FAYETTEVILLE — The development team behind several new apartment complexes in town is eyeing land on Dickson Street where the Divinity Hotel was planned.
Seth Mims, a partner and president of Specialized Real Estate Group, confirmed Friday the Fayetteville-based company has approached several property owners about buying land south of Dickson Street between Block and Church avenues.
Mims wouldn't discuss which property owners have been approached or if any properties are under contract.
At A Glance
Specialized Real Estate Group Projects
• Eco Modern Flats, a 96-bedroom apartment complex at 130 S. Hill Ave., opened in 2011. Bob Dant, a Portland, Ore., real estate investor contributed to the project.
• The 637-bedroom Sterling Frisco apartments for university students are scheduled to open this fall west of West Avenue between Lafayette and Maple streets. The Dinerstein Companies of Houston invested in the project.
• Demolition has begun on property south of Center Street between Duncan and Harmon avenues. A 471-bedroom complex is slated for completion by fall 2014. Capstone Development Partners of Birmingham, Ala., is the lead equity investor.
• The Planning Commission’s subdivision committee this month approved modifications to a 640-bedroom complex on Lafayette Street next to the University Baptist Church. Commissioners first approved plans in January 2012 and construction is to begin in February or March.
Modus Studio of Fayetteville has designed all of the projects.
Source: Staff Report
“We always keep conversations with landowners confidential,” he said.
Mims said development plans haven't been put together, but he envisions apartments, not condos, with possible commercial space along Dickson Street.
“We’re in the business of building great multifamily communities in great locations,” Mims said. “This is a great location.
“Dickson Street is known for being fun, and Block Street is known for being funky. You could say that this site is the corner of fun and funky in Fayetteville. We’ve been convinced that it’s the best site for a multi-family community in Fayetteville for some time.”
Nina Shirkey, who owns a house at 229 N. Block Ave., said last week Mims has called her. Shirkey said Mims didn't make her an offer. She added, she’s not willing to sell. “There are things more important than money,” Shirkey said.
Shirkey was born in the house where GoodFolk Productions concerts were held. She returned about a year ago after receiving a master’s degree in historic preservation from the University of Oregon. She is restoring the early 1900s house her mother, Sylvia Stewart, owned.
Shirkey said she’s concerned about developers’ ability to build right up to her property line. The zoning district where her house is allows up to 84-foot buildings.
Shirkey said she wants to work with developers and city officials to ensure adequate setbacks from her house.
“I’m not naive. I know there will be development,” she said. “My shock was that I didn’t have protection for a single-family home.”
Mims said Shirkey’s unwillingness to sell isn't a deal-breaker.
“We are acutely aware of the character of that area, and any development proposal that we would bring forth would complement that character,” he said. “(Shirkey) and Specialized (Real Estate Group) share a very deep affection for that house on Block.
“Whatever we wind up proposing — should we get that far — is most definitely going to treat that house as the gem that it is.”
Jeremy Pate, city development services director, said Friday his office hasn't received any plans for the property.
Shirkey’s father, Mike Shirkey, who owns GoodFolk Productions, filed a lawsuit with Peter Tooker in August 2006 opposing the Divinity Hotel & Condos, a 15-story mixed-use development proposed by Brandon Barber. The City Council approved the project in July 2006. Barber’s company, The Barber Group, abandoned the development the following year.
Dickson Street and Church Development LLC bought five parcels along Dickson Street, Church Avenue and Block Avenue from the First State Bank of Northwest Arkansas in April 2010 for $1.35 million, according to Washington County property records. Shirkey’s house is just south of one of the parcels.
Dickson Street and Church Development is owned by brothers Haitham, Sam and Essa Alley, Haitham Alley said Friday. Sam Alley owns VCC Construction in Little Rock and was a partner in renovating the Chancellor Hotel on East Avenue.
Alley said Friday he was prevented by a confidentiality agreement from discussing plans for his family’s Dickson Street property.
“We are not set on one thing there,” he added. “There’s a lot of interest in the property.”
Matthew Petty, Ward 2 alderman, said last week he’s heard others are interested.
“I know for a fact there’s another person in California looking at the property,” Petty said. “He’s ready to jump on it if this deal doesn’t go through.”
Other properties south of Shirkey’s house are owned by Fayetteville Telephone Answering Service, McClinton Enterprises and D, MC & W, a company registered to Lynn Wade of Fayetteville.
Frank Riner, owner of Fayetteville Telephone Answering Service, said Friday he was approached about selling his property, but he wouldn’t say by whom.
Wade and Mike Driver, listing agent for the McClinton Enterprises property, didn't return phone messages Friday.