FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A new mixed-use neighborhood is being considered near John L. Colbert Middle School in west Fayetteville. At the Sept. 16 Fayetteville City Council meeting, the city planning commission forwarded the motion to approve the plans proposed for the new project.
A new mixed-use development is needed to balance out the current conventional suburban block. Previous zoning projects around Rupple Road have struggled to include anything other than townhomes and duplexes. As Fayetteville expands, local developers Jorgensen and Associates believe they can step in and provide aid with mixed-use development in the area.
“I would certainly hope that we could get something in here that wouldn’t make this less than just a pass through,” said Fayetteville City Council member Sarah Bunch.
Bunch said that residential development around John L. Colbert Middle School has already been created. The construction of a commercial site could potentially bring the surrounding areas together to foster community.
The surrounding developments around Rupple Road reflect a type of ‘suburban sprawl’ that many developers dislike. City council members who questioned the use of the space were concerned about what kinds of businesses would be allowed so close to the school.
Blake Jorgensen, one of the developers behind the new project, intends to develop a place where people can reside, shop, walk and interact.
The preservation of an old historic structure built in 1895 is also part of the equation. Preserving the histories and remembering Fayetteville’s past can inspire those who create new environments to enrich the space with more homogeneity.
The long-range planning committee was awarded a grant to support and survey the structure and prepare to consult with the planning commission before demolition or alteration of this structure.
Jorgensen and Associates has a long history of projects around Fayetteville. One of these projects is the extension of the Rupple Road roundabouts that connect to other parts of the city. According to the development group, their work has relieved traffic concerns in other parts of Fayetteville and encouraged families to feel safe walking in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Other mixed-use developments from Jorgenson and Associates combine housing with retail space, helping to integrate green spaces and people in an organic outdoor and biking interaction.
Additional housing is needed in the area because of the density of the University of Arkansas, and because the existing middle school is within walking distance.
A final decision on allowing the development was tabled until the next city council meeting on Oct. 7. The Fayetteville Historic District Commission has not yet decided to photograph the historic building on this site and will require further planning until the project is completely approved.