SPRINGDALE -- A nonprofit organization's offer to buy a city building for above the appraised value was shot down by City Council members who felt it wouldn't bring in enough money.
"I think they put money before the people we serve," said Carolene Thornton, director of Child Care Aware of Northwest Arkansas after a $330,000 offer was turned down Tuesday night.
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For more information about Child Care Aware of Northwest Arkansas, visit: www.nwachildcare.org
Five council members voted against the sale, with only Jeff Watson voting for it. One council member abstained, according to Megan Sanders, a receptionist at the mayor's office.
The city bought the 4,716-square-foot building at 206 Blair St. in 2004 for $300,000.
Aldermen Mike Overton and Eric Ford voted against selling the building. Overton said Thursday he wants a more lucrative buyer.
"A nonprofit does nothing to bring income to this city," Overton said.
Overton said because the city has spent $350,000 on building repair over time, he doesn't see a reason to sell it for the $330,000 Child Care Aware offered.
The building, which once housed the Police Department's Criminal Investigation Division, has an appraised value of $320,000, Wyman Morgan, director of finance and administration, said last month.
Ford also emphasized recouping money the city has spent on repair.
"I'd like to see more money out of the building," Ford said. "Ideally, instead of people coming up to us to offer money for it, it needs to go back on the market."
Mayor Doug Sprouse suggested the building to a Child Care Aware representative who spoke to him about the need for an office building.
Child Care Aware provides child care referrals in 14 counties in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, and also provides parenting classes, child care provider education, training and professional development opportunities for no profit, according to the group's website.
The nonprofit group operates out of the JTL shop near the Jones Center, but needs more space to serve its large clientele, Thornton said.
Child Care Aware served more than 7,000 parents and child care providers last year and the new location would have been an ideal location because it's centrally located in Northwest Arkansas, Thornton said.
"We have no option now but to go north or south," she said after Tuesday's meeting.
Thornton said 91 percent of the nonprofit group's clients make less than $50,000 per household, and 48 percent made less than $20,000 per household last year.
The nonprofit group would have brought money into the downtown area because many of its clients travel from throughout Arkansas and from other states for its services. Also, at least half of its clients live in Springdale, Thornton said.
Child Care Aware will look to building options in Fayetteville, Rogers and Lowell, said Michelle Wynn, co-director for the nonprofit group.
NW News on 09/30/2016