The bad economy and the lack of a game plan is slowing down development around Arvest Ballpark, home of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
The bad economy and the lack of a game plan is slowing down development around Arvest Ballpark, home of the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Class AA; Texas League).
Springdale (Ark.) officials were briefed on the lack of development plans yesterday, as Dallas-based Charles Hodges of Hodges and Associates Architecture made an argument for a coordinated development plan for a 1,000-acre, mixed-use campus clustered south of U. S. 412 along 56th Street. Development in the area was touted as a prime reason for taxpayers picking up the costs of the $50-million Arvest Ballpark, but so far there’s nothing in the general area of the ballpark.
While development is always a speculative endeavor, in this case the bad economy is also slowing thingsa down. The plan now isn’t to pursue pure retail in a traditional mall setting, but rather a unique mixed-use development that could include a medical clinic, a nontraditional big-box retailer like Ikea, or a performing-arts center. The consensus: a development plan with commitments from local landowners.
Still, with the economy in the tank, development in the area is going to be a challenge. And until the uptick happens, the cows patrolling the pastures across the street from the ballpark are going to be safe.