Springdale Revitalization Plan Phases Approved

Proposal Includes Razing Buildings, Closing Street

SPRINGDALE — Downtown Springdale Alliance recommended Monday closing Mill Street and demolishing two buildings on its east side as the first phase in revitalizing downtown.

At A Glance

Downtown Springdale Plan

The phases were approved by the Downtown Alliance but money to carry out the plan must be approved by City Council.

Phase I(A)

• Purchase and remove buildings on the east side of Mill Street between Emma and Johnson avenues.

• Close Mill Street between Emma and Johnson.

• Create a park-like setting in that area for the Razorback Greenway.

• Complete traffic and parking studies.

Phase I(B)

• Provide adequate water flow through Spring Creek.

Phase II(A)

• Uncap Spring Creek between Johnson and Meadow avenues.

Phase II(B)

• Complete a downtown streetscap.

Source: Downtown Springdale Alliance

The alliance, a group formed to lead redevelopment efforts, voted Monday to set priorities to carry out the city’s Downtown Revitalization Master Plan. The City Council approved the plan July 9.

The first phase approved included purchasing the two buildings — 100 E. Emma Ave. and 125 Mill St. — for demolition. The street would be closed to allow a park-like setting for the Razorback Greenway, according to the plan.

The greenway is a regional trail that will go through downtown Springdale. The 38-mile trail will stretch from Fayetteville to Bentonville.

The 100 E. Emma Ave. property, also called the Wilson Building, is owned by Metropolitan Bank, according to Washington County property records. It is appraised at $234,500.

The 125 Mill St. property, known as the orange building because of its color, is owned by Mario and Celia Villa, according to county property records. Its appraised value is $119,800.

City officials have been negotiating with the property owners, said Mayor Doug Sprouse. Purchasing the property will require city money and approval by the council, Sprouse said.

“The sooner those buildings come down, the better off we are,” said Walter Turnbow, a member of the alliance.

The plan calls for creating a park-like atmosphere along the trail. The trail follows Spring Creek, which would be used as a water feature for the development. A big concern is having enough water in the creek during the summer to keep a flow.

Chris Weiser, an alliance member and chairman of the Springdale Water and Sewer Commission, said commissioners are investigating ways to keep water flowing in the creek. One proposal, he said, is recirculating water in the creek by pumping it from below the output of the city’s sewage treatment plan.

That plan hit snags, Weiser said.

“It could affect future water treatment permits,” Weiser said.

Other methods are being explored, he said.

“I have confidence we’ll have water in the creek,” Weiser said.

The city Water Utilities Department did a water flow test in the creek earlier this month, Weiser said. A 300-gallon per minute flow raised the water level in the creek, he said.

“That was after 26 days of no rain,” Weiser said.

A flow of 1,000 gallons per minute was also tried. That flow brought out animals sleeping in the creek, Weiser said, including a family of raccoons.

Perry Webb, Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer and alliance member, suggested traffic and parking studies should be part of the first phase of the plan.

“Property owners would be a lot more comfortable if they knew what the traffic flows were, how they would go and where the parking would be,” Webb said.

Those plans, with an estimated cost of $50,000, were moved up on the timetable. If price negotiation for buying the two building are successful, the council could discuss the purchase at its Aug. 5 committee meeting, Sprouse said.

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