Springdale to pursue district downtown

Master plan should render needed information

SPRINGDALE -- Officials are discussing a possible district for the downtown area that could help revitalization efforts.

The city and the Downtown Springdale Alliance will soon begin work on a plan for the area, said Mayor Doug Sprouse. The plan will produce information needed to create a district.

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Sprouse said they haven't decided what type of district it will be. It could range from an overlay district to an improvement district or a downtown district, all of which have different requirements.

Downtown already has a district requiring property be zoned commercial, said Patsy Christie, city director of planning and community development. The boundaries are Shiloh Street to the west, the railroad tracks to the east, Johnson Avenue to the north and Meadow Avenue to the south. The area is small and would need to be expanded.

Establishing a district downtown could attract more people and businesses, Sprouse said. It could also ensure quality development and enhance and protect property values.

"This is not about restricting development," he said. "It's about helping development."

Many challenges and aspects of the downtown area would need to be addressed, Sprouse said. Food trucks and parking are examples.

Sprouse said there's no timeline to create the district, but he hopes they will have something in place in a year.

Officials with the city and alliance are working to revitalize Emma Avenue and the surrounding area.

The Razorback Regional Greenway, which goes through the area, will open in May, Sprouse said. The first part of Walter Turnbow Park will be finished before then.

Shop owners are anticipating an increased number of people downtown and are taking the risk to open businesses there, Perry Webb, president of the Springdale Chamber of Commerce, said in December. Officials estimate about 80,000 people will get off the greenway in Springdale every year, and that number could increase over time.

Tyson officials announced Jan. 23 the company will open its employment center and company store at 516 E. Emma Ave. this summer. The center will have 25 employees and bring a stream of job applicants downtown, Linda Wray, Tyson's vice president of compensation and recognition, said at the time.

Sprouse said he hopes downtown Springdale becomes a place where residents spend time with their families. He said he hopes there will be leisure, shopping and events.

Discussion about a district downtown comes after 2½ years of work on an overlay district in the southwest region of the city, Sprouse said.

The Planning Commission approved the addition of the Ballpark/Southwest Springdale District Overlay at Tuesday's meeting. The borders of the overlay would be Sunset Avenue to the north, Interstate 49 to the east, Arkansas 112 or the city boundary to the west and 660 feet south of Don Tyson Parkway for the southern border, Christie said at the meeting.

Aldermen will vote on the overlay at the City Council Committee meeting Feb. 16 and again at the City Council meeting Feb. 24, Christie said at Tuesday's meeting.

NW News on 02/05/2015

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