Tyson Buys Another Building In Downtown Springdale

STAFF PHOTO ANTHONY REYES • @NWATONYR Tyson Foods Inc. purchased this building, seen Monday, at 516 E. Emma Ave. in Springdale. The previous tenant was Orschlen Farm & Home.
STAFF PHOTO ANTHONY REYES • @NWATONYR Tyson Foods Inc. purchased this building, seen Monday, at 516 E. Emma Ave. in Springdale. The previous tenant was Orschlen Farm & Home.

SPRINGDALE -- Tyson Foods Inc.'s purchase of a second building in downtown Springdale could help with revitalization and a larger flow of money into the area, according to officials.

The building is at 516 E. Emma Ave., three streets east of the railroad track. Layman Revocable Trust was the last owner of the property, and Orschlen Farm & Home was the last company to use it.

At A Glance

Previous Owners

• Tyson Shared Services Inc. purchased the property June 20.

• Layman Revocable Trust purchased the property July 14, 2006.

• W. Joe and Charlotte Layman purchased the property on Sept. 9, 1993.

• Scores Inc., a Nevada corporation, purchased the property on June 30, 1993.

• D.R. Partners, a Nevada general partnership, acquired the property on Sept. 1, 1992.

• Northwest Arkansas Publishing Co. Inc. acquired the property on Jan. 1, 1985.

• Donrey Inc., a Nevada corporation, acquired the property on July 1, 1982.

Source: Washington County Property Records

Tyson purchased the property for about $450,000 on June 20, according to Washington County property records. The building has 30,484 square feet of floor area and sits on 1.55 acres of land.

Dan Fogleman, senior public relations manager for Tyson, was in a meeting Monday afternoon, and did not provide information about the purchase by 4:30 p.m.

Tyson officials are discussing possible uses for the building, said Perry Webb, president of the Springdale Chamber of Commerce. He said he had heard some of the options under consideration but would not elaborate.

Tyson officials are basing their decisions not only on what is good for the company, but also what is good for the downtown area, Webb said. He called the purchase a "win-win" and said whatever Tyson officials do will be better than an empty building.

"Tyson has bought into downtown development," he said.

Tyson's involvement in downtown includes the recent purchase of a second building.

The Springdale City Council approved the sale of the Brown building at 317 E. Emma Ave. to Tyson last month. The building was one of the first chicken hatcheries in the city. The original Tyson Foods headquarters are next door at 319 E. Emma Ave.

In addition to property purchases, Tyson also donated $100,000 to help tear down buildings on Mill Street, said Lisa Ray, vice president of the Downtown Springdale Alliance. The buildings were removed to make room for the new Turnbow Park.

The purchase of buildings downtown could help attract other businesses to the area, which in turn could mean more sales tax money for the community, Ray said. The revitalization of downtown and the purchase of buildings there could attract more people to live in Springdale, which could mean an increase in property tax revenue.

"If you live in Springdale, you're more likely to eat and shop in Springdale," she said. "It's a big beautiful circle."

NW News on 07/15/2014

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