ROGERS — The Meadow Park Apartments, 840 N. 16th St., may get a remodel if an Arkansas Development Finance Authority grant is approved later this year.
Aldermen approved Tuesday a resolution supporting The Park Companies in Madison, Miss., in its quest for the grant.
Cliff Bates, managing partner of Park Companies, said the company needs council support to improve the chances of getting the grant.
“We have to have the grant application in by Feb. 3, but it will be June before we know if we received the grant,” Bates said.
If the grant is approved, Bates said his company plans to buy the complex.
Web Watch
State Of The City
To read the text of Mayor Greg Hines’ state of the city address, go to www.nwaonline.com/d…
At A Glance
Rogers City Council
Rogers’s City Council met Tuesday and approved:
A $28,681 contract with Presidio Networked Solutions to buy 10GM modules for the city’s computer network.
Selling six Ford Crown Victorias by the Police Department.
Spending $159,779 to buy four police vehicles, with equipment installed, from Nunnally Chevrolet in Bentonville.
Changes in the schedule of uses in the zoning ordinance.
A $60,000 contract with Main Street Rogers for services for downtown revitalization.
Source: Staff Report
“Then we will update and rehab every apartment in the complex with new appliances, carpets, fixtures and paint,” Bates said.
The apartment complex will continue to serve low-income families, and the rent will remain the same after the remodel, Bates said.
Jeannette Heithold, complex manager, said she isn’t too concerned about the possibility of the sale or remodeling of the apartments.
“Over the years, there have been other companies that said they were going to buy the apartments, but deals were never completed. This could be just one more attempt that may or may not happen,” Heithold said.
The apartments are owned by Associated Management in Little Rock, Heithold said. The complex was built in 1972 through a Department of Housing and Urban Development program.
“The apartments are still in pretty good shape. We had new windows installed last year, and the property has been maintained,” she said.
“We haven’t said anything to the residents about the possible sale of the apartments because we won’t know anything until summer, and we don’t want to upset some of the residents, especially the elderly,” Heithold said.
Mayor Greg Hines also delivered his state of the city address during the council meeting.
“I am happy to report that sales tax collections have continued to rise for the last three years after dipping during the economic downturn. Collections were up 8 percent in 2013. I expect 2014 is going to be a very exciting year in Rogers,” Hines said.
Major projects for 2014 include beginning Lake Atalanta revitalization, creating a plan for downtown development, building soccer fields at Veterans Park and widening of Monte Ne Road between New Hope Road and Gum Street, Hines said.
He said the success of the aquatic center was bigger than anyone could have imagined.
“Last year I said the opening of the aquatics center would serve thousands of visitors and, boy, did it ever. The park took in more than $1 million. The funds, over and above the cost of running the park, have been set aside with the hopes of future expansion,” Hines said.
He also highlighted the accomplishment of each city department and relayed some of the goals for this year during the speech.