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The words tax and relief aren’t often found in the same sentence but Arkansas has some provisions to help relieve the property tax burden on homeowners. With income taxes on most people’s minds this time of year and property tax bills now arriving in mail boxes, I thought this would be a good time to mention some of these benefits.
The technical name is Amendment 79 but it's frequently referred to as the "homestead exemption." The benefits are easy to understand and easy to get.
A credit of $300 per year is available to lower property taxes on a person’s principal place of residence. Notify your county assessor once and the credit will be applied to your tax bill every year as long as the property remains your principal residence. There is a short form which must be filled out (see below).
Another provision allows homeowners age 65 and up to have their appraised evaluation capped. The result is that taxes on your home will never increase due to a reappraisal. But bear in mind, a major improvement to your property can increase the appraised value and a change in the millage rate will also affect the amount of tax you must pay. To have your evaluation capped, you must be age 65 or older on January 1 of the year you apply, complete a simple form and send it with proof of age to your county assessor.
Homeowners who are disabled as defined by the Social Security Administration also qualify for the cap on appraised value regardless of age.
For more details, go to http://www.arkansas.gov/acd/faqs.html.
The Washington County assessor has an explanation of Amendment 79 at http://www.co.washington.ar.us/Assessor/Am79.htm. This is a one-page website and if you read the paragraph above the assessors address, you’ll find a link to the claim form or go directly to http://www.co.washington.ar.us/Assessor/forms/hswbform.pdf.
If your home is located in Benton County, you can access the form at http://www.co.benton.ar.us/Administration/BCAssessor/HomesteadApp.pdf.
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Sunday, March 19, 2006
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art
Northwest Arkansas in general and Bentonville in particular will take on a new personality when Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opens. Benton County is already facing phenomenal growth with homes, offices, businesses, huge shopping malls, and a brand new hospital popping up all over former agricultural land.
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art plans to open in 2009 on 100 acres in Bentonville, not far from Sam Walton’s original 5- and 10-cent store. The museum will house the private collection of American art that Sam’s daughter, Alice Walton, has been quietly collecting for years.
It is estimated that each year approximately 250,000 visitors will come to see not only this fabulous collection but also sculpture gardens and collections on loan from other museums.
Just think: once-quiet Bentonville will become a destination for art lovers. I’m sure the museum and its programs will provide cultural, educational and economic benefits to the area that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. With the population of our area of NW Arkansas expected to reach a million people by the year 2025, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art promises to become an incredible asset.
For a glimpse of the planned building and some of the art, go to the museum's website http://www.crystalbridges.org/
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art plans to open in 2009 on 100 acres in Bentonville, not far from Sam Walton’s original 5- and 10-cent store. The museum will house the private collection of American art that Sam’s daughter, Alice Walton, has been quietly collecting for years.
It is estimated that each year approximately 250,000 visitors will come to see not only this fabulous collection but also sculpture gardens and collections on loan from other museums.
Just think: once-quiet Bentonville will become a destination for art lovers. I’m sure the museum and its programs will provide cultural, educational and economic benefits to the area that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. With the population of our area of NW Arkansas expected to reach a million people by the year 2025, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art promises to become an incredible asset.
For a glimpse of the planned building and some of the art, go to the museum's website http://www.crystalbridges.org/
Bella Vista – will it remain a village or incorporate as a city?
Bella Vista is another area of booming NW Arkansas that has seen its own share of incredible growth. The village, as it is still known, was started some 40 years ago as a place for retirees to enjoy living among lakes, trees and golf courses. It is located north of Bentonville, just south of the Missouri border.
Since inception the quiet village has grown tremendously. It is estimated there are some 24,000 residents now – up from 16,500 in 2000. No one sees growth slowing anytime soon.
Roads have improved and Bella Vista is increasingly becoming home to families with children. Rush hour traffic clogs the streets as residents commute to jobs in surrounding cities.
The question now on everyone’s mind is whether to incorporate. The issue will be on the November 2006 ballot. As an individual, I can't influence the issue one way or another, but it occurs to me that a community the size of Bella Vista should be a municipal entity, not a private one. The people currently support their entire infrastructure by paying monthly assessments - police, fire department, roads, library, recreational facilities, and much more. The majority of the taxes they pay are not returned to the village because it is not incorporated. The incorporation issue is of paramount importance and I urge all current and potential residents to learn all they can before the election.
For more information go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bella_Vista%2C_Arkansas or http://www.incorporatebellavista.com
Since inception the quiet village has grown tremendously. It is estimated there are some 24,000 residents now – up from 16,500 in 2000. No one sees growth slowing anytime soon.
Roads have improved and Bella Vista is increasingly becoming home to families with children. Rush hour traffic clogs the streets as residents commute to jobs in surrounding cities.
The question now on everyone’s mind is whether to incorporate. The issue will be on the November 2006 ballot. As an individual, I can't influence the issue one way or another, but it occurs to me that a community the size of Bella Vista should be a municipal entity, not a private one. The people currently support their entire infrastructure by paying monthly assessments - police, fire department, roads, library, recreational facilities, and much more. The majority of the taxes they pay are not returned to the village because it is not incorporated. The incorporation issue is of paramount importance and I urge all current and potential residents to learn all they can before the election.
For more information go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bella_Vista%2C_Arkansas or http://www.incorporatebellavista.com
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Good News/Bad News for the Springdale Northern Bypass
The U.S. 412 bypass of Springdale has received a record of decision from the Federal Highway Administration. Now all that needs to be done is to figure out how to pay for it! The estimated cost currently stands at some $300 million with only $31 million in combined federal and state funds earmarked for the 20-mile highway.
Ten years have passed since a study of alternatives for the bypass began in 1996 and it will be many more years before it is even partially constructed. With the escalating price of land in the area it seems obvious that costs will only go one way – up. “This project has to have federal money,” said John McLarty, transportation planner for the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission. “It’s just too big.”
Highway 412 is a major east-west route through Springdale for traffic coming to and from Tulsa area as well as off Interstate 540. No one argues the need for the bypass, which is expected to channel much of the truck traffic around the city. However, it appears the bypass will have to be built in segments, as funding becomes available. It may take until the year 2030 before the road nears completion.
As I mentioned in my posting March 6, “A Western By-Pass? Great Idea!” (scroll down to read the article) other roads are being planned to alleviate gridlock in Northwest Arkansas, but the 412 bypass is scheduled to come first. We must find a way to get moving on all these projects, the sooner the better.
For more information:http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/147680/
Ten years have passed since a study of alternatives for the bypass began in 1996 and it will be many more years before it is even partially constructed. With the escalating price of land in the area it seems obvious that costs will only go one way – up. “This project has to have federal money,” said John McLarty, transportation planner for the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission. “It’s just too big.”
Highway 412 is a major east-west route through Springdale for traffic coming to and from Tulsa area as well as off Interstate 540. No one argues the need for the bypass, which is expected to channel much of the truck traffic around the city. However, it appears the bypass will have to be built in segments, as funding becomes available. It may take until the year 2030 before the road nears completion.
As I mentioned in my posting March 6, “A Western By-Pass? Great Idea!” (scroll down to read the article) other roads are being planned to alleviate gridlock in Northwest Arkansas, but the 412 bypass is scheduled to come first. We must find a way to get moving on all these projects, the sooner the better.
For more information:http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/147680/
Monday, March 06, 2006
New Mall in Rogers, How Development Has Occurred
An interesting special report in the NW Arkansas edition of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette last Sunday, March 5, details the who and how of all of the construction going on with regard to the new mall and surrounding development. This mall promises to be a “shopping mecca” for the area, and there is certainly a lot of dirt being moved around as well as buildings popping out of the ground at a rapid pace. In a sense, it is the essence of the growth happening in Benton County, as subdivisions spring up almost daily. And in the near future people living in those subdivisions will have convenient shopping, without having to drive to the NW Arkansas Mall and surrounding stores in Fayetteville. Good for consumers in Benton County, maybe not so good for owners of the shops in the Fayetteville Mall.
For the complete article: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/147652
For the complete article: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/147652
High prices drive homebuyers to outlying areas
Living outside the main areas of employment and having to spend time and money commuting has long been a way of life for many people nationwide. And increasingly, Northwest Arkansas is no exception. Finding a nice home for less than $150,000 in Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers or Bentonville is nearly impossible these days. That means people have to choose between renting, which offers no hope of equity or appreciation, and commuting to and from one of the outlying “bedroom” communities. For example, Rogers issued 375 building permits in the last 3 months of 2005 for homes with an average price of $177,989. Compare that to the average prices for homes in Gravette ($91,186), Decatur ($65,000), and Gentry ($77,500). With the cost of gasoline still at record high prices, the commute may be a trade-off, but with affordable homes rapidly disappearing in the 4 major towns of NW Arkansas, these outlying areas are the only hope for those wishing to purchase a home, building equity for the future, and acquiring a piece of the American Dream.
For more information: http://nwanews.com/adg/News/147089/
For more information: http://nwanews.com/adg/News/147089/
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/
A Western By-Pass? Great Idea!
Planners and elected officials in Northwest Arkansas are eyeing a four-lane highway to cut through western Benton and Washington counties and avoid additional gridlock on Interstate 540. It doesn’t have an exact location, nor money to pay for it--yet.
The Northwest Arkansas Council, which includes some of the region’s wealthiest and most influential people, has placed the proposed highway on its list of road projects it deems important to the region’s future. And a committee of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission has included the highway, known as the western bypass, in the draft of a 2030 long-range transportation plan the commission will hand over to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department next month.
The proposed highway wouldn’t be constructed until after a western bypass of the Bella Vista stretch of I-540 and a U.S. 412 bypass north of Springdale are completed, according to John McLarty, the transportation planner for the regional planning commission. “But it’s not too early to begin planning the road.”
The western freeway is a great idea, and it’s encouraging to note that planners are starting to think in longer terms. It takes years to go from identifying the need to completing the project, and it is essential to get this project in place while there is still sufficient, undeveloped land available. The 412 bypass has been delayed again and again by impact studies while the areas where the original three proposed routes might have been built have been filled up with new homes. And since the 412 bypass won’t be built for many years due to funding deficits, maybe these planners can begin getting their proposal to legislators so that when the project is ready, the funding will be there.
In the meantime, there will have to be improvements and additions to I-540. Twenty-five years is a long time for the western bypass to become a reality. But knowing that planners are even thinking about it is a start.
For more information: http://nwanews.com/adg/News/147123/
The Northwest Arkansas Council, which includes some of the region’s wealthiest and most influential people, has placed the proposed highway on its list of road projects it deems important to the region’s future. And a committee of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission has included the highway, known as the western bypass, in the draft of a 2030 long-range transportation plan the commission will hand over to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department next month.
The proposed highway wouldn’t be constructed until after a western bypass of the Bella Vista stretch of I-540 and a U.S. 412 bypass north of Springdale are completed, according to John McLarty, the transportation planner for the regional planning commission. “But it’s not too early to begin planning the road.”
The western freeway is a great idea, and it’s encouraging to note that planners are starting to think in longer terms. It takes years to go from identifying the need to completing the project, and it is essential to get this project in place while there is still sufficient, undeveloped land available. The 412 bypass has been delayed again and again by impact studies while the areas where the original three proposed routes might have been built have been filled up with new homes. And since the 412 bypass won’t be built for many years due to funding deficits, maybe these planners can begin getting their proposal to legislators so that when the project is ready, the funding will be there.
In the meantime, there will have to be improvements and additions to I-540. Twenty-five years is a long time for the western bypass to become a reality. But knowing that planners are even thinking about it is a start.
For more information: http://nwanews.com/adg/News/147123/
GROWTH - Outward or Upward?
OUTWARD GROWTH is the current norm along the Interstate 540 corridor in Benton and Washington counties, and this worries some city planners and elected officials. They want to see developers build upward, filling in existing city space with denser developments such as multistory apartments.
Dense, upward development leads to more people living per square mile, less cost to the cities to provide water, roads and other services, and less need for outward development of rural land, said Steve Luoni, director of the Community Design Center in the School of Architecture of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
But people have been slow to embrace UPWARD GROWTH according to Fayetteville’s Senior Planner Jeremy Pate, “It’s going to take a while to slow down outward development. People want to live at the end of a cul-de-sac.”
Developers say they are building houses outward from the cities instead of upward with denser apartments and condominiums because that’s what people want and that’s where they can make a profit. They built 36,201 new housing units in the four major cities from 1990 to 2004. About 63 percent of those were single-family dwellings, according to statistics from the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.
“Primarily, that’s what the market demands. People don’t want ‘up’ — not around here,” said Gary Brandon, who is building several subdivisions on the western edge of the I-540 corridor, including one of 117 acres between Lowell and Cave Springs and another of 54 acres on the outskirts of Tontitown. “They’re not that keen on condos yet.”
Kathy Deck, associate director of the UA Center for Business and Economic Research, said the growing population will continue to demand homes on the outskirts of town. Condos will not appeal to families until the price of gasoline becomes too high or traffic becomes too congested to commute from outlying communities, she said.
Richard Alexander, a developer of condominiums and mixed-use buildings in central Fayetteville, would agree. He said his market is based on the downtown location of the projects and will appeal to people because they won’t have to drive to go shopping or to the university. “There is that niche looking for a lack of a commute,” said Alexander.
Even though cities are spreading, some officials say the finite supply of land and market forces eventually will make upward growth the norm in Northwest Arkansas. “Our land space is dwindling,” said Rogers Alderman Mark Kruger. “At some point we will run out of space, and up will be the only way to go.”
For more information: http://nwanews.com/adg/News/147079/
Dense, upward development leads to more people living per square mile, less cost to the cities to provide water, roads and other services, and less need for outward development of rural land, said Steve Luoni, director of the Community Design Center in the School of Architecture of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
But people have been slow to embrace UPWARD GROWTH according to Fayetteville’s Senior Planner Jeremy Pate, “It’s going to take a while to slow down outward development. People want to live at the end of a cul-de-sac.”
Developers say they are building houses outward from the cities instead of upward with denser apartments and condominiums because that’s what people want and that’s where they can make a profit. They built 36,201 new housing units in the four major cities from 1990 to 2004. About 63 percent of those were single-family dwellings, according to statistics from the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission.
“Primarily, that’s what the market demands. People don’t want ‘up’ — not around here,” said Gary Brandon, who is building several subdivisions on the western edge of the I-540 corridor, including one of 117 acres between Lowell and Cave Springs and another of 54 acres on the outskirts of Tontitown. “They’re not that keen on condos yet.”
Kathy Deck, associate director of the UA Center for Business and Economic Research, said the growing population will continue to demand homes on the outskirts of town. Condos will not appeal to families until the price of gasoline becomes too high or traffic becomes too congested to commute from outlying communities, she said.
Richard Alexander, a developer of condominiums and mixed-use buildings in central Fayetteville, would agree. He said his market is based on the downtown location of the projects and will appeal to people because they won’t have to drive to go shopping or to the university. “There is that niche looking for a lack of a commute,” said Alexander.
Even though cities are spreading, some officials say the finite supply of land and market forces eventually will make upward growth the norm in Northwest Arkansas. “Our land space is dwindling,” said Rogers Alderman Mark Kruger. “At some point we will run out of space, and up will be the only way to go.”
For more information: http://nwanews.com/adg/News/147079/
Sunday, February 26, 2006
My Take on the New Millken Report (see below)
The new Millken Report has NW Arkansas continuing in the top 10 nationally as a vibrant economic zone. However, there were two areas of concern for possible future trends in the area: a low rating on technology output growth (a positive rating on this factor leads to higher paying professional and high-skill jobs) and increased housing values, which are now at the national average. The two trends, together with the strong job growth rating, points to a strong economy with low unemployment. But that job growth is and will continue to be of lower paying jobs which require less education. This, in my mind, hints at salaries for the average working person not keeping up with the cost of housing, thus creating a potential crisis in affordable housing.
When NW Arkansas topped the Millken Report a few years ago ahead of Las Vegas, the region catapulted to the top of the national radar in many respects. In the real estate market all of a sudden, in addition to local investors, there appeared investors from all over the country looking for “reasonable” investment property, beginning the upward exponential curve in prices for low-end homes and multi-family properties.
What happened was that many of the older existing homes, previously priced under $100K, began creeping upward in price as investors competed with first-time and low-income home buyers. Homes in that price range became smaller and shabbier as prices continued to rise significantly over the past couple of years. Now it is almost impossible to find a livable home for under $130K. Most homes in that price range either need work or are very small or both.
Sometimes these small fixer-uppers are even priced higher per square foot than nicer, larger homes. As recently as 3-4 years ago (before NW Arkansas was #1 according to the Millken Report), an older home in Springdale usually was listed for and sold for under $55 per square foot in the under $100K price range. Now these same homes—many in barely livable condition—are listed for and sell for over $85 per square foot. Some even sell for over $100 per square foot if they are in excellent condition.
On the other hand, larger, older homes in the $150K-$200K price range--completely remodeled--are being listed and sold at between $75 and $85 per square foot. But a home like this is not a suitable “rent house” and there is still a lot of building going on in this price range. The law of supply and demand applies here.
A contributing factor is that because of escalating land prices and higher construction and development costs, almost no builders are making small “starter” homes any more. As these costs increase, the new starter homes are now larger than they were previously, but they also have significantly higher price tags. It is no longer possible to acquire a home like this for under $100K, whereas about 3-4 years ago there were several builders offering such new homes as low as $75K. But such homes are also great rent houses. With the increased competition from investors as well as the lack of construction of new homes at affordable prices, first-time and low-income home buyers are having a tougher time finding adequate housing.
Even rental prices are rising as a result. In 2002 an average newer duplex with 3 bedrooms on each side in east Springdale was listed and sold for about $120K or less, depending on condition. Rents for those duplexes were about $550-$575. Now rents have risen to between $600-$650 for those units, and those same duplexes are listed for sale at $175K or above and selling for a minimum of $165K. Even some 2-bedroom units are selling for $165K. And the new duplexes being built are listed at $200K or above. Supposedly these can be rented at $850 per side per month, but I wonder….
In any case, because home prices on the low end and multi-family properties are now so expensive due to increased demand and low supply, rents are also rising as units are sold.
Is affordable housing in NW Arkansas a thing of the past? I hope not.
When NW Arkansas topped the Millken Report a few years ago ahead of Las Vegas, the region catapulted to the top of the national radar in many respects. In the real estate market all of a sudden, in addition to local investors, there appeared investors from all over the country looking for “reasonable” investment property, beginning the upward exponential curve in prices for low-end homes and multi-family properties.
What happened was that many of the older existing homes, previously priced under $100K, began creeping upward in price as investors competed with first-time and low-income home buyers. Homes in that price range became smaller and shabbier as prices continued to rise significantly over the past couple of years. Now it is almost impossible to find a livable home for under $130K. Most homes in that price range either need work or are very small or both.
Sometimes these small fixer-uppers are even priced higher per square foot than nicer, larger homes. As recently as 3-4 years ago (before NW Arkansas was #1 according to the Millken Report), an older home in Springdale usually was listed for and sold for under $55 per square foot in the under $100K price range. Now these same homes—many in barely livable condition—are listed for and sell for over $85 per square foot. Some even sell for over $100 per square foot if they are in excellent condition.
On the other hand, larger, older homes in the $150K-$200K price range--completely remodeled--are being listed and sold at between $75 and $85 per square foot. But a home like this is not a suitable “rent house” and there is still a lot of building going on in this price range. The law of supply and demand applies here.
A contributing factor is that because of escalating land prices and higher construction and development costs, almost no builders are making small “starter” homes any more. As these costs increase, the new starter homes are now larger than they were previously, but they also have significantly higher price tags. It is no longer possible to acquire a home like this for under $100K, whereas about 3-4 years ago there were several builders offering such new homes as low as $75K. But such homes are also great rent houses. With the increased competition from investors as well as the lack of construction of new homes at affordable prices, first-time and low-income home buyers are having a tougher time finding adequate housing.
Even rental prices are rising as a result. In 2002 an average newer duplex with 3 bedrooms on each side in east Springdale was listed and sold for about $120K or less, depending on condition. Rents for those duplexes were about $550-$575. Now rents have risen to between $600-$650 for those units, and those same duplexes are listed for sale at $175K or above and selling for a minimum of $165K. Even some 2-bedroom units are selling for $165K. And the new duplexes being built are listed at $200K or above. Supposedly these can be rented at $850 per side per month, but I wonder….
In any case, because home prices on the low end and multi-family properties are now so expensive due to increased demand and low supply, rents are also rising as units are sold.
Is affordable housing in NW Arkansas a thing of the past? I hope not.
Expanded Region Slips to 8th Place in Milken Rating
Northwest Arkansas’ slip from No. 7 to No. 8 in the Milken Institute’s rating of the nation’s most vibrant economies for 2005 is a cause for celebration rather than concern, state economists say.
In the rankings released February 22, the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which includes Bentonville, ranked in the top 10 of the largest 200 cities for the third year in a row. The area made the No. 1 spot in 2003, then dropped to No. 7 in 2004. In 2002, the MSA ranked 23 rd in the top cities list.
The nonprofit Santa Monica, Calif.-based think tank ranks the nation’s metropolitan statistical areas for the best overall economies each year. Researchers base the rankings on several criteria, including job and wage and salary growth over the past five years. The institute helps business and public policy leaders identify and implement innovative ideas for creating broad-based prosperity, according to its Web site.
Lorna Wallace, a Milken Institute research fellow and senior staff member, attributed the drop to No. 8 to the U. S. Census Bureau’s addition of Madison County and McDonald County, Mo., to the MSA. The two counties were not considered in the Milken study last year. The Milken Institute relies on the Census Bureau’s definition of metropolitan statistical areas for its study groupings.
“The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers MSA has a robust economy that outshines the rest of the state and most of the country,” Wallace said. “Its job growth rate by far exceeds the national pace.”
Wallace cited Bentonville-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. ’s heavy influence on the regional economy for both positive and possible future negative factors. She also cited the presence of other national-level employers such as J. B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. and Tyson Foods Inc. and the University of Arkansas, a strong research university, as positives for the area.
The next-highest ranked larger metropolitan area in Arkansas was Little Rock-North Little Rock, ranked No. 94 overall and up from No. 106 in 2004. The city’s lowest sector ranking was in job growth, at No. 168 with 0. 24 percent. Fort Smith also ranked higher this year, moving up to No. 154 from No. 155 in 2004.
Three Arkansas MSAs were included in the Milken listing of the best 179 small cities. Hot Springs was ranked at No. 69. It was not ranked in 2004. Jonesboro ranked No. 99, down from No. 64 in 2004. Pine Bluff was ranked at No. 144, down from No. 94 in 2004.
Mitch Chandler, director of communications for the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, said Northwest Arkansas ’ ranking for the third year shows that the area’s growth is a proven trend. “This shows the phenomenal and consistent growth of the area.” he said.
Job and wage growth are the strongest contributors to the listing, said Jeff Collins, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the Sam M. Walton College of Business.
The Walton College is part of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. “Job and wage growth is a 15- to 20-year trend, not a one- to two-year trend,” Collins said. “Given that this measures the entire country on the same data, it gives a lot of validation to be listed in the top 10 from year to year.” He predicts that the region will continue to do well with those growth drivers in place. The region scored its highest ranking in the five-year wage and salary growth category, taking the No. 3 spot. It was ranked 14th in one-year wage and salary growth. The five-year job growth ranking was 7th and the one-year job growth was ranked 23 rd.
WEAKEST LINK:
The region’s lowest ranking — No. 154 — was in the area of technology output growth. Collins said the high-tech industry is one in which the state traditionally performs poorly. “Employment opportunities for Arkansas seem to be overly weighted to the lower educated and lower-paying jobs,” he said. And added that even the University of Arkansas ’ efforts to push technology-based business is not enough to push the state out of the lowest levels of technology development. “We still don’t attract a lot of research and development activity, which is the precursor to higher-wage industries,” Collins said. “The UA is still too small in this area. Larger universities can get concentrations of engineers and scientists who can cooperate and collaborate on research.”
HOUSING CONCERNS:
Milken’s Wallace also cited the increased housing values as a growth factor in the region, a positive indicator of the present economy but a possible future concern. “Housing rates and values are near the national level,” she said. “That may pose a risk going forward.” Unless other economic indexes also rise to the national level, increased interest rates or a slowing of the construction rate will influence the affordability of housing in the region. Collins said the housing component is a relatively small sector in the Milken Institute’s ranking data. “But there is some disconnect between supply and demand in housing,” he said. “While I have some concerns about segments in the market, there is still opportunity for growth and profit in housing after careful planning and consideration.” He said the national housing values really don’t contribute much to the local housing market. “The people who are moving in here and buying houses are already paying the national rates,” he said. “This doesn’t affect them.”
Condensed from: NWA News, Arkansas Democrat Gazette, February 23, 2006
In the rankings released February 22, the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which includes Bentonville, ranked in the top 10 of the largest 200 cities for the third year in a row. The area made the No. 1 spot in 2003, then dropped to No. 7 in 2004. In 2002, the MSA ranked 23 rd in the top cities list.
The nonprofit Santa Monica, Calif.-based think tank ranks the nation’s metropolitan statistical areas for the best overall economies each year. Researchers base the rankings on several criteria, including job and wage and salary growth over the past five years. The institute helps business and public policy leaders identify and implement innovative ideas for creating broad-based prosperity, according to its Web site.
Lorna Wallace, a Milken Institute research fellow and senior staff member, attributed the drop to No. 8 to the U. S. Census Bureau’s addition of Madison County and McDonald County, Mo., to the MSA. The two counties were not considered in the Milken study last year. The Milken Institute relies on the Census Bureau’s definition of metropolitan statistical areas for its study groupings.
“The Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers MSA has a robust economy that outshines the rest of the state and most of the country,” Wallace said. “Its job growth rate by far exceeds the national pace.”
Wallace cited Bentonville-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. ’s heavy influence on the regional economy for both positive and possible future negative factors. She also cited the presence of other national-level employers such as J. B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. and Tyson Foods Inc. and the University of Arkansas, a strong research university, as positives for the area.
The next-highest ranked larger metropolitan area in Arkansas was Little Rock-North Little Rock, ranked No. 94 overall and up from No. 106 in 2004. The city’s lowest sector ranking was in job growth, at No. 168 with 0. 24 percent. Fort Smith also ranked higher this year, moving up to No. 154 from No. 155 in 2004.
Three Arkansas MSAs were included in the Milken listing of the best 179 small cities. Hot Springs was ranked at No. 69. It was not ranked in 2004. Jonesboro ranked No. 99, down from No. 64 in 2004. Pine Bluff was ranked at No. 144, down from No. 94 in 2004.
Mitch Chandler, director of communications for the Arkansas Department of Economic Development, said Northwest Arkansas ’ ranking for the third year shows that the area’s growth is a proven trend. “This shows the phenomenal and consistent growth of the area.” he said.
Job and wage growth are the strongest contributors to the listing, said Jeff Collins, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the Sam M. Walton College of Business.
The Walton College is part of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. “Job and wage growth is a 15- to 20-year trend, not a one- to two-year trend,” Collins said. “Given that this measures the entire country on the same data, it gives a lot of validation to be listed in the top 10 from year to year.” He predicts that the region will continue to do well with those growth drivers in place. The region scored its highest ranking in the five-year wage and salary growth category, taking the No. 3 spot. It was ranked 14th in one-year wage and salary growth. The five-year job growth ranking was 7th and the one-year job growth was ranked 23 rd.
WEAKEST LINK:
The region’s lowest ranking — No. 154 — was in the area of technology output growth. Collins said the high-tech industry is one in which the state traditionally performs poorly. “Employment opportunities for Arkansas seem to be overly weighted to the lower educated and lower-paying jobs,” he said. And added that even the University of Arkansas ’ efforts to push technology-based business is not enough to push the state out of the lowest levels of technology development. “We still don’t attract a lot of research and development activity, which is the precursor to higher-wage industries,” Collins said. “The UA is still too small in this area. Larger universities can get concentrations of engineers and scientists who can cooperate and collaborate on research.”
HOUSING CONCERNS:
Milken’s Wallace also cited the increased housing values as a growth factor in the region, a positive indicator of the present economy but a possible future concern. “Housing rates and values are near the national level,” she said. “That may pose a risk going forward.” Unless other economic indexes also rise to the national level, increased interest rates or a slowing of the construction rate will influence the affordability of housing in the region. Collins said the housing component is a relatively small sector in the Milken Institute’s ranking data. “But there is some disconnect between supply and demand in housing,” he said. “While I have some concerns about segments in the market, there is still opportunity for growth and profit in housing after careful planning and consideration.” He said the national housing values really don’t contribute much to the local housing market. “The people who are moving in here and buying houses are already paying the national rates,” he said. “This doesn’t affect them.”
Condensed from: NWA News, Arkansas Democrat Gazette, February 23, 2006
Academies Reinvent Local High Schools
Bentonville, which will soon be the largest high school in Arkansas with 3,000 students and a 600,000-square foot behemoth school, has decided to adopt the concept of the career academy to structure classes for students. This concept is important in an area striving to achieve excellence in public education. Many people move here from elsewhere and ask about the private schools. Our best schools are the public schools.
The academies come in two forms: wall-to-wall, where every student must enroll in an academy and there are many choices, and pocket academies, where enrollment is optional and there are fewer academies from which to choose. The Bentonville School District is following the wall-to-wall model for its academies. Ninth-graders will start in the freshmen academy, and will attend classes on the same floor and work with the same core group of 40 teachers. The program will focus on helping students decide which academy to join in their sophomore year. Some of the available disciplines are business, fine arts, mathematics, and human life sciences.
The career academy model for high schools has existed since 1969, but the concept wasn’t pioneered in Arkansas until 1998 when the Springdale School District opened a medical academy with 30 students. The trend spread in Northwest Arkansas, with Rogers and Fayetteville adopting the model. Administrators of at least 15 of the state’s biggest high schools are reinventing their schools through the academy approach, a trend educators say will continue. More than 1,500 career academies nationwide create schools within schools by centering students and instruction in focused, career-themed clusters. But they have not universally succeeded. The system floundered in Fayetteville, and it may be on the way out in Fort Smith.
There are pros and cons of academy models. Many principals and superintendents say that as a school grows larger, it becomes necessary to find ways to connect to individual students. Otherwise, it’s too easy for students to slip through the cracks. Large schools must search for ways to create smaller learning communities within the schools. The smaller learning communities allow students to take classes with the same group of peers and teachers. Proponents say career academies offer an alternative to the isolation that can accompany a mega-high school. Students become more interested in their courses and have greater success after graduation.
Opponents say career academies are too much like vocational programs, which traditionally do not receive a lot of community support. Some parents think the academies would not be good preparation for college. Other parents don’t want their kids to have to decide too early on a career path. However, a 2004 study by MDRC, a nonprofit, nonpartisan social policy organization based in New York, found that “Career academies are one of the few youth-focused interventions that have been found to improve the labor market prospects of young men.”
Administrators at Fayetteville High School introduced pocket academies in 2003, but then dropped the program two years later. Principal Randy Willison said only 80 students enrolled in an academy during the program’s second year. The academy needed a minimum of 120 participants to justify keeping it, Willison said.
Source www.nwanews.com February 12, 2006
The academies come in two forms: wall-to-wall, where every student must enroll in an academy and there are many choices, and pocket academies, where enrollment is optional and there are fewer academies from which to choose. The Bentonville School District is following the wall-to-wall model for its academies. Ninth-graders will start in the freshmen academy, and will attend classes on the same floor and work with the same core group of 40 teachers. The program will focus on helping students decide which academy to join in their sophomore year. Some of the available disciplines are business, fine arts, mathematics, and human life sciences.
The career academy model for high schools has existed since 1969, but the concept wasn’t pioneered in Arkansas until 1998 when the Springdale School District opened a medical academy with 30 students. The trend spread in Northwest Arkansas, with Rogers and Fayetteville adopting the model. Administrators of at least 15 of the state’s biggest high schools are reinventing their schools through the academy approach, a trend educators say will continue. More than 1,500 career academies nationwide create schools within schools by centering students and instruction in focused, career-themed clusters. But they have not universally succeeded. The system floundered in Fayetteville, and it may be on the way out in Fort Smith.
There are pros and cons of academy models. Many principals and superintendents say that as a school grows larger, it becomes necessary to find ways to connect to individual students. Otherwise, it’s too easy for students to slip through the cracks. Large schools must search for ways to create smaller learning communities within the schools. The smaller learning communities allow students to take classes with the same group of peers and teachers. Proponents say career academies offer an alternative to the isolation that can accompany a mega-high school. Students become more interested in their courses and have greater success after graduation.
Opponents say career academies are too much like vocational programs, which traditionally do not receive a lot of community support. Some parents think the academies would not be good preparation for college. Other parents don’t want their kids to have to decide too early on a career path. However, a 2004 study by MDRC, a nonprofit, nonpartisan social policy organization based in New York, found that “Career academies are one of the few youth-focused interventions that have been found to improve the labor market prospects of young men.”
Administrators at Fayetteville High School introduced pocket academies in 2003, but then dropped the program two years later. Principal Randy Willison said only 80 students enrolled in an academy during the program’s second year. The academy needed a minimum of 120 participants to justify keeping it, Willison said.
Source www.nwanews.com February 12, 2006
Arkansas Existing Home Sales up 30%
Arkansas continues to experience record growth in existing home sales, outpacing every other state in the country in the fourth quarter, according to a study by the National Association of Realtors. It was the second consecutive quarter that Arkansas’ rate was the best in the country. Arkansas has been among the top 10 states in sales of previously owned homes for each of the past five quarters.
Arkansas’ sales of previously owned homes were up almost 30 percent in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, the study showed. The third quarter of 2005 was also strong, with 32 percent growth. Nationally, existing home sales were flat in the fourth quarter, up just 0.3 percent.
In NW Arkansas, one explanation of these statistics could be the rapid increase in new-home prices, putting most of them beyond many people’s reach. Builders are no longer constructing small “starter” homes due to skyrocketing land costs and increased construction and development costs. As recently as about 3-4 years ago, the typical starter home was about 1000-1200 square feet and could be purchased for under $100K. The new starter home in NWA (particularly in the major towns of Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville) is larger than that of the past, but prices are also significantly higher, starting at about $180K and going up from there. Salaries are not increasing at the same rate as home prices. Thus for people of modest means who don’t qualify for a new home of this type, the purchase of an existing home or paying rent are their only choices.
Source: Northwest Arkansas Times, February 17, 2006
Arkansas’ sales of previously owned homes were up almost 30 percent in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, the study showed. The third quarter of 2005 was also strong, with 32 percent growth. Nationally, existing home sales were flat in the fourth quarter, up just 0.3 percent.
In NW Arkansas, one explanation of these statistics could be the rapid increase in new-home prices, putting most of them beyond many people’s reach. Builders are no longer constructing small “starter” homes due to skyrocketing land costs and increased construction and development costs. As recently as about 3-4 years ago, the typical starter home was about 1000-1200 square feet and could be purchased for under $100K. The new starter home in NWA (particularly in the major towns of Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville) is larger than that of the past, but prices are also significantly higher, starting at about $180K and going up from there. Salaries are not increasing at the same rate as home prices. Thus for people of modest means who don’t qualify for a new home of this type, the purchase of an existing home or paying rent are their only choices.
Source: Northwest Arkansas Times, February 17, 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
Architects studying possibility of light rail in Northwest Arkansas
Studies through the University of Arkansas School of Architecture are being conducted to research how a light rail system might alter development in Northwest Arkansas. Teams have recently studied the Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the Fort Worth Transportation Authority, and the possibility of establishing a light rail system in the Washington, D. C. area.
A concept posed in the past for NW Arkansas would traverse 41.27 miles of rail with about 10 stations along the Interstate 540 corridor and a loop to the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. Buses could be used to tie more immediate areas to the rail, and high-occupancy lanes could be established along the interstate.
NW Arkansas needs something like this and needs it fast. Rush hour traffic is horrendous and daytime traffic is not too much better. Studies indicate that approximately 1000 additional people move to this area every month. Unfortunately, the infrastructure isn’t keeping up. Some sort of public transportation system is needed to alleviate the congestion on our roads.
Source: Northwest Arkansas Times, February 12, 2006
A concept posed in the past for NW Arkansas would traverse 41.27 miles of rail with about 10 stations along the Interstate 540 corridor and a loop to the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. Buses could be used to tie more immediate areas to the rail, and high-occupancy lanes could be established along the interstate.
NW Arkansas needs something like this and needs it fast. Rush hour traffic is horrendous and daytime traffic is not too much better. Studies indicate that approximately 1000 additional people move to this area every month. Unfortunately, the infrastructure isn’t keeping up. Some sort of public transportation system is needed to alleviate the congestion on our roads.
Source: Northwest Arkansas Times, February 12, 2006
New Books Tout Fayetteville as Great Place to Live
Career Press has recently published two books that add Fayetteville as one of the best places to live in America. "50 Fabulous Places to Raise Your Family" by Kathleen Shaput and "50 Fabulous Places to Retire in America" by Mary and Arthur Griffith, join a long line of such books and articles featured in Forbes, USA Today and others. Shaput and the Griffiths studied factors such as quality of life, safety, dining options, entertainment opportunities, medical facilities, accessibility and services for seniors, crime rate, education, public safety, taxes, real estate, and educational opportunities.
Listings for each community include information such as potential drawbacks, climate charts, tax rates, and real estate averages. Contacts for utility companies, newspapers, chambers of commerce, and a listing of activities and services for seniors are also included.
Fayetteville and NW Arkansas have long appeared on “best places to live” lists in various publications. However, with the increased urbanization, paralyzing traffic jams due to lagging infrastructure, and escalating home prices, the quality of life touted in these articles may be disappearing. Growth is great for the economy, but the increasing cost of living here (like sales taxes of over 9%) may make this area a “not so great” place to live in the near future.
Source: Northwest Arkansas Times, February 9, 2006
Listings for each community include information such as potential drawbacks, climate charts, tax rates, and real estate averages. Contacts for utility companies, newspapers, chambers of commerce, and a listing of activities and services for seniors are also included.
Fayetteville and NW Arkansas have long appeared on “best places to live” lists in various publications. However, with the increased urbanization, paralyzing traffic jams due to lagging infrastructure, and escalating home prices, the quality of life touted in these articles may be disappearing. Growth is great for the economy, but the increasing cost of living here (like sales taxes of over 9%) may make this area a “not so great” place to live in the near future.
Source: Northwest Arkansas Times, February 9, 2006
City limits and school district boundaries do not always match up
Homebuyers with school age children need to check which school district their new home is in. School boundaries were drawn decades ago, long before the cities expanded. When a city boundary changes, the existing school district boundaries remain as is. There are no plans to change the school district boundaries in the foreseeable future. Fayetteville, Springdale, Farmington, and Elkins are some of the local cities caught up in this situation.
To check which area a particular home is in, buyers should check the Fayetteville and Springdale School Maps or the Rogers and Bentonville School Lookup links at the right on this blog page. Another source of information would be the county assessor’s office or the school district offices.
Source Northwest Arkansas Times, February 11, 2006.
To check which area a particular home is in, buyers should check the Fayetteville and Springdale School Maps or the Rogers and Bentonville School Lookup links at the right on this blog page. Another source of information would be the county assessor’s office or the school district offices.
Source Northwest Arkansas Times, February 11, 2006.
Monday, January 30, 2006
New Elementary School Boundaries for Fayetteville
At its meeting last Thursday, January 26, the Fayetteville School Board approved new attendance zone boundaries for the city, not only for elementary schools (including the new Rupple Road School), but also for middle and junior high schools. The vote was 4-3 approving the new elementary school map, and 7-0 approving the new middle and junior high school maps.
According to the NW Arkansas Times (Saturday, January 28), as many as about 1000 Fayetteville students may have to move to different elementary schools, although students who have completed at least 2 years at their current elementary school will be allowed to finish there. And contrary to previous tentative plans , the area currently served by Jefferson Elementary (which will be closed) will not be in the new Rupple Road school area, but rather in the newly drawn Washington Elementary area. However, current Jefferson students will be allowed to attend the Rupple Road school if they so choose.
For those interested, the new area maps may be seen at:
http://www.fayar.net/GIS/index.html
These maps will interest buyers who wish to purchase homes in a particular elementary school area. Previously, the NW Arkansas MLS permitted home searches by elementary school, but the new MLS system, adopted by the Metro Board and implemented in November of last year, no longer permits this capability. Thus it is up to potential home buyers to assure that the home they will purchase is in the school area they wish. These maps may help in this regard, but buyers may also wish to contact the Fayetteville school administration to confirm which area their new home is in.
The website address for the Springdale school maps is:
http://www.springdaleschools.org/schools.htm
Under "Attendance Zones" click on the type of map you want: elementary, middle, junior high, or high school to see the appropriate map.
For Rogers and Bentonville, there are no maps, but if you enter your address at the following website addresses, the system will tell you which school your children will attend:
http://www.rogers.k12.ar.us/home.php?page=Boundaries
http://www.bentonville.k12.ar.us/web/schools/zones.asp
According to the NW Arkansas Times (Saturday, January 28), as many as about 1000 Fayetteville students may have to move to different elementary schools, although students who have completed at least 2 years at their current elementary school will be allowed to finish there. And contrary to previous tentative plans , the area currently served by Jefferson Elementary (which will be closed) will not be in the new Rupple Road school area, but rather in the newly drawn Washington Elementary area. However, current Jefferson students will be allowed to attend the Rupple Road school if they so choose.
For those interested, the new area maps may be seen at:
http://www.fayar.net/GIS/index.html
These maps will interest buyers who wish to purchase homes in a particular elementary school area. Previously, the NW Arkansas MLS permitted home searches by elementary school, but the new MLS system, adopted by the Metro Board and implemented in November of last year, no longer permits this capability. Thus it is up to potential home buyers to assure that the home they will purchase is in the school area they wish. These maps may help in this regard, but buyers may also wish to contact the Fayetteville school administration to confirm which area their new home is in.
The website address for the Springdale school maps is:
http://www.springdaleschools.org/schools.htm
Under "Attendance Zones" click on the type of map you want: elementary, middle, junior high, or high school to see the appropriate map.
For Rogers and Bentonville, there are no maps, but if you enter your address at the following website addresses, the system will tell you which school your children will attend:
http://www.rogers.k12.ar.us/home.php?page=Boundaries
http://www.bentonville.k12.ar.us/web/schools/zones.asp
Fayetteville's New Sewage Treatment Plant--Finally!
According to today's NW Arkansas Times, construction will finally begin on Fayetteville's new sewage treatment plant, roughly four months after its originally scheduled completion date. "Its about damn time," said Ward 2 Alderman Kyle Cook, chairman of the water and sewer committee. And I say, "Amen."
The Times quoted Cook as being "glad that construction will soon begin, but (he) remains wary of future problems and cost increases that could develop during construction. 'Just getting the thing out of the ground is the first hurdle,' Cook said. 'Getting it standing and operational is another thing.' "
A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Friday, a visible sign of progress for the $180 million project, which is being financed with a voter-approved 3/4% added to the sales tax to pay up to $125 million of the final cost.
With the continuing explosive growth in NW Arkansas, infrastructure projects like the sewage treatment plant are important. The area must have the capacity to serve the 1000 people per month who are moving here. And this just doesn't apply to Fayetteville's new plant. We need more and better roads too--rush hour traffic (and even non-rush hour traffic) in the Rogers/Bentonville area, as well as on Hwy 265 between Springdale and Fayetteville or Hwy 412 through Springdale, has become burdensome and does not contribute positively to the "quality of life" reasons that many people are relocating here.
In the meantime, at least one step has been taken with the decision to begin construction on the long overdue sewage treatment plant. Let's hope that city and regional planners can put their heads together to solve some of the area's other pressing problems.
The Times quoted Cook as being "glad that construction will soon begin, but (he) remains wary of future problems and cost increases that could develop during construction. 'Just getting the thing out of the ground is the first hurdle,' Cook said. 'Getting it standing and operational is another thing.' "
A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Friday, a visible sign of progress for the $180 million project, which is being financed with a voter-approved 3/4% added to the sales tax to pay up to $125 million of the final cost.
With the continuing explosive growth in NW Arkansas, infrastructure projects like the sewage treatment plant are important. The area must have the capacity to serve the 1000 people per month who are moving here. And this just doesn't apply to Fayetteville's new plant. We need more and better roads too--rush hour traffic (and even non-rush hour traffic) in the Rogers/Bentonville area, as well as on Hwy 265 between Springdale and Fayetteville or Hwy 412 through Springdale, has become burdensome and does not contribute positively to the "quality of life" reasons that many people are relocating here.
In the meantime, at least one step has been taken with the decision to begin construction on the long overdue sewage treatment plant. Let's hope that city and regional planners can put their heads together to solve some of the area's other pressing problems.
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Business Forecast '06
On Friday, January 27, the 12th annual Business Forecast '06 luncheon was held at the Springdale Convention Center. Over 1000 local business people attended. Speakers addressed economic issues affecting not only NW Arkansas, but also the nation and the world.
Sponsored by the Center for Business and Economic Research of the Sam Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, the speakers included Dan Worrell, Dean of the Walton College of Business; Thomas "Mack" McLarty (former chief of staff for President Clinton), who introduced the panelists and served as moderator; Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, Chief Economist for Ford Motor Company; James Glassman, Managing Director and Senior Policy Strategist for JPMorgan Chase & Company; and Jeff Collins, Director of the Center for Business and Economic Research.
The general consensus among the panelists with regard to the economic forecast for the coming year was one of "cautious optimism." Ellen Hughes-Cromwick spoke on international trends, James Glassman on the US economy, and Jeff Collins on the state of Arkansas and the northwest region in particular. In response to a question from the audience on "what worries you?" each responded in turn: Hughes-Cromwick--energy markets and political instability in oil producing areas, Glass--the danger of protectionist policies which might be implemented by the US, and Collins--the eroding commitment to US innovation, research and development, which (in the past) has led to wealth creation.
With regard to the state of Arkansas as a whole, Jeff Collins discussed growth in different areas of the state, most of which is occuring in the Little Rock/Central Arkansas area and in NW Arkansas. However, the state is losing manufacturing jobs, which in the past have provided high pay, due to globalization. Although new jobs are being created at a steady pace, the majority of these are low-paying, low-skill jobs. Collins expressed the need for an educated work force which would allow for the creation of high-wage, high-skill jobs. 80% of the new jobs in the state during the past 10 years have been created in Northwest Arkansas and Little Rock--62% in NW Arkansas and 18% in central Arkansas.
Underlying economic trends in NW Arkansas and the central part of the state is increased urbanization, as well as a remarkable rate of population and employment growth. About 1000 people per month are moving to NW Arkansas while about 560 jobs are being created each month. The largest sector for job growth is natural resources, mining and construction.
As a side observation with regard to home construction, he noted that in NW Arkansas in the 2nd quarter of 2005, there were 13,000 lots actively being built upon with 12,000 more platted but not yet active. By the 3rd quarter of the year, there were 16,000 lots being built upon with 15,000 more platted but not yet active. This represents a gain of 5000 lots in only 3 months.
Collins observed that the state economy is dominated by low-wage, low-skill employment, making the current workforce in much of the state ill-equipped to compete in the global marketplace for high-wage, high-skill jobs. The initiative to bring an auto manufacturing plant to Arkansas, which is being discussed in the media, will temporarily forestall the erosion in manufacturing jobs, but he suggested that the auto plant would be like adding a bucket of water to a bathtub with a slow leak.
In summary, Collins stated that the challenge to Northwest Arkansas is to provide state leadership commensurate with the economic power held in the area. Increasingly the whole state depends on the economic development here. But there are obstacles to continued growth--in particular, lack of infrastructure (especially roads, water supply and wastewater treatment). The area must respond with cooperation across governmental organizational boundaries and a unified vision for the future of the area.
Sponsored by the Center for Business and Economic Research of the Sam Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, the speakers included Dan Worrell, Dean of the Walton College of Business; Thomas "Mack" McLarty (former chief of staff for President Clinton), who introduced the panelists and served as moderator; Ellen Hughes-Cromwick, Chief Economist for Ford Motor Company; James Glassman, Managing Director and Senior Policy Strategist for JPMorgan Chase & Company; and Jeff Collins, Director of the Center for Business and Economic Research.
The general consensus among the panelists with regard to the economic forecast for the coming year was one of "cautious optimism." Ellen Hughes-Cromwick spoke on international trends, James Glassman on the US economy, and Jeff Collins on the state of Arkansas and the northwest region in particular. In response to a question from the audience on "what worries you?" each responded in turn: Hughes-Cromwick--energy markets and political instability in oil producing areas, Glass--the danger of protectionist policies which might be implemented by the US, and Collins--the eroding commitment to US innovation, research and development, which (in the past) has led to wealth creation.
With regard to the state of Arkansas as a whole, Jeff Collins discussed growth in different areas of the state, most of which is occuring in the Little Rock/Central Arkansas area and in NW Arkansas. However, the state is losing manufacturing jobs, which in the past have provided high pay, due to globalization. Although new jobs are being created at a steady pace, the majority of these are low-paying, low-skill jobs. Collins expressed the need for an educated work force which would allow for the creation of high-wage, high-skill jobs. 80% of the new jobs in the state during the past 10 years have been created in Northwest Arkansas and Little Rock--62% in NW Arkansas and 18% in central Arkansas.
Underlying economic trends in NW Arkansas and the central part of the state is increased urbanization, as well as a remarkable rate of population and employment growth. About 1000 people per month are moving to NW Arkansas while about 560 jobs are being created each month. The largest sector for job growth is natural resources, mining and construction.
As a side observation with regard to home construction, he noted that in NW Arkansas in the 2nd quarter of 2005, there were 13,000 lots actively being built upon with 12,000 more platted but not yet active. By the 3rd quarter of the year, there were 16,000 lots being built upon with 15,000 more platted but not yet active. This represents a gain of 5000 lots in only 3 months.
Collins observed that the state economy is dominated by low-wage, low-skill employment, making the current workforce in much of the state ill-equipped to compete in the global marketplace for high-wage, high-skill jobs. The initiative to bring an auto manufacturing plant to Arkansas, which is being discussed in the media, will temporarily forestall the erosion in manufacturing jobs, but he suggested that the auto plant would be like adding a bucket of water to a bathtub with a slow leak.
In summary, Collins stated that the challenge to Northwest Arkansas is to provide state leadership commensurate with the economic power held in the area. Increasingly the whole state depends on the economic development here. But there are obstacles to continued growth--in particular, lack of infrastructure (especially roads, water supply and wastewater treatment). The area must respond with cooperation across governmental organizational boundaries and a unified vision for the future of the area.
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