ROGERS The city is in the process of spending about $1 million to buy two downtown properties that could add amenities in the future, Mayor Greg Hines said Wednesday.
A contract for the purchase of the former Rogers Morning News building for $790,900 was signed Tuesday, Hines said. The City Council also approved $365,000 for the building on East Cherry Street during its meeting Tuesday.
There are plans to move the Rogers Historical Museum into the former newspaper office at 313 S. Second St., Hines said. Research has shown this would cost significantly less than constructing a building for the museum, Hines said.
"It is certainly a much better decision from an economic standpoint," Hines said.
John Burroughs, museum director, said it could cost $11 million to construct a building. Expanding to the Morning News facility could cost about $5.5 million. He said this includes renovation both the newspaper building and other facilities owned by the city.
The 14,230-square-foot building also fits the exhibit space needs for the museum, Burroughs said.
"It is a lower price, but we are not losing the impact," Burroughs said. "It is going to have the same exhibits. We will have the same capacity for storing our collection."
The 1947 structure also brings with it historical context, Burroughs said. Newt Hailey opened the building as a Ford dealership in 1948. The building's curved walls and windows, now covered, are a unique architecture feature for the city, he said.
The city plans to restore the building to the dealership's facade, Hines said.
"The original structure of that building is intact if we remove the stucco facade," Hines said. "I think it really has been an idea that supporters of the museum and supporters of Rogers have been able to get their heads around and we have seen a swell of excitement for repurposing that building."
The building is owned by Northwest Arkansas Newspapers, said Rusty Turner, Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette editor. The building had been home to news staff since the late 1960s, he said. Newsroom and business office operations were moved out of the building in January.
"With technology the way it is, reporters, advertising representatives and photographers can work from the field much more efficiently so we don't need a home base," Turner said. "We have reporters, advertising representatives and photographers in Rogers every single day."
Distribution employees have continued to work out of the office, Turner said. The employees will be moved to one of several facilities owned by the newspaper in Lowell, Springdale and Fayetteville.
The building wasn't officially put on the market, Turner said. Discussions between city and newspaper officials started shortly after newsroom operations were moved, he said.
"We are really excited that it's going to be used for the community's benefit," Turner said. "The museum is a great asset to downtown and we are happy to be a part of it expanding."
A closing date hasn't been set for the sale, Turner said. The newspaper plans to move distribution operations out of the building in the next couple months, he said.
Money for the purchase must go before the City Council before the city can close the deal, Hines said. That likely will happen at the council's July 14 meeting at City Hall, 301 W. Chestnut St.
A contract to purchase of the 101 E. Cherry St. property also was signed in recent days, Hines said. The property includes the city block between Cherry and Poplar Street, he said.
The property is important to the development of downtown, Hines said. It can be seen from retail businesses downtown and the future bike park the city is building, he said. A metal building and gravel lot now sit on the property.
Right of way on the property will be needed for the expected construction of Arkansas Street, which borders it, Hines said. The road project is planned but not under way, he said.
"We know that we are going to need a portion of that property for right of way," Hines said. "We may survey off what we need for the road and put the rest on the market."
The city could then have some control of who purchases the land and how it is developed, Hines said. The city could plan to keep the land, he said. It would make a prime location for a parking garage in the future, he said.
"We are not in the land business," Hines said. "These two project have really made sense for the city to be involved in. I really hope and believe that most of the new development downtown is going to be driven by private developers."
NW News on 06/25/2015