FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A developer, Next Chapter Neighborhoods, is planning to build a 49-acre rental community adjacent to Underwood Park. However, citizens and nearby neighbors of the park are concerned about the development’s impact on the area.
The current plan includes 276 individual or single-family homes. This site for the development has room for around 500 houses, so it is eliminating the potential for about 200 additional houses. Developers are emphasizing the reduction of houses as a way to show their well-planned layout.
The vision, according to Andrew Malzer, vice president of development with Next Chapter Neighborhoods, is more than just houses in a neighborhood, it is a lifestyle. He considers this the “perfect site for a Next Chapter Neighborhood,” and believes there is an opportunity “for this to be the best housing option in the Northwest Arkansas region.”
This market-rate rental community will come with high-end amenities like a pool, pickleball courts, exterior and interior maintenance and landscaping. In the current Next Chapter Neighborhoods, residents have truly made it a community by participating in and hosting their own events.
Malzer noted that there will be safe, public sidewalks connecting the neighborhood to Underwood Park and nearby schools. Necessities like fire response, sewer and water mains, a city park, paved trails and a Razorback bus stop have also been promised. The neighborhood will also remain in compliance with the city’s tree preservation requirements.
Andrew Malzer speaking at the Fayetteville city council meeting on Sept. 16, 2025
Despite the presentation given by Malzer at the Fayetteville City Council meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 16, deep feelings and division were heard from community members.
Council Member Sarah Moore said “it doesn’t feel very Fayetteville, I’ll be real honest.”
For some, their city’s identity is grounded on green spaces and homeownership, not out-of-state rental developments.
Wesley Bates called the development a “single-family neighborhood that no one can own their own house in.”
In a study conducted by Next Chapter Neighborhoods, they found that many cities’ local governments “expressed a recognition that not all residents want to live in single-family homes on large plots of land.”
Residents of the nearby neighborhood Crystal Springs voiced their concerns about preserving the greenspace that is currently there and the traffic that could end up having to pass through their neighborhood. Jim Erwin directly told the council not to approve the ordinance and that there are opportunities to do many other things in this area and instead of “selling out to another state.”
Malzer said that he wants the development of this neighborhood and the development of Underwood Park to be joined and have “a lot of interconnectivity.” The neighbors of Underwood Park have called attention to the timing of this project because ongoing park renovations will include many of the same amenities planned for New Chapter Neighborhoods.
The unique nature of this community has many people wondering who the tenants will be. While Malzer did confirm that there is no age restriction for the neighborhood, he also said the current Next Chapter Neighborhoods have mainly attracted the 55 and up crowd. The low maintenance and “fixed expense” style of living appeals to this demographic. “We’re building great neighborhoods for great neighbors,” Malzer said. “The quality of our tenants will support our business plan.”
The planning commission approved the proposal for a change in zoning but questions about its street system remain. The item was formally introduced to the council at the Sept. 16 meeting so that amendments could be addressed, but it was not voted on. The city council will revisit this potential “next chapter” for Fayetteville housing during the Oct. 7 city council meeting.