SPRINGDALE — The City Council will consider a change in the plans for street improvements that could demolish a former alderman’s house.
Ray Dotson’s house, at the corner of Raymond Drive and Don Tyson Parkway, would have to be removed to improved a dangerous intersection. The view of people leaving Hamm Lane, the next street west of Raymond Drive, is blocked by a retaining wall created by a curve in the street. The new design would reduce the curve but take out Dotson’s house on the north side of the parkway.
“It’s a safety issue,” said Jim Reed, alderman. “We really don’t have a choice.”
Dotson said he offered the house to the city twice before but was turned down.
“I’ve changed my mind. I want to keep it now,” Dotson said.
This will be the third time that section of the parkway, which formerly was Oaklawn Avenue, was improved. It was widened to three lanes about 10 to 15 years ago, then the curve was added when parkway was completed in 2009 as a southern east-to-west corridor.
“They created the blind spot when Don Tyson was built,” Dotson said. “The road should have gone straight instead of curving.”
The curve was added to take the corridor north of the Timber Ridge development.
The improvement would widen the section of Don Tyson Parkway between Carley and 40th Street from three lanes to five. The rest of the parkway is at least four lanes wide.
The only way to improve the sight lines is to cut away the bank on the north side of the parkway, said Brad Bruns.
“I asked the engineers if the foundation for Mr. Dotson’s house would be safe if so much would be cut away,” Bruns said. “They said they couldn’t guarantee it would be safe.”
The new plans move the parkway about 20 feet north. That would put a sidewalk through Dotson’s living room.
Dotson said he would consider going to court to stop losing his house.
“We can let a man in a black robe decide,” Dotson said. “I’m tired of the uncertainty of knowing what the city will do.”
The city would have a public input session Monday to see what people thought of the change, said Alan Pugh, director of the city Engineering Department.