Smith, but it's the general impression I've gotten. Ft Smith is growing and it's not all gloom and doom. I just think sometimes it gets overlooked because of the success of NWA. But I've still had a hard time seeing the city make much of an effort aside from the US Marshall's Museum. I see some early signs of problems that hit Pine Bluff several decades ago and now look at it. I can't say Ft Smith will end up like Pine Bluff, but I think it would be foolish to simply dismiss it also.

[ShiggyRye]

The people of Ft. Smith would not want such a development here. They have already tried to bring in a Toyota plant, an IBM plant, and countless ameneties and the city and its leaders just said NO. The US Marshall's Museum fits in well with the history and heritage of this town, so that is why it was fought for. There are 2 major reasons such a development would not be welcomed with open arms in Ft. Smith.

#1. While the chamber of commerce is pro-growth, the mayor and city administrators along with a HUGE segment of the population are very anti-growth and don't want to see change of any kind.

#2. It would not be in the best interest of the manufacturing plants already here. Ft. Smith employers pay much lower than employers do in most places, and if new jobs were to come in and offer higher wages, they would be forced to increase their wages to compete.

[Russell0931]

One of my pet peeves about Ft. Smith is the way people drive here. On I-540 in NWA, you have a lot of speeders pushing 80-85. In Ft. Smith, most people drive at least 10 mph UNDER the speed limit! The traffic flows at about 50-55 and if you go the speed limit, you pass everybody like they are sitting still. Do these people not know how to push the accelerator?

[ridtinten]

I was kind of wondering the same thing....it seems like every time he posts something...it is to dog fort smith...like i've said in other forums...im stuck in KC for the next few years....but im counting down the days until i can move back to fort smith....home sweet home...

[bchris02]

LOL!!! You are really having to dig deep now...What's next, you don't like the way the moon looks in Fort Smith...It's probably much rounder and cleaner in NWA right...

Edited September 26, 2007 by bchris02

[ShiggyRye]

You seem to just want to attack me personally but you don't know me or know my circumstances or anything.

EVERYBODY I know who has moved to Ft. Smith from another metro comments about the slow drivers when they first arrive until they get used to it. Slow drivers are probably typical of retirement communities in general, not just Ft. Smith.

About the casino, if the Chamber of Commerce and the council both support it, why have opponents been so successful in getting it blocked?

[bchris02]

What will it take to overcome that? Just have a bigger voice than them. If we have a bigger voice than them maybe they'll eventually concede majority rule.

Edited September 28, 2007 by bchris02

[ShiggyRye]

So I was driving down Rogers Ave. today and saw that Hollywood Video is closing it's doors.

[tim2462]

You seem to just want to attack me personally but you don't know me or know my circumstances or anything.

EVERYBODY I know who has moved to Ft. Smith from another metro comments about the slow drivers when they first arrive until they get used to it. Slow drivers are probably typical of retirement communities in general, not just Ft. Smith.

About the casino, if the Chamber of Commerce and the council both support it, why have opponents been so successful in getting it blocked?

Edited October 1, 2007 by tim2462

[bchris02]

LMAO...dude...if you don't like Fort Smith, you have your right to that opinion. However, many of the things you say make no sense and have no basis in reality. Fort Smith is not a retirement community. The median age is 35...that is far from being in the range of a retirement community. Bella Vista and Hot Springs Village are retirement communities. The median age in Hot Springs Village is 67. So, there is a huge difference. Fort Smith is a vibrant, growing city with a median age of 35. Please don't try passing your opinions off as fact.

Edited October 2, 2007 by bchris02

[tim2462]

I stand corrected. Even if its not a true retirement community, Ft. Smith has the air of one because of its old-fashioned image and much slower pace of life.

Edited October 2, 2007 by tim2462

[bchris02]

I forgot to mention that a few weeks ago Staples finally opened up in Ft. Smith. This has been the biggest thing (besides job loss) to happen here in years. Rumor has it that Circuit City will be coming back as well, locating over by the new Target shopping center if it ever gets off the ground.

[bchris02]

Here are some pics I have had of the downtown area of Ft. Smith I decided I would post.

[Mith242]

Cool, thanks for the pics. In a few I recognize the locations. But a number look like areas I've never been to.

[ShiggyRye]

Well, I just finished with half of my major update to Fort Smith's wikipedia entry

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Smith%2C_Arkansas

[ShiggyRye]

Something new in Fort Smith.....

Central mall is prepping for an expansion.....the largest enclosed mall in Arkansas is set to get bigger

[bchris02]

Something new in Fort Smith.....

Central mall is prepping for an expansion.....the largest enclosed mall in Arkansas is set to get bigger

Edited January 10, 2008 by bchris02

[ShiggyRye]

Not a lot...I just know that it is supposed to be on the south end of the building....other than that not a whole lot has been mentioned to me....that and they are pushing for more national and upscale chains....

[Mith242]

I guess I didn't realize it was the biggest enclosed mall in Arkansas. For some reason I thought McCain Mall in NLR was the largest.

[Russell0931]

Any details on what this expansion will include? For the largest mall in the state, I've always thought it was very weak in its offerings. An expansion is much needed. NWA Mall and the new Mall at Turtle Creek blow it away.

[bchris02]

As usual I have to disagree with you...I have been to NWA mall many times and in fact worked at JC Penney there in 1998 while I was in school. The NWA mall has nothing to offer that Central Mall does not. Plus the mall is much narrower and is hard to get around in especially around the food court. Don't know about the outdoor mall in Rogers

Edited January 10, 2008 by bchris02

[ShiggyRye]

Aldo Shoes

Banana Republic

Charlotte Russe

Express

Eddie Bauer

Gap/GapKids

FYE

Disney Store

Talbot's

Gymboree

Hounstooth

Spencers Gifts

New York and Company

Major top tier stores that are in NWA mall but not in Central. That isn't even mentioning the better food court offerings NWA mall has and just the overall higher class feel to the mall. Central has come a long ways from where it was just a few years ago though.

The Promenade in Rogers is an upscale mall in a league even above NWA mall, and craps on just about everything else in the state.

[bchris02]

Charlotte Rouse is about to open...we've had a houndstooth for years now...and we don't have Talbot's in Central mall cause it's right up the street.

Edited January 10, 2008 by bchris02

[Russell0931]

Even if you don't count those three, there are still plenty that NWA mall has that Central does not. Russell said there was nothing that NWA mall offered that wasn't in Central, which is absolutely not true. NWA mall is in a league above Central and yet still below Pinnacle Hills Promenade.

[bchris02]

ok...literally speaking there are actually some stores in the NWA Mall that are not in Central Mall...just like Central Mall has some stores that NWA Mall does not like Candy Craze, Champs, Coach House gifts, DEB, Hibbett Sports, Lilly pad, Limited Too, Maurices, Revelations, Rue 21 Sixth Scents, Spirit Zone Waldenbooks, the Woodsman...My point is that there is not any reason to travel to NWA Mall just to shop there instead of Centrall Mall unless you want a Mickey Mouse toy. Now the Rogers mall is different and I can see going there for the different experience, but still it's main anchors are Penneys and Dillards. Sure they may have a few stores that Fort Smith does not, but it's not like they have Macy's, Parisian, or Bloomingdales up there.

Edited January 11, 2008 by bchris02