EP. 79: Springdale's Next Boom

Growth doesn’t happen by accident. We sit down with Springdale leaders Sharon Tromburg and Paxton Roberts to unpack the policies, projects, and partnerships behind a decade of downtown momentum, and what’s coming next. From the first-in-NWA form-based code to a city culture that helps good projects cross the finish line, the blueprint for sustainable growth is hiding in plain sight on Emma Avenue.

We tour tangible wins: the Market Center of the Ozarks blending farmer support with food innovation, a new senior center delivered early and under budget, and Hotel Sundry rising with direct Greenway access. Housing steps into the spotlight with Big Emma, Via Emma, and nonprofit-led workforce homes on East Emma near Dean’s Trail. Sharon explains how Springdale’s density bonus makes attainable units pencil, while Paxton maps why more residents downtown equal steadier restaurants, better retail, and a real shot at a full-service grocery.

Beyond downtown, the medical corridor surges with Arkansas Children’s expansion, Highlands Oncology, and UAMS Orthopedics in the pipeline. Industrial investment and build-to-rent communities round out a diversified job base. We get candid on infrastructure, water, sewer, roads, and trails, and how Springdale plans for transportation choice to keep household costs down. And yes, we tackle parking with data-driven solutions, public-private options, and why structured parking unlocks higher-value land uses and stronger tax revenue.

You’ll leave with a clear sense of why Springdale is investor-friendly, how local developers shaped an authentic culinary scene (hello, AQ Chicken’s return and Onyx’s Coffee Lab), and where the next opportunities sit, from infill and adaptive reuse to workforce housing near the Greenway. If you’re betting on Northwest Arkansas, this is your field guide to Springdale’s strategy. Enjoy the conversation, then subscribe, rate, and share to help more builders, neighbors, and city-shapers find it.

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_03 (00:07):
Welcome to Northwest Arkansas Investing Podcast, your
go-to source for real estateinvesting in Northwest Arkansas.

SPEAKER_05 (00:12):
With your seasoned investor just starting out, we
bring you expert insights,market trends, and practical
strategies to help you buildwealth through real estate.

SPEAKER_04 (00:20):
From buying and selling to property management
and long-term investmentplanning, we cover it all so you
can make smart, informeddecisions in this fast growing
market.
Let's dive in.

SPEAKER_05 (00:30):
All right.
Welcome back to the NWAInvesting Podcast.
So excited for you guys to beback for another one.
If you're investing inSpringdale, interested in
Springdale, uh, this isdefinitely the episode you're
going to want to pay attentionto, take notes on, and come back
to.
I'm super excited today to haveSharon Tromberg and Paxton

(00:53):
Roberts as my featured guests ofuh this episode.
Bring a ton of value fromdowntown Springdale, Beyond
Springdale.
We'll be talking about uh theirbackground, what's happened in
downtown Springdale, what'sgoing to be happening in
Springdale, um, and excited todive in.

(01:14):
So um quick uh also note is youguys will be the feature panel
of the CCC of NWA event uhNovember 4th.
So I'm excited for that one.
Usually 125 people, uh moversand shakers in in the uh real
estate development community.
That'll be in in downtownSpringdale as well.

(01:36):
Last time that was in Springdalewas at the Apollo with uh Mayor
Sprouse.
Um so um yeah, well let let'sstart with you guys.
Um I'll start with uh Sharon.
Walk us through your your yourjourney, uh taking over uh the
planning director, how where youwere before that, and and where

(01:57):
you are now.

SPEAKER_00 (01:59):
Yeah, thank you for having me today.
Um so I stepped into the role asthe director of planning and
community development for thecity of Springdale in April.
So I'm about six months intothis new role.
Um and I've been with the cityfor approximately five years,
and I kind of it was actually mylove for Springdale that
introduced me to a love ofplanning.
Um, my background is a nonprofitsector, and we had moved back

(02:21):
home from the East Coast backhome to Springdale.
Um, and I kind of fell into thisjob and immediately fell in
love.
Um I'm mission-driven, soanybody who is is an interested
change maker, local governmentis an excellent way to make
impact in your local community.
Um, so I fell in love with it,and I was under the direction of
Patsy Christie.
So she started um the firstSpringdale Planning Office Um 30

(02:45):
years ago.
And so all of the success ofdowntown Springdale and success
of all the projects you seecitywide are tied back somehow
to Patsy Christie and what shehas done.
I mean honestly, she laid awonderful strong foundation for
the team.
So she she retired in March.
Um, so I stepped in at April.

(03:06):
Um and I'm loving it.
As Springdale, this is such anexciting, transformative time
for us with the growth, with theexpected population boom coming
to Northwest Arkansas over thenext 25 years.
Um this exciting time forSpringdale.

SPEAKER_05 (03:21):
Yeah, that's awesome.
I I think Patsy was has probablybeen a great uh role model for
you and kind of set you up forsuccess.
And now, you know, big shoes.
Understatement big big shoes tofill, but also you had a lot of
big shoes that helping you likekind of groom you for this this
role, I would say.
Um what about you, Paxton?
Let's take us through your howyou got involved in downtown

(03:45):
Springdale and where you're attoday.

SPEAKER_02 (03:47):
Yeah, thanks for having me today.
Well, I would say I've beenworking across Northwest
Arkansas in the nonprofit sectorfor over a decade, uh, formerly
at Bike NWA and Trailblazers,and um with that focusing on
active transportationinfrastructure and uh bicycle
and pedestrian advocacy.
And as part of that role, I wasreally fortunate to get to work

(04:07):
in all the major municipalitieswith all the mayors and the city
councils and the city staff, andthen from the advocacy side, uh
working with the public.
And, you know, one of the citiesthat I uh always looked forward
to interacting with, whether,like I said, it was somebody in
the city or somebody in thepublic, was Springdale.

(04:28):
And so when this position cameopen, it was just an incredible
opportunity to combine a lot ofmy personal passions, but also
just work in a place that, um,as Sharon said is truly
undergone a transformation andhas a lot of momentum right now.
So um it was just it was just agreat fit.
So really excited.

SPEAKER_05 (04:45):
What do you think has been key for down, you know,
Springdale's really to me, itseems very developer-friendly
compared to some other marketsin in the country locally.
You know, what is what do youthink has been key to some of
the success factors that thatSpringdale sets Springdale
apart?

SPEAKER_00 (05:03):
Um our the downtown master plan and the introduction
of a form-based code to ourdowntown.
So the works, those two were areare key to to downtown
Springdale's success.
And the vision of that startedaround 2015.
That's when the downtown masterplan kind of set forth.
And then a couple years later,um, thankful to the work of
Patsy, introduced the firstform-based code district to

(05:26):
Northwest Arkansas, and it wasdowntown Springdale.
Um, and the input and thefeedback from the community,
residents, builders, developers,um, city staff, everyone to make
sure that as our effort torevitalize and redevelop
downtown, make it vibrant again,that we took all of that input
and suggestions from everyone totry and build a foundation of

(05:49):
some basic tools to get started.
Um, I really think that's wheresome of the success lies.
And and we just, it's a and it'sa matter of of constant
maintenance, right?
As Springdale grows um and keepstransforming, we kind of have to
update those tools just to makesure that we it is, it's easy
for developers, but yetbeneficial for um the city of

(06:10):
Springdale itself.

SPEAKER_02 (06:12):
And and I would just add um the attitude of
especially the city departments.
I mean, you know, I I knowespecially people listen to
podcasts, they've worked withcities, uh, municipalities.
They're not always known for apositive attitude or walking in
the door and saying, how can wehelp you accomplish something?
And I think that's somethingthat helps Springdale stand out,

(06:32):
is that the administration andcity staff uh really want to try
to get to yes and find a way umto make development happen.

SPEAKER_05 (06:40):
It's pretty evident.
I mean, master plan if you lookat exactly then 2015, that
master plan, uh, you know, thepast 10, it's 2025.
So exactly 10 years of growth inSpringdale has really changed,
you know, especially downtown.
You know, you're not walking thesame downtown you were 15 years
ago or 10 years ago or further.

(07:02):
So um let's talk about let'sspeaking of that, let's let's
dive in specifically intodowntown Springdale.
Um, you know, you've both been,you know, super involved in it.
Um, what has been some big winsfor 2025 for downtown
Springdale?

SPEAKER_00 (07:20):
There have been some huge wins.
So so in 2025, I guess to touchon some of the projects or and
and where they are and whatstage of development they are.
Um so for this year with openingof um the Market Center of the
Ozarks.

SPEAKER_05 (07:33):
Um tell people about people who aren't familiar with
Market Center of the Ozarks.

SPEAKER_00 (07:38):
Yeah, I know if can you give a little bit of a yeah?

SPEAKER_02 (07:40):
So uh the Market Center is really it's a truly
unique um asset for NorthwestArkansas and even kind of a new
model for the country, is thatit combines several different
operations you'd normally seeseparate.
So there's a food aggregatorthat um purchases food from
local farmers and then helpsdistribute that food into

(08:01):
institutions.
So it could be a hospital or aschool.
So it's helping to not only propup the local kind of small
business farmer, but also umsupply more healthy food to
institutions that need it.
And then the other half of thefacility is really a food
innovation center.
Um, and that's through apartnership with the University
of Arkansas.

(08:22):
So if you are, let's just say,an entrepreneur, you're not even
an entrepreneur, you're somebodythat just has a family recipe
that you've grown up loving.
I've heard stories of somebodyhad a salsa or a jam and um
their family loved it, theirfriends loved it, you can walk
in with an idea and they willhelp you from take you from idea
all the way to that productbeing on the shelves.

(08:45):
So that is something that'struly unique.
Another part of the facility isjust this incredible world-class
um kitchen baking facility.
Uh, you can come in if you havea food truck or if you have a
restaurant or you're looking atopening up a restaurant, you can
rent out uh the kitchenfacilities and they have enough
for multiple people to be in atthe same time and uh prepare

(09:06):
your product.
And so that just those assetsall in one place in downtown
Springdale really set it apart.

SPEAKER_00 (09:13):
And just to just to touch on that, Marcuson, some of
the resources they provide, oneis a huge benefit to mobile
vendors.
So food trucks have been kind ofa hot topic um for probably the
last 10 years.
A lot more pop up.
Um, but there are somechallenges to food trucks,
sourcing clean water, dumpingdirty gray water, um grease
disposal, just some of thebehind-the-scenes stuff.
And this this um innovative hubhere provides people access to

(09:37):
all of those resources that theyneed to have a successful
business.
Um and and some others, I thinkjust going, you know, west down
to Emma, um, or I guess thesenior center is just east, but
the Springdale Senior Centerjust opened this year and it was
ahead of schedule, under budget,looks fantastic.
Um, core architects to design,Buffalo Builders to the Build,

(09:58):
uh, had our grand opening umseveral weeks ago.
Uh it's just um everyone at thecity, and I think the whole
community is so proud um of thateffort.
Um, next to it's the airport,which we're gonna have a new
street realignment um for abetter entrance to the airport.
Um, they're gonna start abusiness master plan for the

(10:18):
airport.
And then if we move east, wehave Big Emma, which is um an
incredible residentialdevelopment that promotes
workforce housing.
Um, that is about to open thisyear.
Next to it is Via Emma, amixed-use commercial and
residential one at the corner ofPark and Emma, and that is being
built right now underconstruction.

(10:39):
I love uh walking by and seeingthe progress.
Um, it's incredible how fast.
And just south of Via Emma isLuther George Park, which I
think the grand opening was lastfall was fall of 2024.
And I mean, that is just a crownjewel of downtown Springdale.
I mean, it's it's like 13 or 14acres.

(10:59):
Um beautiful design.
Um, I hope you've been to it.
And so Paxson is his team aredoing some incredible
programming for it.
Um and then if you go farthereast, we have um the Sundry
Hotel that is that is underconstruction, and it's amazing
how fast they're doing that one.
They already have walls goingup.
It's it's exciting to see acrane in downtown Springdale,

(11:20):
right?
Uh you visit other cities thatare that are booming with
development and and you see someof those signs to to come to
work and to get to see a crane,and all of that is um that's an
exciting, that's an excitingthing.

SPEAKER_02 (11:32):
Yeah, and I think you know, those those types of
developments Sharon was talkingabout are really going to help
transform Springdale over thenext five years.
We've seen so much change overthe last 10 years, as you
mentioned, really even over thelast year.
There are so many businessesthat have opened up just a
little more than a year ago.
But, you know, bringing morepeople downtown to live is going

(11:54):
to help create a moresustainable business
environment, a sustainableinvesting environment, because
people aren't just comingdowntown and leaving and, you
know, going to their home on theother side of the city or in a
neighboring city at the end ofthe day.
They're staying downtown.
So those shops and restaurantsare going to be more
sustainable.
And I think that's reallyincredible.
And as Sharon mentioned, thisthe Sundry Hotel, which is uh

(12:16):
Hilton property, um, you know,that is just a game changer for
downtown in terms of, you know,when people come and they're
they're visiting, um, you know,sometimes people either like to
stay out by the interstate,quick on and off, or they want
to stay right downtown.
And and um, the fact thatSpringdale will have an option
to accommodate a large number ofpeople is really going to

(12:39):
transform another aspect of thedowntown.
Um, you know, one of the thingsthat opened up recently is a
little boutique hotel um calledthe Star on Spring.
And I think that was incrediblebecause it's it's offering a
very high-end amenity.
I'll say, and somebody canchallenge me, but it's it's the
nicest hotel rooms in Arkansas.

(13:00):
And I'm just waiting forsomebody to to show me one that
is nicer because I'll go staythere.
Um, but I think that just speaksto the momentum that we have in
the city.

SPEAKER_05 (13:09):
Yeah, there's a lot to unpack there.
A lot of really awesome pro thatreally like just like started
operations in 2025.
It seemed probably, you know, inthe background working, but then
this year really coming online.
And I'll those are all big Emmavia M, obviously the mixed use
developments by uh Blue Crane,uh Market Center of the Ozark.

(13:30):
Who's uh who's helping put thatone together?

SPEAKER_00 (13:33):
Um it was a Walton Family Foundation.
Um I think it was a designexcellence fund for the um
market center of the Ozarks.

SPEAKER_05 (13:40):
And and and that star on spring is a cool
boutique hotel.
That's a that was a great idea.
And I think seeing an investmentfrom you know Hilton Group, you
know, the Holton, Sundry,they're doing market data.
Like we can show all the skylinereports and great information.
And I think for you know um agroup to invest that kind of

(14:01):
time and money into an area,there they also believe in the
the growth that they're in thegrowth numbers.
So um I think that's pretty coolto see.
Obviously, Luther George Park,like you talked about, that's so
cool to have in downtownSpringdale.
Um obviously Omar and myself areworking on a project right
behind that, which would beperfect for you know residents
just to walk, walk across to.

(14:23):
So I think walkability, itsounds like a buzz or a key, you
know, walkability, you know,everybody wants to be walkable,
but it's it's truly important.
It helps the value of the area.
People want a nicer, you know,um means of living.
So it's it really helps withthat growth and all these
different product, it's not justresidential, not just hotel.

(14:43):
It's you know, it's uh it's apretty cool mix to see.
And I think that that risingtide kind of lifts all the
boats.

SPEAKER_02 (14:51):
You know, that's that's something I think that is
helping Springdale stand out andwill continue to stand out in
the future is that you've gotthis organic growth of mixed use
of different types ofbusinesses, different types of
residential properties comeonline.
And I think that's somethingthat we see other cities trying
to back into, right?
They're trying to reach for thatauthenticity by kind of

(15:14):
retrofitting.
But here we have this effortthat I think one of the things
that is really impressive to methat for the most part over the
last 10 years, it's been localdevelopers.
You know, it's people that theirfamily grew up here.
Um, their if they did move here,their husband or wife is from
here and they've been investingtheir money into downtown.

(15:35):
And the same goes for thebusinesses.
Um, you know, by and large,almost every business is owned
by somebody with local roots,you know.
And um, you know, we do have oneor two chains now that are
making their way, but I thinkthat's just a sign of
legitimacy, right?
Like the locals have paved theway to create this stable
foundation, and now you'reseeing these, you know, national

(15:58):
level interests payingattention.

SPEAKER_05 (16:00):
Gas Gaskins, we brought them but we brought them
in from Eureka.
Now they're Springdale guys.

SPEAKER_02 (16:05):
They were Eureka people and now they're full-time
Springdale.
Yeah, and I think it and it'sgreat, you know, and they're
that's an example of theirlocals and um Gaskins and just
incredible, incredible foodoffering, and they're working on
a new concept that's going to beopen this coming spring, um, a
little uh small Italian place,you know, just right in
downtown.
So I think it it shows that umpeople are coming, opening up

(16:28):
businesses, and then evenexpanding on what they
originally envisioned.

SPEAKER_00 (16:32):
And that that walkability aspect um is
important for all of those keybusinesses that that we just
talked about.
Um and from kind of the theurban planning lens, whenever we
consider walkability, we thatthere's a common framework about
like the the five D's that welook for for the walkability.
Um and number one is thedensity, right?
You need the people, right, topromote this walkability.

(16:54):
And downtown, um this is a storyabout Tyson Foods, and it's a
secondhand story from Patsy, butI always love it that whenever
she wanted to kick off thisventure of bringing downtown
Springdale to be vibrant again,when she had approached them,
their commitment to downtown wasnot just a fiscal commitment,
um, but they committed people.

(17:15):
So they moved and opened IToffices right downtown on Emma.
Um and it has been it has beenincredible.
All those people who are nowfull-time working downtown, so
they're eating lunch downtown atthese restaurants.
Now they want an easier commute,so they're moving downtown to be
closer.
Um there's another, Tyson hascommitted another project.
They are they're uh redevelopingtheir fuller building on Water

(17:39):
Street on the north side, andthey're gonna bring um over a
hundred full-time employeesthere too.
So we're about to get anotherhuge commitment.
And that's so so that's thedensity piece.
So then we need the walkabilityfor those people.
The next one is is diversity, solike a mix of different uses.
And if you look at downtownSpringdale, we are unique that
we have hospital, an airport,um, schools.

(18:01):
We have, but we we have someunique elements that a lot of
downtowns don't have.
Um, and that form-based codethat Patsy first brought in
2017, that promotes thosedifferent uses.
It's more about keeping thatneighborhood character and
promotes more of that mixed useum on every street.
Um the the third D is design,right?
And so the city is taking thisseriously as you see, like the

(18:24):
East Maple connection uhrealignment, um, the beautiful
lighting, big sidewalks for thewalkability, um, the street
trees, if if you've noticed thethe landscaping that Public
Works does around Turnbow Park,um, maybe I'm biased, but I I
think it's beautiful, all thestreetscapes and and and and the
lighting, everything that's onthat human scale that you notice

(18:45):
as you um as you are walking.
The next one is um the the uhit's either distance to um your
destination, right?
And so how close are things?
Um and that's why, and I meanthe Greenway that goes the
Razorback Greenway goes rightthrough the heart of downtown
Springdale.
So the Sundry Hotel is gonnahave direct connection to be
adjacent to the Greenway.

(19:06):
Um and we're trying to make sureour local trails help connect so
that we have multimodal ways sothat people can live, work, and
play, but not um ultimately planfor some downtown that's gonna
be a big traffic jam.
Um I think the last one is likeuh the the um distance to
destination, um abouttransportation, right?
And and Springdale does still, Imean, there's always room for

(19:28):
improvement.
So we are we're served by ORT,there's some bus routes, but you
know, we know that we need towork on some parking issues and
maybe some other accessibilityones.
Um but we're in a good place.
But but if you notice, um thelast thing I'll mention about
the walkability is whenever westarted the revitalization of
downtown, the sidewalks on Emma,a lot of people thought, like,

(19:49):
golly, they're so big.
In some places they're 12 feet.
But then that allows for like acafe if they want to have some
tables and chairs and people canstill go.
Um so that that walkability isuh it's talked about a lot, but
it it's essential, it's vital tolike a thriving downtown, I
would say.

SPEAKER_05 (20:06):
You mentioned and you mentioned families, which I
would like to guide go into thatare are you know locals that are
investing back into the area.
We're seeing some nationalpeople, um national investors
come into the area.
You mentioned Tyson, which Iwanted to kind of dive into.
Their CTO office, which houses alot of these are high-paying
jobs too, so it's not um uh afactory by any means.

(20:29):
It's it's people that are gonnago out and spend money back into
the local economy.
And then, you know, um I that'sinteresting about their new
expansion.
If we're 100 uh uh Jonathan, uhTyson, he was talking about an
expansion in downtownSpringdale.
So that's awesome to see Tysoninvesting back into downtown
Springdale.

(20:50):
Um obviously Looser George Park,the Georges are super involved
in Springdale.
Uh what the Waltons uh have beeninstrumental.
What else could you say about,you know, local families
investing back into Springdale?

SPEAKER_00 (21:06):
I mean, sometimes it's it's there are a lot of
small ones that just don't getthe same amount of visibility
and attention, right?
Like we have some of these bigprojects with big families and
they have these big investments,but we also have a lot of like
smaller scale infill developmentby families that have been from
here, live here, and care aboutit.
Or projects that might not getan example, like the the

(21:28):
hideaway, right?
Um, our first cottage courtdowntown is by Huntsville and
and Price on that northeastcorner of our downtown.
I think there's 10, 12 umcottage style ones.
And that was um Zach and SarahBrothers.
And they have been, I mean,they've been instrumental lately
in helping helping bring some ofthese new creative housing
ideas.

(21:48):
Um, they're doing a coupledifferent infill ones.

SPEAKER_02 (21:51):
Yeah, and I think that's, you know, really speaks
to Desmond, it's it's there's,I'd say, some quiet development,
right?
There are people that reallycare a lot that are putting
their money in, but you justdon't see their names in the
headlines.
And that just speaks to theircare for their city and you
know, reinvesting the fundsthat, you know, I think
everybody knows there was a lotof wealth created from the rise

(22:13):
of the industry, but whether itwas trucking or protein or
Walmart in the region.
And I think Springdale reallyhas a fascinating mix of people
that um that really they'retaking the hard work that their
families put in during that timeand keeping that money, you
know, in the city.
Also, I think that um, andLuther George Park is an is an

(22:34):
incredible example where um youknow you have this park that um
I I can't remember how manyacres it was before, but it was
smaller, right?
And so they um through thesupport of the Walton Family
Foundation and designedexcellence, um, got this
incredible design, but thenraising the money to build the
park was a public-privatepartnership, right?
So out of a$16 millionrenovation, you know, over$12

(22:57):
million was raised privatelyfrom families in the region.
So not just families in the cityof Springdale, but you saw
people donating money from allacross the region to a park in
Springdale.
And I thought that is somethingyou just don't hear about every
day.
It's one thing to care aboutsomething in the city you live,
but for people to feelpassionate enough and caring

(23:19):
enough about a park in a citythey don't live in is just
really incredible to see that.

SPEAKER_00 (23:24):
And I think the the raising of those funds um that
that was championed by thedowntown Springdale Alliance.
I mean, and and I think thatalone, the achievement of Blues
or George Park, um, by the endof it, it really highlighted
that the collaboration and thesuccess of the collaboration
between the city of Springdaleand the DSA.
I mean, right there was um thatthat is a perfect ex example of

(23:46):
of why why this relationshipworks so well.

SPEAKER_05 (23:49):
Paxton, you can take a month vacation.
So what what's the what's tostop you from what what is to
stop you guys from you knowkicking the feet?
You know, Springdale's had a lotof success.
What what's the you know, areyou are you guys satisfied or
what's uh what's the next uhvision for you guys?

SPEAKER_02 (24:06):
Definitely not satisfied.
I think there's been such a alarge uh a number of years of
hard work by so many people,both my predecessors at the DSA,
board members, supporters, citystaff, um, and then people from
the community putting theirmoney in.
We just have to keep thatmomentum going.
Um, if you go through downtown,if you're from here, no doubt it

(24:28):
looks different than it than itever has, probably if you
remember it.
So um, but there's still a lotof opportunity there.
I mean, if you walk around,there are still buildings that
can be rehab, rehabbed andrevitalized and repurposed.
Um, there is real estate.
There are lots.
You know, if you look around atthe, you know, the use of um of

(24:50):
parking in surface lots or justlots that are bacon and don't
have anything on it, I thinkthere's just as much potential
to develop now as there ever hasbeen.
So I think um that that justyields a credible opportunity.
I think what we're gonna need isthat, you know, as we talked
about these mixed useresidential commercial units

(25:11):
coming online, you know, by myestimate, and this may be lofty,
but we're gonna have a thousandpeople living downtown in the
next five years that weren'tliving there before.
So I think that's something thatis a huge potential because your
mix of businesses, you know,what what does need to show up
there looks a little differentfor that, right?
It's not just people coming downfor lunch or for dinner in the

(25:33):
evening, you know, it's peoplethere 24 hours a day.
And um, so that's personallywhat excites me a lot is that um
there's just huge potential indowntown.

SPEAKER_05 (25:44):
Yeah, I I definitely remember it.
I had a uh a major renovation,one of my first major renovation
projects on Park Street.
Um, and one of my investors waslike, Yeah, I won't, I won't
touch that with the 100-footbowl.
But it was good because itforced me to do it by myself,
and it was actually one of mybest deals.
And, you know, we it had likegravel parking lot, paved the

(26:04):
parking lot, new roofs, newsiding, and everything like
that.
So and I s and I agree with you.
There's still so much moreopportunity to develop, you
know, all sorts of developmentsor or rehab some of the existing
um product that is in downtownSpringdale.
Anything else on downtownSpringdale that we should touch
on before we go to the rest ofSpringdale?

SPEAKER_00 (26:24):
Um, we could always tie it back to downtown.

SPEAKER_02 (26:26):
That's what um I mean I think it's it's exciting
because I the city hasincredible plans to continue the
streetscape improvements thatyou see in kind of the core of
the Emma and the uh, you know,Shiloh and Main Street area.
Um so those improvements will goboth east all the way to 265 and

(26:46):
then west all the way to 71B.
And so then you will have thiskind of continuous streetscape
that goes from one end to theother that really helps with
that walkability that we weretalking about earlier.
You know, when you look down thestreet and it's a nice wide
sidewalk, trees that areplanted, a landscape that really
helps pull people down, whichthen reinforces the business

(27:08):
aspect.
And then I think we'll also see,you know, something that DSA
will be working on.
We've already had conversationswith philanthropists, elected
officials, the public, is arevitalization of Shiloh Square.
You know, it's something that isum, I think it is such a unique
space because it is an outdoor,large outdoor covered area right
in the heart of downtown thatcan be used by the public.

(27:31):
And I think that's somethingthat is an incredible
opportunity that we'll seeredeveloped in the next two to
three years.

SPEAKER_00 (27:37):
Yeah, and I think um but before we leave the topic of
of downtown, I think it's worthmentioning earlier.
I noted some of the unique,interesting things that that
make Springdale um give it itscharacter, some some of the
interesting elements we have.
And so I want to make sure wemention that, you know, across
the street from our our newsenior center, we have the Jones
Center.
And what a, I mean, what abenefit to the whole region and

(28:00):
especially uh the community ofSpringdale.
And, you know, the communityclinic, right?
The Center for Nonprofits, um,our downtown has so many neat
things to offer um for families,right?
For not just employees who arecoming to work, but for for all
residents of Springdale.

SPEAKER_02 (28:17):
And just to add to that is the multicultural
aspect.
You know, if you're looking fora wide range of food options, um
it is just incredible.
I think I was adding up, there'salmost 20 restaurants now on
Emma, just Emma alone.
So that doesn't include therestaurants that are, you know,
south on Holcomb or on the otherside.
And I think you can come downand really get flavors from all

(28:40):
over the world, you know,whether it's Salvadorian,
whether it's Mexican, whetherit's Guatemalan.
Um, it's just really, I thinkthat is another unique aspect of
the culinary.
You know, that some of the othercities in the region have really
been kind of on the map now fortheir culinary offerings.
And I think one thing we'regonna see is that Springdale
will continue to rise in thataspect, that it is a legitimate

(29:03):
dining destination and it'ssomething we'll be promoting.

SPEAKER_05 (29:06):
So love it.
Yeah, downtown Springdale, it itis uh good date spot too.
We'll uh I'll ask you at the endsome uh some favorite
restaurants too.
Um so downtown that's that'sinteresting to know about
Shiloh.
Um looking at read of I mean,obviously with Onyx right there
doing putting their footprint inuh in downtown Springdale is

(29:28):
pretty cool to see, you know,local, local business group and
investing in downtown Springdaleand all the different
restaurants and everything likethat.
So um you mentioned uh expandmaking downtown Springdale more
accessible to the rest ofSpringdale.
Um, you know, West Emma now, youknow, connecting all the way
through.
Um what is you been over thebridge?

(29:49):
Uh I haven't been over thebridge yet.
Oh, you guys got to.

SPEAKER_00 (29:53):
We have a bike lane, a nice, a nice safe pedestrian
path.
You gotta do it.
Next time I see you, I hope yougo over the bridge.

SPEAKER_05 (30:00):
Uh what other areas are you guys excited about for
Springdale as far as uh, youknow, I I'm familiar with in the
medical mile court, there's beena ton of develop, you know, some
people call it the milliondollar mile, you know, all the
the medical district there.
Um and speaking of uh HopeCancer is a Springdale group

(30:20):
that we're actually sponsoringfor uh the CCC uh event.
And it's a really cool servicethat they offer to, you know,
drive people into the, you know,to the medical facilities that
maybe can't get there because oftheir cancer situation or just
don't have the means.

SPEAKER_00 (30:37):
That's a very, very special organization.

SPEAKER_05 (30:39):
Yeah, we're excited to be partnering up with them
and giving shedding them morelight.
But it's cool to see, you know,there's such a, you know, we
talked about protein, Walmart,and logistics, but met the
medical industry is becoming ahuge, you know, fourth marker in
NWA and even Springdale.
Yes, absolutely.
I'd like to hear your thoughtson that kind of corridor.

SPEAKER_00 (31:02):
And a lot of that actually it ties back.
I think some of the gratitudefor even just the beginning um
visioning of that goes back tolike the the the the George
family, right?
Um children's hospital coming toSpringdale.
That um that is monumental forfor Northwest Arkansas.
And I am uh we feel blessed thatit that it came to to Springdale

(31:22):
itself.
Um they're finishing up anexpansion right now of an entire
nother wing.
It's incredible.
Um and we have HighlandsOncology out there.
They're about to, I don't knowif they've announced a
groundbreaking or not, but thatthe UAMS Orthopedic Center um is
moving forward and it's a it's avery wonderful design.
That's gonna be a fantasticproject.
And so I'm I'm excited to hearwhat to hear when we get that.

(31:44):
And at some point, I know thatwe're gonna have a pedestrian
crossing and access with withWatkins, right?
So so just helping connect otherneighborhoods to that medical
corridor on that west side of49.
Um and even as you drive outthere, right, and you see some
of that development in thatsouthwest Springdale, even the
residential is booming.
There's a couple um really highquality multifamily developments

(32:06):
going on out there.
Um, with I wish I had the unitcount, it is so many.

SPEAKER_05 (32:10):
Hundreds and hundreds.
The build-to-rent kind of style,too, where with garages and not
just, you know, garden styleapartments, it seems like more,
you know, family-oriented.

SPEAKER_00 (32:19):
And some of that has just been it's been very
thoughtful and intentionalplanning with some of that.
And so I think that's why whenwe see this area come together,
it's coming together in a verywonderful way where the fabric
of it just kind of complements,right?
There's compatibility with allof it.
It's been a very um intentional,but that the medical quarter,
that is, that's exciting.
That's that's big.
But Springdale, um, it'sinteresting.

(32:40):
All of our quadrants kind ofhave um um have have their
unique parts to it, right?
Um we also have, I know onething is our on our mind is like
workforce, um, workforce,workforce training.
You know, we had our Cargill umplant close earlier this year,
um, which which uh, you know,unfortunately, a a lot of jobs
were lost.
And the Chamber of Congresshosted like a job fair, and we

(33:03):
have been um groups have beentrying to be so proactive.
Um, we've had new employerscome.
Um I I wish I had the the listof all the the different ones in
some of our industrial areasthat have come, central states,
premium brands just opened.

SPEAKER_02 (33:17):
Um Keytronics.

SPEAKER_00 (33:19):
Keytronics just opened, and that brought like
what, 400 new jobs to our area.
Um there's more in in the works,more planning of more businesses
and more jobs.
Um Springdale at its roots iskind of a is a gray-collar town,
right?
Um and and it's it's so excitingand wonderful to see some of
these job opportunities comebecause when when we know that

(33:40):
the job opportunities come, weknow that people are gonna want
to live here.
So we're gonna need all theother things that come with that
with planning.
So schools, commercial activity,the roads and the infrastructure
to make it work.
Um it's great.

SPEAKER_02 (33:53):
And I think, you know, to what your what you said
about workforce housing, I thinkthat's something that is both an
incredible opportunity andsomething for the future.
Um, we were both just at thegroundwork conference this
morning.
Great infrared uh regionalworkforce housing conference
with experts in from all overthe country.
And, you know, I think whatwe're gonna see, and this is an
incredible opportunity forinvestors and developers, is

(34:15):
housing choice.
You know, that's what we needmore of, is that, you know, it's
no longer an option just to onlyhave single family houses.
And I think that regardless ofwhere you're at in the
workforce, whether it's whitecollar, gray collar, blue
collar, um, having those choicesis what people want.
And so I think Springdale iswell positioned for that in

(34:36):
order to increase that housingsupply.
And with the mix of bothcorporate jobs, factory jobs, um
I think it also creates somesustainability there, right?
You're not all your your eggsaren't just all in one basket,
right?
It's not just medical, it's notjust the protein industry, it's
more distributed across.
And I think ultimately thatmakes a more just uh resistant,

(34:58):
resilient city.

SPEAKER_00 (35:00):
And another area um, it's kind of an extension of uh
of downtown to the east, EastEmma, um on the east side of
265.
Um, I have to brag about some ofthe developments that's going
there.
Just at our August PlanningCommission meeting, we passed
two um large multifamilyprojects, one on the north side
of Ford and one on the south.
Um and it it's so fantastic.

(35:21):
So it's a uh it's a partnershipbetween Mercy Housing and
Community Development, NorthwestArkansas.
Um, so this is our first kind ofnonprofit um um housing project,
and it it is it is all workforcehousing.
Um, so I think they're they'recapping it at 60% AMI for all of
the residents.
And I mean, this is veryexciting, right?

(35:42):
And we have Dean's Trail, whichis a trail, a connection that is
right there nearby, um, whichcan easily connect over to the
Greenway.
So we're gonna have thesemultifamily housing options for
new people are coming that weknow are gonna be affordable, we
know they're gonna beaccessible.
Um, just more opportunity, morethings to for me to brag about
screen craft.

SPEAKER_05 (36:01):
That's huge.
That's huge.
I didn't know that was online.
And I that was gonna be one ofmy questions is what how can it
be incentive?
You know, the workforce housingis such a big, you know, uh
awareness of NWA and Springdaleparticular.
I wonder how it can be moreincentivizing for or what are
you guys seeing that's makes itincentivizing for the developer
who has the same, you know, whatuh similar cost to build it to

(36:25):
rent it out to you know athousand dollars and fifty nine.
You know, I think a big part ofthat is the nonprofit stepping
up, you know, which Mercyobviously did big there.
Um you know, something else forour project in particular was
the letting us go from threestories to four stories.
So I think that was superinteresting and unique structure
there where we could get moredensity and bring our cost down

(36:48):
per door while bringing that 80%AMI for 20 units.
What other kind of things areyou doing?

SPEAKER_00 (36:55):
And that's such an exciting density bonus.
And I have to give that creditto Patsy.
She was the one like whowhenever she first was thinking
about this downtown master plan,working with developers and
thinking how do we kind ofincentivize people to come,
right?
And obviously we have an airportin our downtown, so there are
some height restrictions at somepoint.
Um, but we know that's a goodincentive.
And so we are we're continuingwith that, with our our

(37:16):
workforce um attainabilitydensity bonus.
And so if you if you you knowguarantee a certain percentage
of those to be workforcehousing, you get another floor
to be able to build.
Um so we're hoping that more andmore projects kind of kind of
come forth like like the one youhave in the works.

SPEAKER_02 (37:32):
And and that's really, I think that's something
that helps Springdale stand outfrom other cities in the region
is just policies like that.
And I think you have a cityadministration and staff who are
continually looking at how theycan improve that.
Um, and with the forthcomingupdates to the downtown master
plan um and the unifieddevelopment code, I think those
are there's really incredibleopportunities there to do even

(37:55):
more to encourage um workforcehousing.

SPEAKER_00 (37:58):
Yeah, we have some exciting things in the works.
Um October 28th, we have our umH3 studios, our consultants who
who have been been on thisjourney about the downtown
master plan with us and all ofour downtown development for the
last 10 years.
They're coming at the at the endto to present kind of the
findings.
This last year we we did a astudy on the southeast quadrant
of downtown, and then a parkingstudy for all of downtown.

(38:20):
So we have an addendum thatwe're putting to our downtown
master plan and presenting tocouncil at the end of the month.
Um but this parking study reallyidentifies we know that we need
a parking structure.
That that's really the at leastone.
We need one to start with, andthen potentially more to come.
So this helped us identify somekey areas where um the first few

(38:40):
or at least the first would bethe best way to kind of start,
explored some of those options.
Uh we also tried to find somelow-hanging fruit with parking.
There's some things where we, ifyou notice, we um we restriped
Holcomb and Emma to add someangled parking um and kind of
realigned that road.
And that I there were, you know,hundreds of parking spots gained

(39:01):
just just from that, which whichonly cost paint um and staff
time, um, which which was uh aneasy one.
Um what else?
There's so many great things.
Um we're always trying to getbetter because we know that
Springdale will thrive if wehave clear, predictable rules.
Because with clear predictablerules, we're gonna get clear,

(39:21):
predictable development, andthat is gonna help us thrive.
So that's usually our goal.
So as we update, you know, allof our comprehensive plans,
whether it's a master streetplan, master of trails plan, our
downtown plan, our you know,downtown zoning code, um we we
always just have to keepimplementing them.
But to keep keep that, we needthe the more simple, um, the

(39:42):
better it's gonna be foreverybody.

SPEAKER_05 (39:45):
I love that.
And and so opportunities forinvestors, what do you see?
Yeah, I think you mentioned theindustrial, you know, Keytronic
making the$27 million investmentinto Springdale, not just down
to you know, into Springdale.
I I think I've seen sometightness in uh industrial.
Seems like, you know, there'ssome older industrial type
buildings that could berenovated and maybe, you know,

(40:07):
have flex base or retail.
What what kind of opportunitiesdo you guys see outside of uh,
you know, density and thehousing?

SPEAKER_00 (40:14):
Well, that there's a lot, like um even Kendrick
Avenue when in in NorthSpringdale, an industrial park,
um the city finished KendrickAvenue, and it's been an
incredible industrial park wherebusinesses have come.
Um, and then some of the some ofthe older areas too.
Like some of uh there's someplaces in our downtown that were
our original industrial area.
We have Ferry Street plant, wehave some places, some of our

(40:37):
first industrial routes wereactually right downtown or
adjacent to downtown.
Um there's a lot you just haveto wait and see.
I gotta think about whichprojects are are are ready to
come forward.

SPEAKER_02 (40:49):
Right.
I think we'll see like theCargill property.
That's a great example.
I think we'll see a repurposingof that into some type of
facility that will help, youknow, provide jobs and um
continue kind of that justmanufacturing history.

SPEAKER_05 (41:03):
What would you say Springdale needs a MOSAF right
now?

SPEAKER_01 (41:09):
I was gonna say housing.

SPEAKER_05 (41:10):
Yeah.
Um I'd have to agree.
It's definitely housing.
I think uh yeah, especially withit, all these things that you
guys are talking about, that'scontinued growth.
It's gonna be a continu I knowthe RBS guideline report just
came out in the vacancy, andSpringdale is what like one
percent.

SPEAKER_01 (41:28):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 (41:29):
So there is a huge need, you know.
So I think that, you know, canbe a problem, but also an
opportunity for developers, youknow, that shows pretty good
strength and in theirdevelopments.
What about uh like grow grocery,you know, uh grocery stores?
Are we gonna get a Trader Joe'sand uh Springdale?

SPEAKER_01 (41:49):
I hope so.
Do you know something I don't?
I don't know.
We'll have to we'll have to waitand see, but um I'm another
Whole Foods just popping up inNWA, maybe Whole Foods.

SPEAKER_02 (41:57):
I think a grocery store in downtown.
I mean, as we have all theseresidential units um come online
in the next few years and thencontinue with the momentum, um,
I think we'll see like a majorgrocery store.
We have an incredible littlemarket, maple market downtown
that you can go and pick up, youknow, your your basic
necessities.
But I think the number of peopleas downtown infills as it

(42:21):
redevelops, um, seeing differenttypes from you know, duplexes,
quadplexes, multifamily units,uh, that's going to sustain a
grocery store, right?
So I think we also, it's achicken or egg.
We have to have enough peopledowntown to sustain it.
Um, but I think we'll get there.

SPEAKER_05 (42:38):
How many people live in you said a thousand you're
expecting about a thousand umambitiously to come in?
Do you how many people would youwould you say live in downtown
right now and then all ofSpringdale?

SPEAKER_00 (42:48):
All of Springdale were approximately 90,000.
Um, but just downtown, I I don'thave a good number that I would
actually want to cycle.

SPEAKER_02 (42:56):
Um that's a that's a good number for that I should
know, and I'll definitelyresearch that for future uh
questions.

SPEAKER_05 (43:02):
90,000 at Springdale, what what's been the
growth of that?
Like, is that what do you see inaverage annually?

SPEAKER_00 (43:08):
Unbelievable.
I will I will say at least justa snapshot from the past.
Um 25 years ago in 2000, we haduh 45,000 people.
So I mean, in in 25 years,you've seen this exponential
growth.
And I think, you know, the thecommon theme that we hear is by
2050, um, we're gonna reach amillion people here in northwest
Arkansas.
And Springdale is at at theabsolute heart of that, at the

(43:30):
heart of Northwest Arkansas.
Um and we have strong jobopportunities and workforce, so
we know that people are coming.
Um so the the growth isinevitable.
It's just a matter of is itgonna shape us or do we get
ahead of it and help shape thisgrowth?
So all of our efforts downtownum are playing directly into
that.

SPEAKER_02 (43:46):
Yeah, and just like you know, we have the largest
school district.
And so I think that just showsthat um it's a place, you know,
that it's like the crossroads inNorthwest Arkansas, right?
But it's families, um, peopleare living here and working
across the region.
And I think as the citycontinues to implement like
workforce affordable housinginitiatives, we'll just see even

(44:06):
more of that, you know, as aplace to live, regardless of
where you're working acrossNorthwest Arkansas.

SPEAKER_05 (44:12):
I see a lot of opportunity, you know, we talk a
lot about downtown Springdale,but also just being close to
4849.
You know, I think withSpringdale being right in the
heart of North, the greater MSAof Northwest Arkansas, when you
have these split, you know, thehusband works at Walmart and the
wife works at U of A or viceversa, you know, you have
Springdale is uh the perfectplace to be where you're

(44:32):
splitting that commute.

SPEAKER_00 (44:33):
So and if you think of some of the future road
connections coming, right?
The 612 project and and evensome of the the you know R DOT
projects that are in the works,and I know those are still a
little far out.
Um, but we're already trying toplan for that because we know
that those road connections areonly going to open up more
opportunities for developmentand businesses and our community
to grow.

SPEAKER_02 (44:53):
And and I think as you spoke to like
transportation, we were talkingabout housing, but a key um
piece of of housing andattainability and affordability
is transportation.
You know, in fact, you never, ifyou ever just look at housing
prices on their own, you'remissing it, right?
Because you can have a very lowhousing price, but a high
transportation cost.
Um and so I think that's one ofthe the great pieces about not

(45:14):
only investing in the roadnetwork, but also investing in
the trail network.
Um, you know, all the major roadprojects that the city's been
doing include a bikingcomponent, biking and walking
component to it with the trail.
So I think that's gonna helpproviding transportation
options, um, which gives peoplemore choice, kind of going back
to that housing choice, having achoice of how you get to work um

(45:36):
is going to be key.
And I think that's just onceagain part of building a
resilient city.

SPEAKER_00 (45:40):
Yeah.
And it's and and it's it's it'sa smart um it's a smart
strategy, right?
Is to kind of look for umpromote more of the housing and
development with with Infill,right?
Because with we we have areas inin the city, right, where the
infrastructure, the utilities,the roads are already built.
Some of them they have water andsewer, they have some capacity

(46:01):
there.
Those are the spots.
And a lot of those we havedowntown or adjacent or near
downtown.
And those are the ones that wereally should kind of help
target and promote.
Um, I mean, Springdale is stillgrowing, right?
We still have sprawl and westill have new developments
coming.
Um, but for the areas where it'smore efficient, it's way more
efficient since we don't have tobuild new roads and and put in
all new infrastructure.

(46:22):
Um downtown still has a numberof opportunities for that.

SPEAKER_02 (46:26):
And I think speaking of infrastructure, um, if you've
you know been paying attentionto the news headlines northwest
Arkansas, you will see sewer andwater in the headlines many
times over this past year.
Um, but that's really incrediblethat Springdale has been looking
at this for quite a while andmaking investments.
And I would argue is probably insome of the best shape of any of

(46:47):
the other cities in terms ofadding and handling this growth
and development in terms of itswater and sewer capacity.

SPEAKER_00 (46:53):
Yes, big props to Springdale Water Utilities.
Um I mean, really, and and andthey serve, you know, Johnson
and and and Lowell and they theyexpand out more than just um our
our city limits, SpringdaleWater Utilities.
And and they did, that team,they they saw ahead and have
been have been working.
But yes, that those utilitychallenges, those capacity
challenges, um all the cities innorthwest Arkansas face.

(47:14):
So as we think about like futureroad connections and potential
areas of growth for newindustrial development, um,
sometimes that that is a hugefactor that can be a barrier
that we have to kind of figureout is we want this density,
this would be a fantastic placefor XYU land use, but how long
is it gonna be until we havesewer or water or able to build

(47:35):
a sufficient road to carry saidtraffic?

SPEAKER_02 (47:38):
And I think that's where it's really important that
people are supporting the cityand making these decisions
because it's gonna take money tofix these um these issues that
we're gonna be facing as growthcontinues to increase.
And, you know, we've got to makeit politically feasible to make
some of those tough choicesbecause not everybody, you know,
investing in a water line or asewer line is not the sexiest

(48:00):
thing, right?
Much rather see otherinvestments, but um, those are
critical to ever having um aproperly healthy functioning
industry or businessenvironment.

SPEAKER_05 (48:12):
That was gonna be even one of my questions was
what are some of the challengesthat you guys could see by you
guys are being pretty farthinking, you know, thinking
ahead about these uh waterissues and infrastructure
potential potential issues andgetting in front and getting in
front of park adjacent parking,you know, simple plans like that
to add hundreds of parkingspots.

(48:32):
So definitely hats off to youguys for being continuing to be
forward thinking on that and notjust being proactive versus
reactive, which is success,which is a successful trait with
any industry, uh, you know.

SPEAKER_02 (48:46):
So you know, and that's like I think the other
key piece we're talking aboutwater sewer is parking, right?
So every downtown at some pointfaces a parking challenge, and
it's sometimes it's just aperception, there's not a
parking problem, but a walkingproblem.
Um, but I'd say regardless,perception trumps reality in
those um situations.
So for somebody to come downtownand get a restaurant, if they

(49:08):
don't think they're gonna beable to get a parking space,
they're gonna make a choice togo somewhere else.
So I think that is somethingthat as we look at continuing
this momentum and growth, and aswe have more restaurants and
shops and people livingdowntown, um, also making it
politically feasible for thecity to invest in parking
solutions, which ultimatelymeans parking decks, right?

(49:30):
Um, I think one of the it's ait's a great concept of looking
at your um tax tax revenue persquare foot.
And if you look at that, umhaving vacant land, having park
surface parking lots is not agood return, right?
So if we can have cars parkingand parking decks, that frees up
real estate so that you get moretax dollars, which ultimately

(49:52):
just helps feed the system andprovides more business
opportunity.

SPEAKER_00 (49:56):
And having having that parking problem is a is a
sign of success.
Whenever we started, I sounds itsounds backwards, but when we
started getting, you know,influx of parking complaints, it
was a good thing because we Iremember the days when you
didn't have a parking problem.
You could park anywhere and youcould always go downtown and
park right in front of the shopor the business that you're
going to.
Um, so that is just a sign thatnow we're getting the attraction

(50:19):
and people are coming to see howfantastic downtown is, and now
we have that parking problem.
Um and years ago, Patsy said,once we have the problem, it's
too late.
We've got to start.
But when you don't have aparking problem, but here we
are.
Um but I I'm glad that everyonegets to that point in the
transformation of a downtownwhere they they have to address
parking and growth, but it is asign of success.

(50:41):
So although it's frustrating andwe we need to work out some sort
of solution, um, it's a goodthing.
It's a good thing.

SPEAKER_05 (50:47):
Once you have a problem, it's too late.
That is what a good what a goodmind, what an awesome mindset.
And like uh t taking extremeownership mindset, I think
that's awesome.
That's a good takeaway from uhfrom here.
And that do you guys have atimeline for you know park it?
Like a yesterday.
I have a friend that wasapproached by like uh by a

(51:10):
certain group about buying hisland.
Uh so I know it's probably inthe work, you're probably
looking at identifying somesites.

SPEAKER_00 (51:18):
And we have that that that study that that we
have, and we're gonna present tocouncil at the end, a nice
parking study, just identifyingwhere we think the most density
would be, where those structuresshould be.
So I'm hoping that's the guidingdocument.
So once we get some of theseinterested parties um and
propose some solutions out, atleast we have this guiding
document um with some some realdata to be able to guide those
decisions.

SPEAKER_02 (51:38):
Yeah, and I I'd love to see a public-private
partnership of you know, someland owned by private developers
and the city partnering uhbarring that.
It's probably gonna be a bondissue, right?
I mean, that's those parkingdecks are very expensive.
So I would say that if we don'thave some type of partnership
come forward, it'll it'll needto be in the next bond project.
And if if the city doesn't dothat, then we really will have a

(52:01):
problem, right?
When that hotel opens in 2027,when we have five new
restaurants downtown, you know,hundreds of people living
downtown.
It's something we really got tostart working on now.

SPEAKER_05 (52:12):
Sounds like you guys are on it.
And um, well, I'm gonna finishwith uh with a lightning round
here.
Couple couple questions for eachof you guys.
I'll let each of you guysanswer.
What what's your favorite, Ithink I know that, favorite new
public space in in Springdale?

SPEAKER_00 (52:26):
I'm gonna say Luther George Park, but I'm biased.
I live downtown, I workdowntown.
Um, so it is the closest park tomy house.
That is where uh me and the kidsare um almost every other day.
So I spent a lot of time there,but I can't I can't just say
enough good things about howthat project turned out.
It's great for kites andwhenever the wind over the hill
by that amphitheater.

SPEAKER_02 (52:47):
I mean like being on kites.

SPEAKER_00 (52:49):
Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 (52:51):
I think since Sharon took uh Luther George Park, I'll
I'll have to go with um if youif you haven't been downtown
lately, you know, the greenwayruns right through downtown and
Emma Onyx just opened up a newlocation right there on the
corner, which is just such uhsuch an incredible addition to
downtown and bringing a lot ofnew people downtown.
But um the city invested in um,and this isn't this probably

(53:15):
doesn't sound as good as it is,but um there was this grass
strip in between Shiloh Squareand the Greenway that was always
muddy, and the city just put inAstroturf.
And uh it's just reallyincredible because that space is
now used like every day.
And you can come downtown, get acoffee or a drink from Onyx, sit
outside um at a table, and kidscan play, and it's just really

(53:37):
incredible.

SPEAKER_00 (53:37):
I was surprised how much how much the public could
now utilize that space or howunderutilized it was to begin
with, which I didn't think itwas.
Um, what a little turf will do.

SPEAKER_05 (53:46):
Yeah.
Okay.
What's one restaurant ever whenwe talk about Gaskins, which we
all have, we shared a nice meal,that's a nice uh steak dinner
there.
What's the one restauranteveryone should try?

SPEAKER_00 (53:59):
My heart goes to probably Spring Street Grill.
Only because that is, I don'tknow how long Spring Street
Grill has been in downtownSpringdale, but uh as far back
as I can remember as a child, wewould were going to Spring
Street Grill.
So it is a it is a comfortplace.
So as we have all theseincredible new ones pop up and
they're all fantastic, there aresome days that I just kind of
want to go back to that comfortplace that um has always been

(54:20):
there.
And the recipes are still thesame, the coconut pie still
tastes the same.

SPEAKER_02 (54:24):
Love it.
I'm gonna have to check it out.
And then I think I'll have tosay, like for date night, I
would try Bistro 16.
Um for a long time.
There's a restaurant called BNVenue French restaurant, also um
sells the most French wine ofany place in the state, which is
a fun fact.
Uh recently rebranded to Bistro16, so a little more casual, but
still definitely nice.

(54:44):
And going in for a nice meal andum if you like French food, it's
definitely incredible.
Awesome.

SPEAKER_05 (54:50):
I will check that one out as well.
And and uh what what's I guessone word, if you can give it one
word, what would you describeSpringdale's future?

SPEAKER_00 (54:59):
Strength.

SPEAKER_05 (55:02):
That's good.

SPEAKER_02 (55:03):
I like it.
What about you, Paxson?
It may sound boring, butopportunity.
It's just an incredible amountof opportunity.
I love it.

SPEAKER_00 (55:12):
I know we're wrapping it up, but I do want to
throw in there the opportunityzone.
I don't know if we talked aboutthat, but it is over our
downtown.
Just to add, we we can stay herefor hours and talk that on that.

SPEAKER_02 (55:20):
Yeah, I think that's something that you know the
opportunity zones made itthrough the big beautiful bill.
The rules are being writtenright now.
Um, I believe there will be um azone still in Springdale, and I
think that's an incredibleinvestment opportunity that if
people don't know about, theyreally need to get it.

SPEAKER_00 (55:35):
The Secretary of Cloud, um, Scott Turner actually
came with the governor um inspring of of this year and
toured some of the developmentsthat were completed under the
opportunity zone.
Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 (55:44):
Yeah.
And if you guys, if listenerscan go back to uh the episode
with Mayor Sprouse, we did wedid we did touch on Opportunity
Zone and how that's beentremendous for uh you know
downtown Springdo specifically.
And it'll be interesting to seehow that does get the zones get
re-designated if they move alittle bit or re get get
redesignated.

(56:05):
Um I guess that's 2026.

SPEAKER_02 (56:08):
Um so yeah.
I do want to add, I think whenwe were talking about new things
this year, because this isreally new, it was just
announced last week.
But uh, if you're a resident ofNorthwest Arkansas, I grew up
here.
Um, you probably knew of AQChicken.
Oh, yeah.
It was a longstandinginstitution on uh Thompson in in
Springdale and uh growing upgoing deep family dinners there,

(56:31):
and just really excited that itis going to um be opened up in
downtown, right up right acrossfrom Shiloh Square next to Onyx.
And I think that is probablysome of the biggest news that
happened recently.

SPEAKER_00 (56:42):
But chicks are coming home, I think is what
their line is.
That that's a huge announcement.
That's so exciting.
I mean, that is that that kindof reminds me of like the Spring
Street Grill, like a comfortsomething from your past is AQ
coming back.

SPEAKER_05 (56:54):
I mean, yeah, I was lucky to have it before they
shut down the old location.
And what what better spot now,too, right?
In the heart of downtownSpringdale.
So that's awesome.
Well, well, uh, thank you guys,Sharon, Paxton, for coming on.
Um, where can people learn moreor get more involved?

SPEAKER_00 (57:11):
Absolutely, thank you.
Um, our city website, SpringdaleAR.gov planning department.
Also follow planning um onInstagram.

SPEAKER_02 (57:18):
Yeah, and for us it's downtownspringdale.org and
of course on social mediadowntown Springdale, and we've
got an incredible event calendarand lots of information about
downtown.
And we also support somebody'sopening up a local business in
downtown and has questions,we're happy to help them in any
way we can.

SPEAKER_05 (57:36):
Love it.
All right, guys.
Thanks for listening.
Um, remember to leave a reviewand share the episode, and we'll
see you on the next one.

SPEAKER_03 (57:43):
Again, thank you guys for tuning in.
I'm gonna go ahead and uh listsome sponsors off here.
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