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Joining bike trails from Fayetteville to Bella Vista is closer to reality due to a grant from the Department of Transportation. $15 million will be provided through the “Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Program.”
Fayetteville, Bentonville and other NW Arkansas towns have already created many existing bicycle trails. But the idea now is to join them all. Read More.
Showing posts with label Rogers Arkansas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rogers Arkansas. Show all posts
Friday, January 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Rogers Picked as One of the Best Places to Live
Little old Rogers (actually not so little any longer) has been picked by CNNMoney.com as #10 on their list of best small cities to live.
It’s ironic sometimes that as we watch things gradually change and grow, we sometimes do not stop long enough to look at the big picture. CNNMoney did that for us.
Rogers has lots to offer – excellent schools, lakes, golfing, upscale shopping and office facilities, low unemployment, good weather, and a population of 57,000 people from all over the country. Many of the residents were drawn by Rogers’ proximity to Wal-Mart’s home office in Bentonville. They liked what they saw and in many cases they encouraged friends and family to join them.
Rogers is indicative of life in the other cities of NW Arkansas. Sperling’s Best Places, U.S. News and World Report, and others have frequently cited the City of Fayetteville and the entire Fayetteville Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Rogers, as outstanding places to live. Those ratings considered affordability, education, clean air, employment, crime statistics, and just about everything else people take into consideration when deciding where to live.
Congratulations Rogers. Keep up the good work.
For more information:
CNN-Money Article
Wikipedia on Rogers, Arkansas
It’s ironic sometimes that as we watch things gradually change and grow, we sometimes do not stop long enough to look at the big picture. CNNMoney did that for us.
Rogers has lots to offer – excellent schools, lakes, golfing, upscale shopping and office facilities, low unemployment, good weather, and a population of 57,000 people from all over the country. Many of the residents were drawn by Rogers’ proximity to Wal-Mart’s home office in Bentonville. They liked what they saw and in many cases they encouraged friends and family to join them.
Rogers is indicative of life in the other cities of NW Arkansas. Sperling’s Best Places, U.S. News and World Report, and others have frequently cited the City of Fayetteville and the entire Fayetteville Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Rogers, as outstanding places to live. Those ratings considered affordability, education, clean air, employment, crime statistics, and just about everything else people take into consideration when deciding where to live.
Congratulations Rogers. Keep up the good work.
For more information:
CNN-Money Article
Wikipedia on Rogers, Arkansas
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Way to Go, Mayor Womack!
I attended the annual business luncheon last Friday (Jan. 18) at the John Q. Hammonds Convention Center in Rogers, sponsored by the Center for Business and Economic Research of the U of A (more on this in a future post).
As I zipped up I-540 from Fayetteville I made good time, since it was before mid-day. But then I arrived at the Pinnacle Hills Parkway exit. Cars were backed up at a standstill so that it took almost 1/2 hour to go from where the northbound exit ramp leaves I-540, under the freeway to where the newly widened street turns left onto Pinnacle Hills Parkway. The way the stoplights were adjusted, only a few cars could turn left at each light, so that there were even more cars behind me still "parked" not only on the exit ramp, but a good ways down the freeway.
As I arrived at the intersection to make a left turn onto Pinnacle Hills, a gentleman in a black overcoat entered the scene and began directing traffic. He blocked part of the traffic going south on Pinnacle Hills so that people from the freeway exit turning left to get to the meeting could proceed more smoothly. With more than 1,000 business people in attendance, the traffic bottleneck made a lot of them late. I did get there on time, but just barely. As I was leaving, I chatted with another person from the luncheon who told me that the man directing traffic was Rogers' Mayor Steve Womack and that he did "stuff like that" from time to time.
I applaud Mayor Womack's initiative in taking charge of the situation and making sure business people got to this important annual economic event (if it was him--I'm not sure since I have never met him personally). But the incident points out the continuing problem of infrastructure keeping up with growth in NW Arkansas, particularly with regard to transportation.
Following are a few updates on various transportation/infrastructure projects for NW Arkansas:
The exit for Pinnacle Hills Promenade Mall is open from northbound I-540 but the overpass to the west side of I-540 and the exit from southbound I-540 are not. If the overpass had been finished, the traffic delay I encountered would probably not have happened.
In southwest Rogers, work is under way on Pauline Whitaker Parkway, a north-south street that will connect with the Promenade interchange on the west side of I-540, providing access to the new Mercy Medical Center, which will open in March. According to the current timetable, the road should be completed in May.
Several other north-south road improvements will soon be open in Rogers.
Bentonville is also busy widening roads, improving interchanges, installing drains, and working on concepts for future projects. As hard as the city works, it’s almost impossible to keep up with the need for more infrastructure.
One bright spot is the cities of Rogers and Bentonville partnering on some projects that affect both.
Bella Vista will, unfortunately, have to struggle with its traffic bottleneck long into the future. U.S. Hwy. 71 carries all interstate traffic right through the middle of town. A bypass connecting Arkansas and Missouri has been studied for years but now seems dead in the water. The latest estimates show a $139 million shortfall between construction cost and projected income from tolls. That report caused Missouri to reassign the funds they were planning to spend for their portion of the connector.
Springdale is going full speed ahead on three east-west corridors to relieve traffic on U.S. Hwy. 412. The city and voters alike are to be commended for their foresight and planning. Voters approved a 1% sales tax in 2003 to back $105 million in bonds and the city has been constructing roads non-stop. In light of ever-increasing inflation and growth, that vote was a good move.
In November 2007, the first section of the southern corridor between 40th and 48th streets opened. When complete in spring of 2009 the southern corridor will run from 48th Street to Butterfield Coach Road, which is currently the eastern edge of the city limits.
The northern corridor, which is located near Wagon Wheel Road, is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2009.
Portions of the central corridor have been complete for some time. The phase that will connect Hwy. 71B to Old Missouri Road is scheduled to finish in November 2008. The third phase of the central corridor that will connect Emma Avenue to Robinson Avenue on the eastern side of the city is scheduled to be complete in May 2009.
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department opened a new, wider 6-mile section of U.S. 412 near Hindsville. If and when all the planned improvements are made to U.S. 412, it will be a 4-lane highway from the Oklahoma border east to Huntsville. The state is also planning to widen a 1.6-mile stretch of Old Wire Road in Springdale from Randall Wobbe Lane north to Arkansas 264. No work is evident here yet.
Fayetteville is also busy improving roads but perhaps not on the same scale as some of the other cities. Portions of Wedington Drive are being widened and, it seems to me, moving along at a good pace. As I recall, it took some five years to widen about three miles of Hwy. 265 so I am impressed with the progress I see on Wedington.
And on the subject of Hwy. 265, Fayetteville has been notified by the state transportation department that it wants to proceed with widening that highway from Mission Boulevard north to Joyce Boulevard. Earlier plans had called for a 4-lane highway north to the Springdale city limit but inflation caused those plans to be scrapped.
Meanwhile, plans for public transportation on a major scale are sorely lacking. Ozark Regional Transportation provides some bus service on fixed routes in Fayetteville and Springdale. A few routes in Rogers and Bentonville are scheduled for this year. Sadly, a route from Springdale to Lowell to Rogers was canceled recently due to lack of funding.
Razorback Transit at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville provides free bus service for the area around the campus and to the Northwest Arkansas Mall.
It seems to me that serious consideration must be given to improving public transportation on a regional scale (think light rail or funding for a beefed-up bus system). I don’t pretend to be a planning engineer but I do know congestion, traffic delays, and gridlock when I see it. Every once in a while I hear “light rail” being tossed around but I haven’t see any firm projections.
For more information:
http://www.bentonvillear.com/docs/street/street_newsletter_120107.pdf
http://www.rogersarkansas.com/planning/2010Bond.asp
http://www.nwarktimes.com/brog/News/55678/
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/National/201929/print/
http://www.joplinindependent.com/display_article.php/l-marble1192477593
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2007/12/05/news/120607sz412eupdate.txt
http://www.ozark.org/RidingORT/home.html
As I zipped up I-540 from Fayetteville I made good time, since it was before mid-day. But then I arrived at the Pinnacle Hills Parkway exit. Cars were backed up at a standstill so that it took almost 1/2 hour to go from where the northbound exit ramp leaves I-540, under the freeway to where the newly widened street turns left onto Pinnacle Hills Parkway. The way the stoplights were adjusted, only a few cars could turn left at each light, so that there were even more cars behind me still "parked" not only on the exit ramp, but a good ways down the freeway.
As I arrived at the intersection to make a left turn onto Pinnacle Hills, a gentleman in a black overcoat entered the scene and began directing traffic. He blocked part of the traffic going south on Pinnacle Hills so that people from the freeway exit turning left to get to the meeting could proceed more smoothly. With more than 1,000 business people in attendance, the traffic bottleneck made a lot of them late. I did get there on time, but just barely. As I was leaving, I chatted with another person from the luncheon who told me that the man directing traffic was Rogers' Mayor Steve Womack and that he did "stuff like that" from time to time.
I applaud Mayor Womack's initiative in taking charge of the situation and making sure business people got to this important annual economic event (if it was him--I'm not sure since I have never met him personally). But the incident points out the continuing problem of infrastructure keeping up with growth in NW Arkansas, particularly with regard to transportation.
Following are a few updates on various transportation/infrastructure projects for NW Arkansas:
The exit for Pinnacle Hills Promenade Mall is open from northbound I-540 but the overpass to the west side of I-540 and the exit from southbound I-540 are not. If the overpass had been finished, the traffic delay I encountered would probably not have happened.
In southwest Rogers, work is under way on Pauline Whitaker Parkway, a north-south street that will connect with the Promenade interchange on the west side of I-540, providing access to the new Mercy Medical Center, which will open in March. According to the current timetable, the road should be completed in May.
Several other north-south road improvements will soon be open in Rogers.
Bentonville is also busy widening roads, improving interchanges, installing drains, and working on concepts for future projects. As hard as the city works, it’s almost impossible to keep up with the need for more infrastructure.
One bright spot is the cities of Rogers and Bentonville partnering on some projects that affect both.
Bella Vista will, unfortunately, have to struggle with its traffic bottleneck long into the future. U.S. Hwy. 71 carries all interstate traffic right through the middle of town. A bypass connecting Arkansas and Missouri has been studied for years but now seems dead in the water. The latest estimates show a $139 million shortfall between construction cost and projected income from tolls. That report caused Missouri to reassign the funds they were planning to spend for their portion of the connector.
Springdale is going full speed ahead on three east-west corridors to relieve traffic on U.S. Hwy. 412. The city and voters alike are to be commended for their foresight and planning. Voters approved a 1% sales tax in 2003 to back $105 million in bonds and the city has been constructing roads non-stop. In light of ever-increasing inflation and growth, that vote was a good move.
In November 2007, the first section of the southern corridor between 40th and 48th streets opened. When complete in spring of 2009 the southern corridor will run from 48th Street to Butterfield Coach Road, which is currently the eastern edge of the city limits.
The northern corridor, which is located near Wagon Wheel Road, is scheduled for completion in the first half of 2009.
Portions of the central corridor have been complete for some time. The phase that will connect Hwy. 71B to Old Missouri Road is scheduled to finish in November 2008. The third phase of the central corridor that will connect Emma Avenue to Robinson Avenue on the eastern side of the city is scheduled to be complete in May 2009.
The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department opened a new, wider 6-mile section of U.S. 412 near Hindsville. If and when all the planned improvements are made to U.S. 412, it will be a 4-lane highway from the Oklahoma border east to Huntsville. The state is also planning to widen a 1.6-mile stretch of Old Wire Road in Springdale from Randall Wobbe Lane north to Arkansas 264. No work is evident here yet.
Fayetteville is also busy improving roads but perhaps not on the same scale as some of the other cities. Portions of Wedington Drive are being widened and, it seems to me, moving along at a good pace. As I recall, it took some five years to widen about three miles of Hwy. 265 so I am impressed with the progress I see on Wedington.
And on the subject of Hwy. 265, Fayetteville has been notified by the state transportation department that it wants to proceed with widening that highway from Mission Boulevard north to Joyce Boulevard. Earlier plans had called for a 4-lane highway north to the Springdale city limit but inflation caused those plans to be scrapped.
Meanwhile, plans for public transportation on a major scale are sorely lacking. Ozark Regional Transportation provides some bus service on fixed routes in Fayetteville and Springdale. A few routes in Rogers and Bentonville are scheduled for this year. Sadly, a route from Springdale to Lowell to Rogers was canceled recently due to lack of funding.
Razorback Transit at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville provides free bus service for the area around the campus and to the Northwest Arkansas Mall.
It seems to me that serious consideration must be given to improving public transportation on a regional scale (think light rail or funding for a beefed-up bus system). I don’t pretend to be a planning engineer but I do know congestion, traffic delays, and gridlock when I see it. Every once in a while I hear “light rail” being tossed around but I haven’t see any firm projections.
For more information:
http://www.bentonvillear.com/docs/street/street_newsletter_120107.pdf
http://www.rogersarkansas.com/planning/2010Bond.asp
http://www.nwarktimes.com/brog/News/55678/
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/National/201929/print/
http://www.joplinindependent.com/display_article.php/l-marble1192477593
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2007/12/05/news/120607sz412eupdate.txt
http://www.ozark.org/RidingORT/home.html
Monday, April 30, 2007
First Quarter 2007 NW Arkansas Housing Market Update
According to the National Association of Realtors®, the GDP (Gross Domestic Product—or total value of goods and services produced in the US) grew at a slower than expected 1.3% in the first quarter of 2007, due in part to the housing slump across the nation.
On April 25 the National Association of Realtors® announced that sales of existing homes plunged 8.4% in March, the worst one-month decline in 18 years. The median price of an existing home nationally fell to $217,000, a 0.3% decline from March 2006. Inventories of unsold homes nationally rose to a 7.3-month supply, the highest level since October. New home sales in March rose 2.6% over February, but were down 23% from March 2006, the second weakest year-over-year sales performance since September 2001, according to an April 25 report from the Census Burea. Surprisingly, the median price nationally of a new home sold in March was $254,000, up 6.3% from the price of a new home sold a year earlier.
Home sales in NW Arkansas, as elsewhere, were down in the first quarter of 2007 compared to the last quarter of 2006. This is a normal seasonal occurrence, since the NW Arkansas housing market is largely weather driven, and we had awful, cold weather. But homes are now taking longer to sell due to elevated inventory in almost all price levels, with the average days on market (DOM) up in all of the NW Arkansas towns. The “buyer’s market” discussed in media reports does exist here, and with high inventory and falling prices, it might be a good time for buyers to purchase a home in NW Arkansas. Nevertheless, each town does have slightly different market trends.
An exception to what I have said above, Fayetteville actually experienced an increase in home sales in Q1 2007 with 258 homes sold (86 per month), compared to 248 homes sold in the Q4 of 2006 and the same number sold in the Q1 of 2006. As for prices, after a drop of almost 14 percent in the last quarter of 2006, the average price of homes sold in the first quarter of 2007 increased by almost 6% to $216,013. The median price of homes sold was $189,900, and the DOM was 137, up from 110 in the 4th quarter of 2006. The highest average sales price in the past couple of years was $236,616 in the 3rd quarter of 2005.
Springdale’s housing market is down from both the past quarter and from the same quarter last year. There were 275 homes sold in Q1 of 2007 compared to 283 in Q4 of 2006 and 313 in Q1 of 2006. Average DOM has increased to 132 over the past year from 111 in Q1 of 2006. The average and median sales prices have also decreased over the past year. Average sales price is down almost 8% compared to Q1 last year and almost 3% from the last quarter. The average sales price for Springdale during Q1 of 2007 was $160,882 after a peak in Q2 of 2006 of $181,380. The median price of homes in Springdale in Q1 of 2007 was $149,900—a decrease to the same level as in Q4 for 2005. It should be mentioned, however, that not only does the decreased average and median sale price reflect lower prices for homes, but also the increased availability of less expensive homes. This might be a good time to invest in a home in Springdale.
Bentonville is still the most expensive place to purchase a home in NW Arkansas, with an average sale price of $235,229 during Q1 of 2007, compared to $212,666 in Q1 of 2006. However, prices have dropped slightly from the highest average sale price in the past couple of years, which occurred in Q4 of 2006 at $238,659. However, the median sale price is now the highest it has been at $209,000, compared to $194,500 in Q4 of 2006 and $180,000 in Q1 of 2006. The median price represents the middle price of all homes sold, with equal numbers of more expensive and less expensive homes sold. This increase represents a 16% increase compared to Q1 of 2006 and almost an 8% increase from the last quarter of 2006.
Average days on market (DOM) in Bentonville has reached 162, up from 142 in Q4 of 2006 and 124 in Q1 of 2006. And the number of homes sold in Bentonville during Q1 of 2007 has decreased significantly to 151, compared to 192 in the same quarter last year and 197 in Q4 of 2006. The highest number of homes sold in the past couple of years in Bentonville occurred during Q3 of 2005, 292 homes.
The picture in Rogers is slightly different from that of Bentonville. It is the same in that fewer homes were sold in Q1 of 2007 compared to Q4 of 2006 (279 compared to 319), but when compared to Q1 of 2006 (275 homes sold), more homes were sold. Also both median and average prices have declined. The average sale price in Q1 of 2007 was $193,807 and the median sale price was $160,000. This represents a drop of 14% compared to Q4 of 2006 and 13% compared to Q1 of last year in average sale prices, and a drop of over 7% in median sale prices compared to Q1 and Q4 of 2006. As in Springdale, this signifies both falling home prices and the increased availability of less expensive homes. The DOM is up to 167 days, compared with 147 in Q4 of 2006 and 122 in Q1 a year ago.
Bella Vista’s market, in some respects, has remained somewhat steady in comparison to the other towns of NW Arkansas. This could be because the price ranges of homes are more limited. Nevertheless, there was also a decline in the number of homes sold in Q1 of 2007 compared to the previous quarter, from 243 to 200. The number of homes sold in Q1 of 2006 was 265. As in the other NW Arkansas towns, average DOM increased from 135 to 145, the highest it has been in the past couple of years.
But prices haven’t changed that much in Bella Vista. The average sales price did decline slightly from $178,789 in Q4 of 2006 to $176,201 in Q1 of 2007 (only 1.51%). The median price increased slightly in the same period from $155,000 to $159,000 (only 2.58%).
All in all, many of the changes are normal seasonal ones and follow similar patterns to previous years. As mentioned earlier, the weather does have a significant effect on the NW Arkansas housing market, and this winter has been extremely cold. Another factor has been the large amount of media type about the “housing slump” which made many buyers afraid to purchase; they didn’t want to pay too much if prices were going down.
Until the past couple of quarters, NW Arkansas seemed immune to these national trends with home prices rising even as they were bottoming out in other parts of the country, but an adjustment has finally occurred.
Yes, prices have come down, so this might be a good time to buy, since the supply of homes is up and interest rates are still down. It is definitely a buyer’s market in almost all price ranges. And now that the weather is improving, I have noticed a decided increase in buyer activity.
Note: Data for local statistics in this report is from the NW Arkansas MLS and included only homes that were listed by real estate agent members of the MLS. It does not include For Sale by Owners or other properties not listed by a real estate firm. For comparison purposes the national median home price in Q4 of 2006 was $219,300. NW Arkansas is still a “good deal.”
These figures do vary according to price range, city, and neighborhood. If you would like more information on your specific neighborhood, email me at judy@judyluna.com.
For more information on other economic indicators for Q1 2007:
http://www.realtor.org/Research.nsf/files/gdp.pdf/$FILE/gdp.pdf
On April 25 the National Association of Realtors® announced that sales of existing homes plunged 8.4% in March, the worst one-month decline in 18 years. The median price of an existing home nationally fell to $217,000, a 0.3% decline from March 2006. Inventories of unsold homes nationally rose to a 7.3-month supply, the highest level since October. New home sales in March rose 2.6% over February, but were down 23% from March 2006, the second weakest year-over-year sales performance since September 2001, according to an April 25 report from the Census Burea. Surprisingly, the median price nationally of a new home sold in March was $254,000, up 6.3% from the price of a new home sold a year earlier.
Home sales in NW Arkansas, as elsewhere, were down in the first quarter of 2007 compared to the last quarter of 2006. This is a normal seasonal occurrence, since the NW Arkansas housing market is largely weather driven, and we had awful, cold weather. But homes are now taking longer to sell due to elevated inventory in almost all price levels, with the average days on market (DOM) up in all of the NW Arkansas towns. The “buyer’s market” discussed in media reports does exist here, and with high inventory and falling prices, it might be a good time for buyers to purchase a home in NW Arkansas. Nevertheless, each town does have slightly different market trends.
An exception to what I have said above, Fayetteville actually experienced an increase in home sales in Q1 2007 with 258 homes sold (86 per month), compared to 248 homes sold in the Q4 of 2006 and the same number sold in the Q1 of 2006. As for prices, after a drop of almost 14 percent in the last quarter of 2006, the average price of homes sold in the first quarter of 2007 increased by almost 6% to $216,013. The median price of homes sold was $189,900, and the DOM was 137, up from 110 in the 4th quarter of 2006. The highest average sales price in the past couple of years was $236,616 in the 3rd quarter of 2005.
Springdale’s housing market is down from both the past quarter and from the same quarter last year. There were 275 homes sold in Q1 of 2007 compared to 283 in Q4 of 2006 and 313 in Q1 of 2006. Average DOM has increased to 132 over the past year from 111 in Q1 of 2006. The average and median sales prices have also decreased over the past year. Average sales price is down almost 8% compared to Q1 last year and almost 3% from the last quarter. The average sales price for Springdale during Q1 of 2007 was $160,882 after a peak in Q2 of 2006 of $181,380. The median price of homes in Springdale in Q1 of 2007 was $149,900—a decrease to the same level as in Q4 for 2005. It should be mentioned, however, that not only does the decreased average and median sale price reflect lower prices for homes, but also the increased availability of less expensive homes. This might be a good time to invest in a home in Springdale.
Bentonville is still the most expensive place to purchase a home in NW Arkansas, with an average sale price of $235,229 during Q1 of 2007, compared to $212,666 in Q1 of 2006. However, prices have dropped slightly from the highest average sale price in the past couple of years, which occurred in Q4 of 2006 at $238,659. However, the median sale price is now the highest it has been at $209,000, compared to $194,500 in Q4 of 2006 and $180,000 in Q1 of 2006. The median price represents the middle price of all homes sold, with equal numbers of more expensive and less expensive homes sold. This increase represents a 16% increase compared to Q1 of 2006 and almost an 8% increase from the last quarter of 2006.
Average days on market (DOM) in Bentonville has reached 162, up from 142 in Q4 of 2006 and 124 in Q1 of 2006. And the number of homes sold in Bentonville during Q1 of 2007 has decreased significantly to 151, compared to 192 in the same quarter last year and 197 in Q4 of 2006. The highest number of homes sold in the past couple of years in Bentonville occurred during Q3 of 2005, 292 homes.
The picture in Rogers is slightly different from that of Bentonville. It is the same in that fewer homes were sold in Q1 of 2007 compared to Q4 of 2006 (279 compared to 319), but when compared to Q1 of 2006 (275 homes sold), more homes were sold. Also both median and average prices have declined. The average sale price in Q1 of 2007 was $193,807 and the median sale price was $160,000. This represents a drop of 14% compared to Q4 of 2006 and 13% compared to Q1 of last year in average sale prices, and a drop of over 7% in median sale prices compared to Q1 and Q4 of 2006. As in Springdale, this signifies both falling home prices and the increased availability of less expensive homes. The DOM is up to 167 days, compared with 147 in Q4 of 2006 and 122 in Q1 a year ago.
Bella Vista’s market, in some respects, has remained somewhat steady in comparison to the other towns of NW Arkansas. This could be because the price ranges of homes are more limited. Nevertheless, there was also a decline in the number of homes sold in Q1 of 2007 compared to the previous quarter, from 243 to 200. The number of homes sold in Q1 of 2006 was 265. As in the other NW Arkansas towns, average DOM increased from 135 to 145, the highest it has been in the past couple of years.
But prices haven’t changed that much in Bella Vista. The average sales price did decline slightly from $178,789 in Q4 of 2006 to $176,201 in Q1 of 2007 (only 1.51%). The median price increased slightly in the same period from $155,000 to $159,000 (only 2.58%).
All in all, many of the changes are normal seasonal ones and follow similar patterns to previous years. As mentioned earlier, the weather does have a significant effect on the NW Arkansas housing market, and this winter has been extremely cold. Another factor has been the large amount of media type about the “housing slump” which made many buyers afraid to purchase; they didn’t want to pay too much if prices were going down.
Until the past couple of quarters, NW Arkansas seemed immune to these national trends with home prices rising even as they were bottoming out in other parts of the country, but an adjustment has finally occurred.
Yes, prices have come down, so this might be a good time to buy, since the supply of homes is up and interest rates are still down. It is definitely a buyer’s market in almost all price ranges. And now that the weather is improving, I have noticed a decided increase in buyer activity.
Note: Data for local statistics in this report is from the NW Arkansas MLS and included only homes that were listed by real estate agent members of the MLS. It does not include For Sale by Owners or other properties not listed by a real estate firm. For comparison purposes the national median home price in Q4 of 2006 was $219,300. NW Arkansas is still a “good deal.”
These figures do vary according to price range, city, and neighborhood. If you would like more information on your specific neighborhood, email me at judy@judyluna.com.
For more information on other economic indicators for Q1 2007:
http://www.realtor.org/Research.nsf/files/gdp.pdf/$FILE/gdp.pdf
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Future of Fayetteville High School Update
In a close decision, Fayetteville School Board voted 4-3 to continue operating only one school for all high school students in the district. Currently, that means grades 10-12.
There is much more to be considered. For example:
Will 9th grade be removed from Junior High to High School?
Will the present school somehow be expanded or abandoned in favor of a new school elsewhere?
If it is to be a new site, where will that be?
What are the costs of these decisions?
What is the resale value of the present high school property?
Is enrollment expanding enough to justify the expense?
The Future of Fayetteville High School Select Committee charged with evaluating the future of the high school recommended adding 9th grade to high school but the board did not vote on that subject.
My son graduated from FHS a few years ago so I feel justified in giving my opinion. I’m in favor of keeping 9th graders in junior high. They need another year of maturity and chances of leadership positions in junior high before being tossed into the high school where they are “small fish” in a very big pond.
I’m also in favor of one high school because I fear having two high schools may create a rivalry of sorts. One school may be perceived as better, or more modern, or have better labs and classes, etc. Or, and let’s hope this would not happen, one school may happen to have more affluent students because it’s located in a “better” part of town.
It is worth noting that while all these decisions are being made, Springdale and Rogers have each seen their enrollment go flat after several years of incredible expansion. Springdale’s enrollment has dropped about 100 students from the end of 2005-06 school year to the present time. Rogers has lost nearly 200 students.
Springdale is now postponing construction of several new schools that were planned.
I wish Fayetteville School Board well as they deal with these difficult decisions.
For more information:
See also my post “Last Chance to Influence Decision on Fayetteville’s High School Expansion” of February 8, 2007
http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/50372/
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2007/02/25/news/022607szattendanceboundary.txt
There is much more to be considered. For example:
Will 9th grade be removed from Junior High to High School?
Will the present school somehow be expanded or abandoned in favor of a new school elsewhere?
If it is to be a new site, where will that be?
What are the costs of these decisions?
What is the resale value of the present high school property?
Is enrollment expanding enough to justify the expense?
The Future of Fayetteville High School Select Committee charged with evaluating the future of the high school recommended adding 9th grade to high school but the board did not vote on that subject.
My son graduated from FHS a few years ago so I feel justified in giving my opinion. I’m in favor of keeping 9th graders in junior high. They need another year of maturity and chances of leadership positions in junior high before being tossed into the high school where they are “small fish” in a very big pond.
I’m also in favor of one high school because I fear having two high schools may create a rivalry of sorts. One school may be perceived as better, or more modern, or have better labs and classes, etc. Or, and let’s hope this would not happen, one school may happen to have more affluent students because it’s located in a “better” part of town.
It is worth noting that while all these decisions are being made, Springdale and Rogers have each seen their enrollment go flat after several years of incredible expansion. Springdale’s enrollment has dropped about 100 students from the end of 2005-06 school year to the present time. Rogers has lost nearly 200 students.
Springdale is now postponing construction of several new schools that were planned.
I wish Fayetteville School Board well as they deal with these difficult decisions.
For more information:
See also my post “Last Chance to Influence Decision on Fayetteville’s High School Expansion” of February 8, 2007
http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/50372/
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2007/02/25/news/022607szattendanceboundary.txt
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Rogers Opens Adult Wellness Center
Congratulations to the City of Rogers on opening the brand new Adult Wellness Center. As of October 2, 2006, anyone over the age of 50 will be able to join for a fee of only $25.00 a year. Residency in the city is not a requirement.
The 55,000 square foot facility is located at 201 W. Persimmon. It boasts two swimming pools, workout room with cardiovascular machines, full-size basketball court, an aerobics suite, 40-table card room, library, and a full assortment of activities. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The center will focus on helping senior citizens maintain functional strength and independence. Exercises can be tailored to meet special needs, such as people with hip and knee replacements.
It is a marvelous facility. Stop in for a visit.
For more information:
http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper=adg§ion=News&storyid=167583
http://www.nwanews.com/rhtn/News/1633/
The 55,000 square foot facility is located at 201 W. Persimmon. It boasts two swimming pools, workout room with cardiovascular machines, full-size basketball court, an aerobics suite, 40-table card room, library, and a full assortment of activities. Hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The center will focus on helping senior citizens maintain functional strength and independence. Exercises can be tailored to meet special needs, such as people with hip and knee replacements.
It is a marvelous facility. Stop in for a visit.
For more information:
http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper=adg§ion=News&storyid=167583
http://www.nwanews.com/rhtn/News/1633/
More Shopping Opportunities in NW Arkansas
Sam’s Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., has finally come to Bentonville. It seems odd that it took so many years for Wal-Mart to open its own wholesale membership club in the city it calls home, but at last, it has happened.
The store is huge, the inventory is huge, and the crowds on opening day were huge.
The big box look has been updated a bit. The building boasts more than 140,000 square feet under roof with 54 skylights, a coffee bar and a large white pipe at the entrance that transports aromas from the store's bakery directly to the noses of incoming customers.
The only other Sam’s Club in NW Arkansas is located in Springdale. Plans call for that store to close when a new Sam’s is opened in Fayetteville. The new store has been delayed for several months while the courts settle opposition brought by local liquor stores over the sale of liquor at that site. Arkansas liquor laws are complicated so I won’t bore you with all the wrangling that has been going on. Suffice it to say the Fayetteville Sam’s Club is probably a year away.
Pinnacle Hills Promenade, the newest destination for upscale shopping, is now open at I-540 and Perry Road in Rogers. Everything (almost everything) you always wanted can be found there. The Promenade calls itself a “lifestyle.”
Anchors are JCPenney and Arkansas’ own Dillard’s. Malco Theaters will feature an updated look and 12 screens for your viewing enjoyment. There are too many specialty shops to list here in addition to food of all types. Some stores, such as Barnes & Noble, aren’t open yet but will be soon.
The open-air mall features almost 1 million square feet of retail and office space along with beautiful architecture, fountains and verdant landscaping.
Naturally, something of this magnitude creates a need for more infrastructure. New intersections have already been created and construction is underway in I-540 for new on- and off-ramps. When complete, they will replace the Perry Road overpass and the new road will be named “Promenade.” Time will tell what else has to be done as other businesses are lured to the area.
The City of Rogers will receive millions of dollars in sales tax revenue when everything is built out and operating.
But let’s not forget Northwest Arkansas Mall in Fayetteville. It has been open for several years and has been a mainstay for the entire area, including parts of Missouri and Oklahoma. It not only has JCPenney and Dillard’s but also a large Sears. All together some 100 stores are there – all heated and air-conditioned indoors.
NW Arkansas Mall is conveniently located on Hwy. 71B, where north Fayetteville and south Springdale meet.
Most likely NW Arkansas Mall will lose a bit of business for the first couple of months after the Promenade opens. That always happens because people just like to see what’s new. But I think there is enough growth to support both malls. I also think when it’s 96 degrees (F.) in August or a snowy 20 dgrees (F.) in February, many people will prefer indoor shopping.
For more information:
http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=0
http://www.pinnaclehillspromenade.com/html/index9.asp
http://www.generalgrowth.com/Properties/ndPinnacle_Hills.htm
http://www.northwestarkansasmall.com/
The store is huge, the inventory is huge, and the crowds on opening day were huge.
The big box look has been updated a bit. The building boasts more than 140,000 square feet under roof with 54 skylights, a coffee bar and a large white pipe at the entrance that transports aromas from the store's bakery directly to the noses of incoming customers.
The only other Sam’s Club in NW Arkansas is located in Springdale. Plans call for that store to close when a new Sam’s is opened in Fayetteville. The new store has been delayed for several months while the courts settle opposition brought by local liquor stores over the sale of liquor at that site. Arkansas liquor laws are complicated so I won’t bore you with all the wrangling that has been going on. Suffice it to say the Fayetteville Sam’s Club is probably a year away.
Pinnacle Hills Promenade, the newest destination for upscale shopping, is now open at I-540 and Perry Road in Rogers. Everything (almost everything) you always wanted can be found there. The Promenade calls itself a “lifestyle.”
Anchors are JCPenney and Arkansas’ own Dillard’s. Malco Theaters will feature an updated look and 12 screens for your viewing enjoyment. There are too many specialty shops to list here in addition to food of all types. Some stores, such as Barnes & Noble, aren’t open yet but will be soon.
The open-air mall features almost 1 million square feet of retail and office space along with beautiful architecture, fountains and verdant landscaping.
Naturally, something of this magnitude creates a need for more infrastructure. New intersections have already been created and construction is underway in I-540 for new on- and off-ramps. When complete, they will replace the Perry Road overpass and the new road will be named “Promenade.” Time will tell what else has to be done as other businesses are lured to the area.
The City of Rogers will receive millions of dollars in sales tax revenue when everything is built out and operating.
But let’s not forget Northwest Arkansas Mall in Fayetteville. It has been open for several years and has been a mainstay for the entire area, including parts of Missouri and Oklahoma. It not only has JCPenney and Dillard’s but also a large Sears. All together some 100 stores are there – all heated and air-conditioned indoors.
NW Arkansas Mall is conveniently located on Hwy. 71B, where north Fayetteville and south Springdale meet.
Most likely NW Arkansas Mall will lose a bit of business for the first couple of months after the Promenade opens. That always happens because people just like to see what’s new. But I think there is enough growth to support both malls. I also think when it’s 96 degrees (F.) in August or a snowy 20 dgrees (F.) in February, many people will prefer indoor shopping.
For more information:
http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=0
http://www.pinnaclehillspromenade.com/html/index9.asp
http://www.generalgrowth.com/Properties/ndPinnacle_Hills.htm
http://www.northwestarkansasmall.com/
More Options for NW Arkansas Sports Fans
The City of Bentonville had big plans for a new sports arena. It recently outlined plans for City West, a 90-acre mixed-use development that city leaders hoped would be developed in the western section of the city.
It sounded great – in addition to a 9,000-seat sports and entertainment arena, the complex would also have had a bowling alley, a multi-screen movie complex, and a movie and sound studio. Hotels, office, retail and residential spaces would have completed the complex when it was built out.
Everything changed October 19th when the Rogers City Council announced the sports arena would be built in their city near I-540 and Pleasant Crossing. Seems the distance from I-540 and lack of infrastructure (mainly roads) were the deciding factors in moving the development from Bentonville to Rogers.
The name has also changed. It will be known as the Northwest Arkansas Sports and Entertainment Arena.
Talk has already started about bringing a WNBA team to the new arena. The plans for the arena are basically the same as before: 9,000 seats and forty luxury boxes. The project will include a training center, as well as two hotels and various commercial and retail businesses.
Site work is expected to begin in four to six weeks with a projected completion date of Sept. 15, 2008.
Meanwhile, the City of Springdale has formally signed a contract to bring Double-A baseball to the stadium it plans to build in southwest Springdale. The Kansas City Royals’ farm team of the Texas League, currently known as the Wichita Wranglers, will be renamed and call Springdale home when the 2008 season starts.
For more background on the baseball stadium in Springdale, please read my blog article dated July 21, 2006.
Both projects are huge undertakings and are sure to spur even more economic development in our area.
For more information:
http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper=bcdr§ion=News&storyid=39468
http://ww .nwaonline.net/articles/2006/09/27/news/092806szrichvisit.txt
http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/41098/
It sounded great – in addition to a 9,000-seat sports and entertainment arena, the complex would also have had a bowling alley, a multi-screen movie complex, and a movie and sound studio. Hotels, office, retail and residential spaces would have completed the complex when it was built out.
Everything changed October 19th when the Rogers City Council announced the sports arena would be built in their city near I-540 and Pleasant Crossing. Seems the distance from I-540 and lack of infrastructure (mainly roads) were the deciding factors in moving the development from Bentonville to Rogers.
The name has also changed. It will be known as the Northwest Arkansas Sports and Entertainment Arena.
Talk has already started about bringing a WNBA team to the new arena. The plans for the arena are basically the same as before: 9,000 seats and forty luxury boxes. The project will include a training center, as well as two hotels and various commercial and retail businesses.
Site work is expected to begin in four to six weeks with a projected completion date of Sept. 15, 2008.
Meanwhile, the City of Springdale has formally signed a contract to bring Double-A baseball to the stadium it plans to build in southwest Springdale. The Kansas City Royals’ farm team of the Texas League, currently known as the Wichita Wranglers, will be renamed and call Springdale home when the 2008 season starts.
For more background on the baseball stadium in Springdale, please read my blog article dated July 21, 2006.
Both projects are huge undertakings and are sure to spur even more economic development in our area.
For more information:
http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper=bcdr§ion=News&storyid=39468
http://ww .nwaonline.net/articles/2006/09/27/news/092806szrichvisit.txt
http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/41098/
Sunday, October 01, 2006
World Trade Center – Another Huge Economic Boost for NW Arkansas
The Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas has been accepted as a member of the World Trade Centers Association, a non-profit organization of 284 members in 78 countries. The association was founded in 1970 by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and is dedicated to “peace and stability through trade.”
Offices will be located in Rogers in a brand new building currently known as Pinnacle Business Center. The building will soon be renamed Arkansas World Trade Center Building.
This achievement resulted from cooperation between the University of Arkansas, the offices of senators Blanche Lincoln and David Pryor, U. S. Rep. John Boozman's office, the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the city of Rogers, and the Pinnacle Group.
The Department of Economic Development provided a $200,000 grant to pay the initiation fee into the World Trade Centers Association.
The Walton Family Charitable Support Trust has made a five-year financial grant to the center’s operating budget.
It appears to be a win-win situation for everyone, including the university, Arkansas manufacturers, Arkansas as a whole, and NW Arkansas in particular.
University students will work with Arkansas companies at the World Trade Center on international trade consulting and the university will have ample opportunity to focus on international business and fair trade.
Manufacturers, particularly small to mid-size companies that usually do not have the resources to expand into world markets, will have access to market research, trade missions, support services, governmental agencies, and more.
Northwest Arkansas will gain the recognition and economic boost brought on by expansion into world trade markets.
Everyone involved is to be commended for their efforts and alacrity in bringing this home to NW Arkansas. It’s hard to believe that something that was just an idea a few months ago will become operational January 15, 2007.
For more information:
http://www.nwanews.com/brog/News/39328/
http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper=adg§ion=National&storyid=167100
http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper=adg§ion=Business&storyid=166752
Offices will be located in Rogers in a brand new building currently known as Pinnacle Business Center. The building will soon be renamed Arkansas World Trade Center Building.
This achievement resulted from cooperation between the University of Arkansas, the offices of senators Blanche Lincoln and David Pryor, U. S. Rep. John Boozman's office, the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the city of Rogers, and the Pinnacle Group.
The Department of Economic Development provided a $200,000 grant to pay the initiation fee into the World Trade Centers Association.
The Walton Family Charitable Support Trust has made a five-year financial grant to the center’s operating budget.
It appears to be a win-win situation for everyone, including the university, Arkansas manufacturers, Arkansas as a whole, and NW Arkansas in particular.
University students will work with Arkansas companies at the World Trade Center on international trade consulting and the university will have ample opportunity to focus on international business and fair trade.
Manufacturers, particularly small to mid-size companies that usually do not have the resources to expand into world markets, will have access to market research, trade missions, support services, governmental agencies, and more.
Northwest Arkansas will gain the recognition and economic boost brought on by expansion into world trade markets.
Everyone involved is to be commended for their efforts and alacrity in bringing this home to NW Arkansas. It’s hard to believe that something that was just an idea a few months ago will become operational January 15, 2007.
For more information:
http://www.nwanews.com/brog/News/39328/
http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper=adg§ion=National&storyid=167100
http://www.nwanews.com/story.php?paper=adg§ion=Business&storyid=166752
Monday, July 24, 2006
New High Schools in NW Arkansas
Springdale School District opened a second high school, Har-Ber High School, last year and drew new attendance boundary lines. It is a top-notch facility and one which the students, faculty and taxpayers can be justly proud. Another new high school is in the works for the east side of town.
Bentonville has already built a new high school to replace its older school and is studying future needs to keep up with growth in the district. It, too, is a first-class school.
Rogers has a new high school and is already planning another.
Prairie Grove just completed its inaugural year in a new high school after turning the older one into a middle school.
In Lincoln, city council and school district officials are studying the possibility of building a combined facility. As far as I know, that idea is new to NW Arkansas and might make a lot of sense in a small city such as Lincoln. For instance, they could reduce construction costs and save money sharing meeting rooms, maintenance and janitorial staff, etc. It’s a concept that certainly deserves study.
Farmington School District will ask voters in September to approve a 3.55 millage increase to build a new elementary school and purchase land for a new high school to be built in the future. If the measure passes, Farmington School District’s millage rate will rise to 43.85 mills - one of the highest tax rates in NW Arkansas. (Fayetteville’s millage rate is currently 43.80.)
For some months now, the Fayetteville School Board has been discussing how to keep up with growth.
Fayetteville High School had approximately 2000 students in 2005-06. Room exists to squeeze in an additional 400-500 students – but that would be far from ideal. Some programs are already squeezed past limits and the cafeteria is much too small.
The board has to decide whether to build a new high school to replace the old one, or do as Springdale did, and build a second one and continue using the existing high school. There is much to consider. Certainly cost and location are near the top of the list but education of the students must be the highest priority.
If the decision is two high schools, emotions enter the picture. Who will get to go to the new school and who must remain at the old facility? Will the quality of the education be equal? Will the value of real estate increase near a new school while values decrease around the closed high school?
In 2005 the district purchased 79 acres of land in northwest Fayetteville and is considering buying an adjacent 22 acres. Apparently, the rule of thumb these days calls for 100 acres to build a first-class high school and associated facilities.
There have been comments about the distance from downtown Fayetteville and more southern parts of the city, but even if 100 acres could be found close in, the cost would be prohibitive.
New schools are expensive. Some estimates put the cost of a new high school at $50 million. I don’t see how a new school can be built without a millage increase but Fayetteville voters have a recent history of defeating bond elections.
Fayetteville school officials are interested in hearing from citizens. Input is needed. It will probably be five years before construction begins. That sounds like a long time but formulating plans and raising money takes time.
I recommend staying informed and getting involved in the process. Go to meetings and help formulate intelligent decisions. The future of Fayetteville is at stake.
For more information:
http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publications/PDF/FSCDC-16.pdf#search='arkansasmillagerates
http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/42163/
http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/41407/
http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/40911/
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2006/07/11/news/09bzboardsession.txt
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2006/07/11/news/06fzlincoln.txt
Bentonville has already built a new high school to replace its older school and is studying future needs to keep up with growth in the district. It, too, is a first-class school.
Rogers has a new high school and is already planning another.
Prairie Grove just completed its inaugural year in a new high school after turning the older one into a middle school.
In Lincoln, city council and school district officials are studying the possibility of building a combined facility. As far as I know, that idea is new to NW Arkansas and might make a lot of sense in a small city such as Lincoln. For instance, they could reduce construction costs and save money sharing meeting rooms, maintenance and janitorial staff, etc. It’s a concept that certainly deserves study.
Farmington School District will ask voters in September to approve a 3.55 millage increase to build a new elementary school and purchase land for a new high school to be built in the future. If the measure passes, Farmington School District’s millage rate will rise to 43.85 mills - one of the highest tax rates in NW Arkansas. (Fayetteville’s millage rate is currently 43.80.)
For some months now, the Fayetteville School Board has been discussing how to keep up with growth.
Fayetteville High School had approximately 2000 students in 2005-06. Room exists to squeeze in an additional 400-500 students – but that would be far from ideal. Some programs are already squeezed past limits and the cafeteria is much too small.
The board has to decide whether to build a new high school to replace the old one, or do as Springdale did, and build a second one and continue using the existing high school. There is much to consider. Certainly cost and location are near the top of the list but education of the students must be the highest priority.
If the decision is two high schools, emotions enter the picture. Who will get to go to the new school and who must remain at the old facility? Will the quality of the education be equal? Will the value of real estate increase near a new school while values decrease around the closed high school?
In 2005 the district purchased 79 acres of land in northwest Fayetteville and is considering buying an adjacent 22 acres. Apparently, the rule of thumb these days calls for 100 acres to build a first-class high school and associated facilities.
There have been comments about the distance from downtown Fayetteville and more southern parts of the city, but even if 100 acres could be found close in, the cost would be prohibitive.
New schools are expensive. Some estimates put the cost of a new high school at $50 million. I don’t see how a new school can be built without a millage increase but Fayetteville voters have a recent history of defeating bond elections.
Fayetteville school officials are interested in hearing from citizens. Input is needed. It will probably be five years before construction begins. That sounds like a long time but formulating plans and raising money takes time.
I recommend staying informed and getting involved in the process. Go to meetings and help formulate intelligent decisions. The future of Fayetteville is at stake.
For more information:
http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publications/PDF/FSCDC-16.pdf#search='arkansasmillagerates
http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/42163/
http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/41407/
http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/40911/
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2006/07/11/news/09bzboardsession.txt
http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2006/07/11/news/06fzlincoln.txt
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Beaver Lake is Rising but Water Conservation Still in Effect in Bentonville and Rogers
Northwest Arkansas has received several inches of much needed rain in the past couple of weeks but more is needed to get back to normal levels. It would appear that the major drought affecting this area has been alleviated for the time being.
As I write this article, the water level in Beaver Lake is in excess of 1113 feet above sea level. If memory serves me correctly, that is some eight feet above the low we experienced earlier this year. The optimum level is 1120 feet above sea level.
We are very fortunate to have the Beaver Water District to meet the needs of the people and businesses in this area. BWD currently has sufficient water and treatment facilities to supply up to 100 million gallons of treated water per day. So far that is well above the highest demand. The district has on-going expansion plans and resources to stay ahead of our growing population’s demand.
Getting the water to the users is the problem for Bentonville and Rogers. The two cities now share two water transmission lines, one 24 inches wide, the other 30 inches. Together, the lines can transport a maximum of 29.5 million gallons of water a day to the two cities.
Bentonville has started construction of a 48-inch water line which is scheduled to go on line in April or May 2007. When Bentonville’s new water line is complete, Rogers will purchase the two older lines and take over as sole user.
Until then, water conservation is the rule for both cities. Procedures, consisting of six stages of conservation, were put into place in 2005. Water usage drops during the winter months so the conservation rules were temporarily relaxed.
With summer returning and the population continuing to swell, it would seem likely that even more water conservation will be needed this summer.
The first two stages of conservation are considered voluntary and consist mainly of common sense – limit time in the shower, run the dishwasher and washing machine only when full, reduce outdoor usage and so forth. From there, the stages continue through moderate mandatory measures all the way up to and including water rationing.
For more information:
Beaver Water District information and links to many other resources:
http://beaverwaterdistrict.org/
City of Rogers Water Utilities:
http://rwu.org/conservation.htm
City of Bentonville water conservation ordinance: http://www.bentonvillear.com/docs/utility/water_conservation_ordinance.pdf
As I write this article, the water level in Beaver Lake is in excess of 1113 feet above sea level. If memory serves me correctly, that is some eight feet above the low we experienced earlier this year. The optimum level is 1120 feet above sea level.
We are very fortunate to have the Beaver Water District to meet the needs of the people and businesses in this area. BWD currently has sufficient water and treatment facilities to supply up to 100 million gallons of treated water per day. So far that is well above the highest demand. The district has on-going expansion plans and resources to stay ahead of our growing population’s demand.
Getting the water to the users is the problem for Bentonville and Rogers. The two cities now share two water transmission lines, one 24 inches wide, the other 30 inches. Together, the lines can transport a maximum of 29.5 million gallons of water a day to the two cities.
Bentonville has started construction of a 48-inch water line which is scheduled to go on line in April or May 2007. When Bentonville’s new water line is complete, Rogers will purchase the two older lines and take over as sole user.
Until then, water conservation is the rule for both cities. Procedures, consisting of six stages of conservation, were put into place in 2005. Water usage drops during the winter months so the conservation rules were temporarily relaxed.
With summer returning and the population continuing to swell, it would seem likely that even more water conservation will be needed this summer.
The first two stages of conservation are considered voluntary and consist mainly of common sense – limit time in the shower, run the dishwasher and washing machine only when full, reduce outdoor usage and so forth. From there, the stages continue through moderate mandatory measures all the way up to and including water rationing.
For more information:
Beaver Water District information and links to many other resources:
http://beaverwaterdistrict.org/
City of Rogers Water Utilities:
http://rwu.org/conservation.htm
City of Bentonville water conservation ordinance: http://www.bentonvillear.com/docs/utility/water_conservation_ordinance.pdf
Monday, March 06, 2006
Water Supply--Another Challenge for NW Arkansas Growth
Officials say there’s enough water in Beaver Lake to satisfy the area’s needs to between 2031 and 2049. The challenge will be getting that water to the homes and businesses of the thousands of people who are flocking to the area every year.
Beaver Water District, the primary water source for Northwest Arkansas, supplies water to Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville and Rogers and surrounding areas. The mandate of the district is simple but exacting; “We have to provide the water that people demand,” Beaver Water District Chief Executive Officer Alan Fortenberry said.
In an effort to provide clean water to its customers, the district is working with counties surrounding Beaver Lake to restrict development in the watershed to ensure development doesn’t endanger the water quality. Some oppose the restrictions because land for development is in demand. But Fortenberry said not protecting the water supply from pollution would require the district to increase treatment, which would increase the cost of water charged to customers.
The water situation affects not only the major towns but also some of the smaller communities of the area. For example, Bentonville is about to begin a $15 million project to lay 13.77 miles of 48-inch water line to bring in water from Beaver Lake by the summer of 2007, city utilities director Britt Vance said. Bentonville and Rogers now share two water transmission lines, one 24 inches wide, the other 30 inches. Together, they can transport up to 29.5 million gallons of water a day to the two cities, which limits the amount of water that can be pumped to each. Completion of Bentonville’s project will help alleviate Rogers problems because Rogers plans to pay Bentonville $7.4 million to take over as the sole user of the 24- and 30-inch lines after the Bentonville project is completed.
For smaller communities, a good example is Lincoln. In February 1995, 270 rural residents signed up for water from Lincoln, which would require about 85 miles of water lines. In March 2001, when the town got funding from the Agriculture Department’s Rural Development, the project included 462 households and 106 miles of pipeline. Now the project embraces more than 800 households and requires 135 miles of water line at a cost of around $7.5 million, and by the time the project is completed, Public Works director Chuck Wood said there could be as many as 900 families drawing water from the new lines. Towns like Gentry, Gravette and Harrison have also just finished large similar pipeline projects to provide more water for their rural neighbors, he said. “This whole area is just booming,” Wood said. “The only thing that we can do is build more infrastructure to get water to them.”
For more information: http://nwanews.com/adg/News/147078/
Beaver Water District, the primary water source for Northwest Arkansas, supplies water to Fayetteville, Springdale, Bentonville and Rogers and surrounding areas. The mandate of the district is simple but exacting; “We have to provide the water that people demand,” Beaver Water District Chief Executive Officer Alan Fortenberry said.
In an effort to provide clean water to its customers, the district is working with counties surrounding Beaver Lake to restrict development in the watershed to ensure development doesn’t endanger the water quality. Some oppose the restrictions because land for development is in demand. But Fortenberry said not protecting the water supply from pollution would require the district to increase treatment, which would increase the cost of water charged to customers.
The water situation affects not only the major towns but also some of the smaller communities of the area. For example, Bentonville is about to begin a $15 million project to lay 13.77 miles of 48-inch water line to bring in water from Beaver Lake by the summer of 2007, city utilities director Britt Vance said. Bentonville and Rogers now share two water transmission lines, one 24 inches wide, the other 30 inches. Together, they can transport up to 29.5 million gallons of water a day to the two cities, which limits the amount of water that can be pumped to each. Completion of Bentonville’s project will help alleviate Rogers problems because Rogers plans to pay Bentonville $7.4 million to take over as the sole user of the 24- and 30-inch lines after the Bentonville project is completed.
For smaller communities, a good example is Lincoln. In February 1995, 270 rural residents signed up for water from Lincoln, which would require about 85 miles of water lines. In March 2001, when the town got funding from the Agriculture Department’s Rural Development, the project included 462 households and 106 miles of pipeline. Now the project embraces more than 800 households and requires 135 miles of water line at a cost of around $7.5 million, and by the time the project is completed, Public Works director Chuck Wood said there could be as many as 900 families drawing water from the new lines. Towns like Gentry, Gravette and Harrison have also just finished large similar pipeline projects to provide more water for their rural neighbors, he said. “This whole area is just booming,” Wood said. “The only thing that we can do is build more infrastructure to get water to them.”
For more information: http://nwanews.com/adg/News/147078/
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Hispanic Parents Weigh in on New Rogers High School
The times, they are a-changing. Spanish-speaking parents gathered February 12 at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church for a question-and-answer session about a second high school scheduled to open in Rogers in August 2008. The meeting was the fifth held by the Rogers school district to gather input from the community and the first to be delivered entirely in Spanish.
The information meeting was scheduled to present to Hispanic parents the latest developments on facility plans for the new high school. Parents viewed a computer-generated model of what the new school will look like. According to an information sheet distributed at the meeting, the campus will grow from about 190,000 square feet to 325,000 square feet.
Feedback from the parents will be given to committees for consideration. The various committees will then report to the School Board, which will make final decisions about the new school.
To my knowledge, this is the first meeting of this type conducted totally in Spanish, and other school systems and public entities should follow suit. NW Arkansas’ Hispanic community continues to grow larger every day and is becoming an integral part of the fabric of NW Arkansas. The Rogers School system is to be commended for reaching out to the Spanish-speaking parents and listening to their concerns.
Source: Rogers Hometown News, February 15, 2006
The information meeting was scheduled to present to Hispanic parents the latest developments on facility plans for the new high school. Parents viewed a computer-generated model of what the new school will look like. According to an information sheet distributed at the meeting, the campus will grow from about 190,000 square feet to 325,000 square feet.
Feedback from the parents will be given to committees for consideration. The various committees will then report to the School Board, which will make final decisions about the new school.
To my knowledge, this is the first meeting of this type conducted totally in Spanish, and other school systems and public entities should follow suit. NW Arkansas’ Hispanic community continues to grow larger every day and is becoming an integral part of the fabric of NW Arkansas. The Rogers School system is to be commended for reaching out to the Spanish-speaking parents and listening to their concerns.
Source: Rogers Hometown News, February 15, 2006
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Home Prices are Rising in NW Arkansas
Everyone is probably aware that homes are now more expensive to purchase in NW Arkansas. But how much more expensive? A look at median and average prices of homes sold in the past couple of years compared with prices of homes currently on the market can give a glimpse of what buyers can expect this spring, when looking for a home.
Bella Vista
Year/No. Homes Sold/Average Price/Median Price
2005/1495/$160,880 /$147,500
2004/1256/$150,432 /$138,900
On Mkt. Now/Average Price/Median Price
536 /$206,204 /$188,400
Bentonville
Year /No. Homes Sold /Average Price /Median Price
2005 /884 /$230,790 /$188,738
2004 /814 /$200,662 /$159,900
On Mkt. Now/Average Price/Median Price
629 /$313,125 /$289,900
Fayetteville
Year /No. Homes Sold /Average Price /Median Price
2005 /1252 /$217,239 /$177,900
2004 /1188 /$194,216 /$169,650
On Mkt. Now/Average Price/Median Price
627 /$295,587 /$253,500
Rogers
Year /No. Homes Sold /Average Price /Median Price
2005 /1273 /$202,508 /$161,900
2004 /1182 /$189,213 /$143,450
On Mkt. Now/Average Price/Median Price
1108 /$291,106 /$249,900
Springdale
Year /No. Homes Sold /Average Price /Median Price
2005 /1368 /$181,583 /$149,900
2004 /1471 /$154,496 /$130,000
On Mkt. Now/Average Price/Median Price
653 /$235,221 /$197,900
Siloam Springs
Year /No. Homes Sold /Average Price /Median Price
2005 /475 /$134,681 /123,900
2004 /313 /$121,981 /$110,000
On Mkt Now/Average Price/Median Price
162 /$190,477 /$174,900
Source of Data: NW Arkansas MLS
Note: The Average Price is determined by dividing the value of all of the homes sold or on the market by the number of homes. The Median Price is the price of the home where the number of homes sold (or currently on the market) above the price of that home is equal to the number of homes sold (or currently on the market) below the price of that home.
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