BENTONVILLE — The revamped Midtown Shopping Center is one step closer to reality after the Planning Commission approved a large-scale development plan for the center on Tuesday.
Developers could start work on the project as early as May, according to Troy Galloway, director of community development. The center just northwest of the downtown square houses Harps Foods and several retail stores and offices. It will be razed to make way for the new development.
At A Glance
Planning Commission Officers
The Bentonville Planning Commission elected officers for 2013 at Tuesday’s meeting. New officers are:
• Chairman — Debi Havner
• Vice chairman — Pat Carroll
• Secretary — Joe Thompson
Source: Staff Report
The three-story center will include a Walmart Neighborhood Market, retail and office space and a parking garage, Troy Davis, city planner, told commissioners.
“This is a great project,” Galloway said. “It’s a good one to start the year off with.”
Construction will begin first on the 253-space parking garage, which will be in the northwest corner of the development along Northwest A Street. Once complete, the garage will act as a staging area for the remaining project, Galloway said.
The 31,555-square-foot Neighborhood Market will be constructed next on the northeast side along North Main Street. The market and parking garage will sit behind two buildings that front Northwest Second Street, each housing 20,000 square feet of office space on the second and third floors.
The east building will have 8,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floors, while the west building will provide 5,500 square feet of retail, according to agenda documents.
Developer Walton’s 5&10 Cent Stores will build sidewalks made of brick pavers consistent with current downtown sidewalks. On-street parking will be added along Northwest Second Street and North Main Street.
Architectural renderings show buildings that are predominantly brick, with tall windows covered with awnings. Trees will be planted every 30 feet around the development.
Galloway said the building’s appearance will fit with the current vibe downtown.
“That’s the thing I take the most pride in,” he said. “They have been very conscientious and asking us about our plans and design standards. It fits very well with want we want to see.”
Downtown Bentonville Inc. has said they are working with business owners with space in the current shopping center to find them alternate locations downtown during construction. Harp’s Foods is nearing completion of a new store on North Walton Boulevard. The store is set to open in the spring.