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Growth doesn’t happen by accident. We sit down with Springdale leaders Sharon Tromburg and Paxton Roberts to unpack the policies, projects, and partnerships behind a decade of downtown momentum, and what’s coming next. From the first-in-NWA form-based code to a city culture that helps good projects cross the finish line, the blueprint for sustainable growth is hiding in plain sight on Emma Avenue. We tour tangible wins: the Market Center of the Ozarks blending farmer support with food innova...
Growth doesn’t happen by accident. We sit down with Springdale leaders Sharon Tromburg and Paxton Roberts to unpack the policies, projects, and partnerships behind a decade of downtown momentum, and what’s coming next. From the first-in-NWA form-based code to a city culture that helps good projects cross the finish line, the blueprint for sustainable growth is hiding in plain sight on Emma Avenue.
We tour tangible wins: the Market Center of the Ozarks blending farmer support with food innovation, a new senior center delivered early and under budget, and Hotel Sundry rising with direct Greenway access. Housing steps into the spotlight with Big Emma, Via Emma, and nonprofit-led workforce homes on East Emma near Dean’s Trail. Sharon explains how Springdale’s density bonus makes attainable units pencil, while Paxton maps why more residents downtown equal steadier restaurants, better retail, and a real shot at a full-service grocery.
Beyond downtown, the medical corridor surges with Arkansas Children’s expansion, Highlands Oncology, and UAMS Orthopedics in the pipeline. Industrial investment and build-to-rent communities round out a diversified job base. We get candid on infrastructure, water, sewer, roads, and trails, and how Springdale plans for transportation choice to keep household costs down. And yes, we tackle parking with data-driven solutions, public-private options, and why structured parking unlocks higher-value land uses and stronger tax revenue.
You’ll leave with a clear sense of why Springdale is investor-friendly, how local developers shaped an authentic culinary scene (hello, AQ Chicken’s return and Onyx’s Coffee Lab), and where the next opportunities sit, from infill and adaptive reuse to workforce housing near the Greenway. If you’re betting on Northwest Arkansas, this is your field guide to Springdale’s strategy. Enjoy the conversation, then subscribe, rate, and share to help more builders, neighbors, and city-shapers find it.
Northwest Arkansas's go-to show for real estate agents, brokers, and investors looking to zoom in on the local market. Join us as we sit down with the leading voices in the area to hear how they're investing in NWA.
Hosted by (in order from left to right) Brian Wagers, Zach Stanley, and Brandon Still.
SPEAKER_03: Welcome to Northwest
Arkansas Investing Podcast, your
go-to source for real estate
investing in Northwest Arkansas.
SPEAKER_05: With your seasoned
investor just starting out, we
bring you expert insights,
market trends, and practical
strategies to help you build
wealth through real estate.
SPEAKER_04: From buying and
selling to property management
and long-term investment
planning, we cover it all so you
can make smart, informed
decisions in this fast growing
market.
Let's dive in.
SPEAKER_05: All right.
Welcome back to the NWA
Investing Podcast.
So excited for you guys to be
back for another one.
If you're investing in
Springdale, interested in
Springdale, uh, this is
definitely the episode you're
going to want to pay attention
to, take notes on, and come back
to.
I'm super excited today to have
Sharon Tromberg and Paxton
Roberts as my featured guests of
uh this episode.
Bring a ton of value from
downtown Springdale, Beyond
Springdale.
We'll be talking about uh their
background, what's happened in
downtown Springdale, what's
going to be happening in
Springdale, um, and excited to
dive in.
So um quick uh also note is you
guys will be the feature panel
of the CCC of NWA event uh
November 4th.
So I'm excited for that one.
Usually 125 people, uh movers
and shakers in in the uh real
estate development community.
That'll be in in downtown
Springdale as well.
Last time that was in Springdale
was at the Apollo with uh Mayor
Sprouse.
Um so um yeah, well let let's
start with you guys.
Um I'll start with uh Sharon.
Walk us through your your your
journey, uh taking over uh the
planning director, how where you
were before that, and and where
you are now.
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, thank you for
having me today.
Um so I stepped into the role as
the director of planning and
community development for the
city of Springdale in April.
So I'm about six months into
this new role.
Um and I've been with the city
for approximately five years,
and I kind of it was actually my
love for Springdale that
introduced me to a love of
planning.
Um, my background is a nonprofit
sector, and we had moved back
home from the East Coast back
home to Springdale.
Um, and I kind of fell into this
job and immediately fell in
love.
Um I'm mission-driven, so
anybody who is is an interested
change maker, local government
is an excellent way to make
impact in your local community.
Um, so I fell in love with it,
and I was under the direction of
Patsy Christie.
So she started um the first
Springdale Planning Office Um 30
years ago.
And so all of the success of
downtown Springdale and success
of all the projects you see
citywide are tied back somehow
to Patsy Christie and what she
has done.
I mean honestly, she laid a
wonderful strong foundation for
the team.
So she she retired in March.
Um, so I stepped in at April.
Um and I'm loving it.
As Springdale, this is such an
exciting, transformative time
for us with the growth, with the
expected population boom coming
to Northwest Arkansas over the
next 25 years.
Um this exciting time for
Springdale.
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, that's
awesome.
I I think Patsy was has probably
been a great uh role model for
you and kind of set you up for
success.
And now, you know, big shoes.
Understatement big big shoes to
fill, but also you had a lot of
big shoes that helping you like
kind of groom you for this this
role, I would say.
Um what about you, Paxton?
Let's take us through your how
you got involved in downtown
Springdale and where you're at
today.
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, thanks for
having me today.
Well, I would say I've been
working across Northwest
Arkansas in the nonprofit sector
for over a decade, uh, formerly
at Bike NWA and Trailblazers,
and um with that focusing on
active transportation
infrastructure and uh bicycle
and pedestrian advocacy.
And as part of that role, I was
really fortunate to get to work
in all the major municipalities
with all the mayors and the city
councils and the city staff, and
then from the advocacy side, uh
working with the public.
And, you know, one of the cities
that I uh always looked forward
to interacting with, whether,
like I said, it was somebody in
the city or somebody in the
public, was Springdale.
And so when this position came
open, it was just an incredible
opportunity to combine a lot of
my personal passions, but also
just work in a place that, um,
as Sharon said is truly
undergone a transformation and
has a lot of momentum right now.
So um it was just it was just a
great fit.
So really excited.
SPEAKER_05: What do you think
has been key for down, you know,
Springdale's really to me, it
seems very developer-friendly
compared to some other markets
in in the country locally.
You know, what is what do you
think has been key to some of
the success factors that that
Springdale sets Springdale
apart?
SPEAKER_00: Um our the downtown
master plan and the introduction
of a form-based code to our
downtown.
So the works, those two were are
are key to to downtown
Springdale's success.
And the vision of that started
around 2015.
That's when the downtown master
plan kind of set forth.
And then a couple years later,
um, thankful to the work of
Patsy, introduced the first
form-based code district to
Northwest Arkansas, and it was
downtown Springdale.
Um, and the input and the
feedback from the community,
residents, builders, developers,
um, city staff, everyone to make
sure that as our effort to
revitalize and redevelop
downtown, make it vibrant again,
that we took all of that input
and suggestions from everyone to
try and build a foundation of
some basic tools to get started.
Um, I really think that's where
some of the success lies.
And and we just, it's a and it's
a matter of of constant
maintenance, right?
As Springdale grows um and keeps
transforming, we kind of have to
update those tools just to make
sure that we it is, it's easy
for developers, but yet
beneficial for um the city of
Springdale itself.
SPEAKER_02: And and I would just
add um the attitude of
especially the city departments.
I mean, you know, I I know
especially people listen to
podcasts, they've worked with
cities, uh, municipalities.
They're not always known for a
positive attitude or walking in
the door and saying, how can we
help you accomplish something?
And I think that's something
that helps Springdale stand out,
is that the administration and
city staff uh really want to try
to get to yes and find a way um
to make development happen.
SPEAKER_05: It's pretty evident.
I mean, master plan if you look
at exactly then 2015, that
master plan, uh, you know, the
past 10, it's 2025.
So exactly 10 years of growth in
Springdale has really changed,
you know, especially downtown.
You know, you're not walking the
same downtown you were 15 years
ago or 10 years ago or further.
So um let's talk about let's
speaking of that, let's let's
dive in specifically into
downtown Springdale.
Um, you know, you've both been,
you know, super involved in it.
Um, what has been some big wins
for 2025 for downtown
Springdale?
SPEAKER_00: There have been some
huge wins.
So so in 2025, I guess to touch
on some of the projects or and
and where they are and what
stage of development they are.
Um so for this year with opening
of um the Market Center of the
Ozarks.
SPEAKER_05: Um tell people about
people who aren't familiar with
Market Center of the Ozarks.
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I know if can
you give a little bit of a yeah?
SPEAKER_02: So uh the Market
Center is really it's a truly
unique um asset for Northwest
Arkansas and even kind of a new
model for the country, is that
it combines several different
operations you'd normally see
separate.
So there's a food aggregator
that um purchases food from
local farmers and then helps
distribute that food into
institutions.
So it could be a hospital or a
school.
So it's helping to not only prop
up the local kind of small
business farmer, but also um
supply more healthy food to
institutions that need it.
And then the other half of the
facility is really a food
innovation center.
Um, and that's through a
partnership with the University
of Arkansas.
So if you are, let's just say,
an entrepreneur, you're not even
an entrepreneur, you're somebody
that just has a family recipe
that you've grown up loving.
I've heard stories of somebody
had a salsa or a jam and um
their family loved it, their
friends loved it, you can walk
in with an idea and they will
help you from take you from idea
all the way to that product
being on the shelves.
So that is something that's
truly unique.
Another part of the facility is
just this incredible world-class
um kitchen baking facility.
Uh, you can come in if you have
a food truck or if you have a
restaurant or you're looking at
opening up a restaurant, you can
rent out uh the kitchen
facilities and they have enough
for multiple people to be in at
the same time and uh prepare
your product.
And so that just those assets
all in one place in downtown
Springdale really set it apart.
SPEAKER_00: And just to just to
touch on that, Marcuson, some of
the resources they provide, one
is a huge benefit to mobile
vendors.
So food trucks have been kind of
a hot topic um for probably the
last 10 years.
A lot more pop up.
Um, but there are some
challenges to food trucks,
sourcing clean water, dumping
dirty gray water, um grease
disposal, just some of the
behind-the-scenes stuff.
And this this um innovative hub
here provides people access to
all of those resources that they
need to have a successful
business.
Um and and some others, I think
just going, you know, west down
to Emma, um, or I guess the
senior center is just east, but
the Springdale Senior Center
just opened this year and it was
ahead of schedule, under budget,
looks fantastic.
Um, core architects to design,
Buffalo Builders to the Build,
uh, had our grand opening um
several weeks ago.
Uh it's just um everyone at the
city, and I think the whole
community is so proud um of that
effort.
Um, next to it's the airport,
which we're gonna have a new
street realignment um for a
better entrance to the airport.
Um, they're gonna start a
business master plan for the
airport.
And then if we move east, we
have Big Emma, which is um an
incredible residential
development that promotes
workforce housing.
Um, that is about to open this
year.
Next to it is Via Emma, a
mixed-use commercial and
residential one at the corner of
Park and Emma, and that is being
built right now under
construction.
I love uh walking by and seeing
the progress.
Um, it's incredible how fast.
And just south of Via Emma is
Luther George Park, which I
think the grand opening was last
fall was fall of 2024.
And I mean, that is just a crown
jewel of downtown Springdale.
I mean, it's it's like 13 or 14
acres.
Um beautiful design.
Um, I hope you've been to it.
And so Paxson is his team are
doing some incredible
programming for it.
Um and then if you go farther
east, we have um the Sundry
Hotel that is that is under
construction, and it's amazing
how fast they're doing that one.
They already have walls going
up.
It's it's exciting to see a
crane in downtown Springdale,
right?
Uh you visit other cities that
are that are booming with
development and and you see some
of those signs to to come to
work and to get to see a crane,
and all of that is um that's an
exciting, that's an exciting
thing.
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and I think
you know, those those types of
developments Sharon was talking
about are really going to help
transform Springdale over the
next five years.
We've seen so much change over
the last 10 years, as you
mentioned, really even over the
last year.
There are so many businesses
that have opened up just a
little more than a year ago.
But, you know, bringing more
people downtown to live is going
to help create a more
sustainable business
environment, a sustainable
investing environment, because
people aren't just coming
downtown and leaving and, you
know, going to their home on the
other side of the city or in a
neighboring city at the end of
the day.
They're staying downtown.
So those shops and restaurants
are going to be more
sustainable.
And I think that's really
incredible.
And as Sharon mentioned, this
the Sundry Hotel, which is uh
Hilton property, um, you know,
that is just a game changer for
downtown in terms of, you know,
when people come and they're
they're visiting, um, you know,
sometimes people either like to
stay out by the interstate,
quick on and off, or they want
to stay right downtown.
And and um, the fact that
Springdale will have an option
to accommodate a large number of
people is really going to
transform another aspect of the
downtown.
Um, you know, one of the things
that opened up recently is a
little boutique hotel um called
the Star on Spring.
And I think that was incredible
because it's it's offering a
very high-end amenity.
I'll say, and somebody can
challenge me, but it's it's the
nicest hotel rooms in Arkansas.
And I'm just waiting for
somebody to to show me one that
is nicer because I'll go stay
there.
Um, but I think that just speaks
to the momentum that we have in
the city.
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, there's a lot
to unpack there.
A lot of really awesome pro that
really like just like started
operations in 2025.
It seemed probably, you know, in
the background working, but then
this year really coming online.
And I'll those are all big Emma
via M, obviously the mixed use
developments by uh Blue Crane,
uh Market Center of the Ozark.
Who's uh who's helping put that
one together?
SPEAKER_00: Um it was a Walton
Family Foundation.
Um I think it was a design
excellence fund for the um
market center of the Ozarks.
SPEAKER_05: And and and that
star on spring is a cool
boutique hotel.
That's a that was a great idea.
And I think seeing an investment
from you know Hilton Group, you
know, the Holton, Sundry,
they're doing market data.
Like we can show all the skyline
reports and great information.
And I think for you know um a
group to invest that kind of
time and money into an area,
there they also believe in the
the growth that they're in the
growth numbers.
So um I think that's pretty cool
to see.
Obviously, Luther George Park,
like you talked about, that's so
cool to have in downtown
Springdale.
Um obviously Omar and myself are
working on a project right
behind that, which would be
perfect for you know residents
just to walk, walk across to.
So I think walkability, it
sounds like a buzz or a key, you
know, walkability, you know,
everybody wants to be walkable,
but it's it's truly important.
It helps the value of the area.
People want a nicer, you know,
um means of living.
So it's it really helps with
that growth and all these
different product, it's not just
residential, not just hotel.
It's you know, it's uh it's a
pretty cool mix to see.
And I think that that rising
tide kind of lifts all the
boats.
SPEAKER_02: You know, that's
that's something I think that is
helping Springdale stand out and
will continue to stand out in
the future is that you've got
this organic growth of mixed use
of different types of
businesses, different types of
residential properties come
online.
And I think that's something
that we see other cities trying
to back into, right?
They're trying to reach for that
authenticity by kind of
retrofitting.
But here we have this effort
that I think one of the things
that is really impressive to me
that for the most part over the
last 10 years, it's been local
developers.
You know, it's people that their
family grew up here.
Um, their if they did move here,
their husband or wife is from
here and they've been investing
their money into downtown.
And the same goes for the
businesses.
Um, you know, by and large,
almost every business is owned
by somebody with local roots,
you know.
And um, you know, we do have one
or two chains now that are
making their way, but I think
that's just a sign of
legitimacy, right?
Like the locals have paved the
way to create this stable
foundation, and now you're
seeing these, you know, national
level interests paying
attention.
SPEAKER_05: Gas Gaskins, we
brought them but we brought them
in from Eureka.
Now they're Springdale guys.
SPEAKER_02: They were Eureka
people and now they're full-time
Springdale.
Yeah, and I think it and it's
great, you know, and they're
that's an example of their
locals and um Gaskins and just
incredible, incredible food
offering, and they're working on
a new concept that's going to be
open this coming spring, um, a
little uh small Italian place,
you know, just right in
downtown.
So I think it it shows that um
people are coming, opening up
businesses, and then even
expanding on what they
originally envisioned.
SPEAKER_00: And that that
walkability aspect um is
important for all of those key
businesses that that we just
talked about.
Um and from kind of the the
urban planning lens, whenever we
consider walkability, we that
there's a common framework about
like the the five D's that we
look for for the walkability.
Um and number one is the
density, right?
You need the people, right, to
promote this walkability.
And downtown, um this is a story
about Tyson Foods, and it's a
secondhand story from Patsy, but
I always love it that whenever
she wanted to kick off this
venture of bringing downtown
Springdale to be vibrant again,
when she had approached them,
their commitment to downtown was
not just a fiscal commitment,
um, but they committed people.
So they moved and opened IT
offices right downtown on Emma.
Um and it has been it has been
incredible.
All those people who are now
full-time working downtown, so
they're eating lunch downtown at
these restaurants.
Now they want an easier commute,
so they're moving downtown to be
closer.
Um there's another, Tyson has
committed another project.
They are they're uh redeveloping
their fuller building on Water
Street on the north side, and
they're gonna bring um over a
hundred full-time employees
there too.
So we're about to get another
huge commitment.
And that's so so that's the
density piece.
So then we need the walkability
for those people.
The next one is is diversity, so
like a mix of different uses.
And if you look at downtown
Springdale, we are unique that
we have hospital, an airport,
um, schools.
We have, but we we have some
unique elements that a lot of
downtowns don't have.
Um, and that form-based code
that Patsy first brought in
2017, that promotes those
different uses.
It's more about keeping that
neighborhood character and
promotes more of that mixed use
um on every street.
Um the the third D is design,
right?
And so the city is taking this
seriously as you see, like the
East Maple connection uh
realignment, um, the beautiful
lighting, big sidewalks for the
walkability, um, the street
trees, if if you've noticed the
the landscaping that Public
Works does around Turnbow Park,
um, maybe I'm biased, but I I
think it's beautiful, all the
streetscapes and and and and the
lighting, everything that's on
that human scale that you notice
as you um as you are walking.
The next one is um the the uh
it's either distance to um your
destination, right?
And so how close are things?
Um and that's why, and I mean
the Greenway that goes the
Razorback Greenway goes right
through the heart of downtown
Springdale.
So the Sundry Hotel is gonna
have direct connection to be
adjacent to the Greenway.
Um and we're trying to make sure
our local trails help connect so
that we have multimodal ways so
that people can live, work, and
play, but not um ultimately plan
for some downtown that's gonna
be a big traffic jam.
Um I think the last one is like
uh the the um distance to
destination, um about
transportation, right?
And and Springdale does still, I
mean, there's always room for
improvement.
So we are we're served by ORT,
there's some bus routes, but you
know, we know that we need to
work on some parking issues and
maybe some other accessibility
ones.
Um but we're in a good place.
But but if you notice, um the
last thing I'll mention about
the walkability is whenever we
started the revitalization of
downtown, the sidewalks on Emma,
a lot of people thought, like,
golly, they're so big.
In some places they're 12 feet.
But then that allows for like a
cafe if they want to have some
tables and chairs and people can
still go.
Um so that that walkability is
uh it's talked about a lot, but
it it's essential, it's vital to
like a thriving downtown, I
would say.
SPEAKER_05: You mentioned and
you mentioned families, which I
would like to guide go into that
are are you know locals that are
investing back into the area.
We're seeing some national
people, um national investors
come into the area.
You mentioned Tyson, which I
wanted to kind of dive into.
Their CTO office, which houses a
lot of these are high-paying
jobs too, so it's not um uh a
factory by any means.
It's it's people that are gonna
go out and spend money back into
the local economy.
And then, you know, um I that's
interesting about their new
expansion.
If we're 100 uh uh Jonathan, uh
Tyson, he was talking about an
expansion in downtown
Springdale.
So that's awesome to see Tyson
investing back into downtown
Springdale.
Um obviously Looser George Park,
the Georges are super involved
in Springdale.
Uh what the Waltons uh have been
instrumental.
What else could you say about,
you know, local families
investing back into Springdale?
SPEAKER_00: I mean, sometimes
it's it's there are a lot of
small ones that just don't get
the same amount of visibility
and attention, right?
Like we have some of these big
projects with big families and
they have these big investments,
but we also have a lot of like
smaller scale infill development
by families that have been from
here, live here, and care about
it.
Or projects that might not get
an example, like the the
hideaway, right?
Um, our first cottage court
downtown is by Huntsville and
and Price on that northeast
corner of our downtown.
I think there's 10, 12 um
cottage style ones.
And that was um Zach and Sarah
Brothers.
And they have been, I mean,
they've been instrumental lately
in helping helping bring some of
these new creative housing
ideas.
Um, they're doing a couple
different infill ones.
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and I think
that's, you know, really speaks
to Desmond, it's it's there's,
I'd say, some quiet development,
right?
There are people that really
care a lot that are putting
their money in, but you just
don't see their names in the
headlines.
And that just speaks to their
care for their city and you
know, reinvesting the funds
that, you know, I think
everybody knows there was a lot
of wealth created from the rise
of the industry, but whether it
was trucking or protein or
Walmart in the region.
And I think Springdale really
has a fascinating mix of people
that um that really they're
taking the hard work that their
families put in during that time
and keeping that money, you
know, in the city.
Also, I think that um, and
Luther George Park is an is an
incredible example where um you
know you have this park that um
I I can't remember how many
acres it was before, but it was
smaller, right?
And so they um through the
support of the Walton Family
Foundation and designed
excellence, um, got this
incredible design, but then
raising the money to build the
park was a public-private
partnership, right?
So out of a$16 million
renovation, you know, over$12
million was raised privately
from families in the region.
So not just families in the city
of Springdale, but you saw
people donating money from all
across the region to a park in
Springdale.
And I thought that is something
you just don't hear about every
day.
It's one thing to care about
something in the city you live,
but for people to feel
passionate enough and caring
enough about a park in a city
they don't live in is just
really incredible to see that.
SPEAKER_00: And I think the the
raising of those funds um that
that was championed by the
downtown Springdale Alliance.
I mean, and and I think that
alone, the achievement of Blues
or George Park, um, by the end
of it, it really highlighted
that the collaboration and the
success of the collaboration
between the city of Springdale
and the DSA.
I mean, right there was um that
that is a perfect ex example of
of why why this relationship
works so well.
SPEAKER_05: Paxton, you can take
a month vacation.
So what what's the what's to
stop you from what what is to
stop you guys from you know
kicking the feet?
You know, Springdale's had a lot
of success.
What what's the you know, are
you are you guys satisfied or
what's uh what's the next uh
vision for you guys?
SPEAKER_02: Definitely not
satisfied.
I think there's been such a a
large uh a number of years of
hard work by so many people,
both my predecessors at the DSA,
board members, supporters, city
staff, um, and then people from
the community putting their
money in.
We just have to keep that
momentum going.
Um, if you go through downtown,
if you're from here, no doubt it
looks different than it than it
ever has, probably if you
remember it.
So um, but there's still a lot
of opportunity there.
I mean, if you walk around,
there are still buildings that
can be rehab, rehabbed and
revitalized and repurposed.
Um, there is real estate.
There are lots.
You know, if you look around at
the, you know, the use of um of
parking in surface lots or just
lots that are bacon and don't
have anything on it, I think
there's just as much potential
to develop now as there ever has
been.
So I think um that that just
yields a credible opportunity.
I think what we're gonna need is
that, you know, as we talked
about these mixed use
residential commercial units
coming online, you know, by my
estimate, and this may be lofty,
but we're gonna have a thousand
people living downtown in the
next five years that weren't
living there before.
So I think that's something that
is a huge potential because your
mix of businesses, you know,
what what does need to show up
there looks a little different
for that, right?
It's not just people coming down
for lunch or for dinner in the
evening, you know, it's people
there 24 hours a day.
And um, so that's personally
what excites me a lot is that um
there's just huge potential in
downtown.
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, I I definitely
remember it.
I had a uh a major renovation,
one of my first major renovation
projects on Park Street.
Um, and one of my investors was
like, Yeah, I won't, I won't
touch that with the 100-foot
bowl.
But it was good because it
forced me to do it by myself,
and it was actually one of my
best deals.
And, you know, we it had like
gravel parking lot, paved the
parking lot, new roofs, new
siding, and everything like
that.
So and I s and I agree with you.
There's still so much more
opportunity to develop, you
know, all sorts of developments
or or rehab some of the existing
um product that is in downtown
Springdale.
Anything else on downtown
Springdale that we should touch
on before we go to the rest of
Springdale?
SPEAKER_00: Um, we could always
tie it back to downtown.
SPEAKER_02: That's what um I
mean I think it's it's exciting
because I the city has
incredible plans to continue the
streetscape improvements that
you see in kind of the core of
the Emma and the uh, you know,
Shiloh and Main Street area.
Um so those improvements will go
both east all the way to 265 and
then west all the way to 71B.
And so then you will have this
kind of continuous streetscape
that goes from one end to the
other that really helps with
that walkability that we were
talking about earlier.
You know, when you look down the
street and it's a nice wide
sidewalk, trees that are
planted, a landscape that really
helps pull people down, which
then reinforces the business
aspect.
And then I think we'll also see,
you know, something that DSA
will be working on.
We've already had conversations
with philanthropists, elected
officials, the public, is a
revitalization of Shiloh Square.
You know, it's something that is
um, I think it is such a unique
space because it is an outdoor,
large outdoor covered area right
in the heart of downtown that
can be used by the public.
And I think that's something
that is an incredible
opportunity that we'll see
redeveloped in the next two to
three years.
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I think um
but before we leave the topic of
of downtown, I think it's worth
mentioning earlier.
I noted some of the unique,
interesting things that that
make Springdale um give it its
character, some some of the
interesting elements we have.
And so I want to make sure we
mention that, you know, across
the street from our our new
senior center, we have the Jones
Center.
And what a, I mean, what a
benefit to the whole region and
especially uh the community of
Springdale.
And, you know, the community
clinic, right?
The Center for Nonprofits, um,
our downtown has so many neat
things to offer um for families,
right?
For not just employees who are
coming to work, but for for all
residents of Springdale.
SPEAKER_02: And just to add to
that is the multicultural
aspect.
You know, if you're looking for
a wide range of food options, um
it is just incredible.
I think I was adding up, there's
almost 20 restaurants now on
Emma, just Emma alone.
So that doesn't include the
restaurants that are, you know,
south on Holcomb or on the other
side.
And I think you can come down
and really get flavors from all
over the world, you know,
whether it's Salvadorian,
whether it's Mexican, whether
it's Guatemalan.
Um, it's just really, I think
that is another unique aspect of
the culinary.
You know, that some of the other
cities in the region have really
been kind of on the map now for
their culinary offerings.
And I think one thing we're
gonna see is that Springdale
will continue to rise in that
aspect, that it is a legitimate
dining destination and it's
something we'll be promoting.
SPEAKER_05: So love it.
Yeah, downtown Springdale, it it
is uh good date spot too.
We'll uh I'll ask you at the end
some uh some favorite
restaurants too.
Um so downtown that's that's
interesting to know about
Shiloh.
Um looking at read of I mean,
obviously with Onyx right there
doing putting their footprint in
uh in downtown Springdale is
pretty cool to see, you know,
local, local business group and
investing in downtown Springdale
and all the different
restaurants and everything like
that.
So um you mentioned uh expand
making downtown Springdale more
accessible to the rest of
Springdale.
Um, you know, West Emma now, you
know, connecting all the way
through.
Um what is you been over the
bridge?
Uh I haven't been over the
bridge yet.
Oh, you guys got to.
SPEAKER_00: We have a bike lane,
a nice, a nice safe pedestrian
path.
You gotta do it.
Next time I see you, I hope you
go over the bridge.
SPEAKER_05: Uh what other areas
are you guys excited about for
Springdale as far as uh, you
know, I I'm familiar with in the
medical mile court, there's been
a ton of develop, you know, some
people call it the million
dollar mile, you know, all the
the medical district there.
Um and speaking of uh Hope
Cancer is a Springdale group
that we're actually sponsoring
for uh the CCC uh event.
And it's a really cool service
that they offer to, you know,
drive people into the, you know,
to the medical facilities that
maybe can't get there because of
their cancer situation or just
don't have the means.
SPEAKER_00: That's a very, very
special organization.
SPEAKER_05: Yeah, we're excited
to be partnering up with them
and giving shedding them more
light.
But it's cool to see, you know,
there's such a, you know, we
talked about protein, Walmart,
and logistics, but met the
medical industry is becoming a
huge, you know, fourth marker in
NWA and even Springdale.
Yes, absolutely.
I'd like to hear your thoughts
on that kind of corridor.
SPEAKER_00: And a lot of that
actually it ties back.
I think some of the gratitude
for even just the beginning um
visioning of that goes back to
like the the the the George
family, right?
Um children's hospital coming to
Springdale.
That um that is monumental for
for Northwest Arkansas.
And I am uh we feel blessed that
it that it came to to Springdale
itself.
Um they're finishing up an
expansion right now of an entire
nother wing.
It's incredible.
Um and we have Highlands
Oncology out there.
They're about to, I don't know
if they've announced a
groundbreaking or not, but that
the UAMS Orthopedic Center um is
moving forward and it's a it's a
very wonderful design.
That's gonna be a fantastic
project.
And so I'm I'm excited to hear
what to hear when we get that.
And at some point, I know that
we're gonna have a pedestrian
crossing and access with with
Watkins, right?
So so just helping connect other
neighborhoods to that medical
corridor on that west side of
49.
Um and even as you drive out
there, right, and you see some
of that development in that
southwest Springdale, even the
residential is booming.
There's a couple um really high
quality multifamily developments
going on out there.
Um, with I wish I had the unit
count, it is so many.
SPEAKER_05: Hundreds and
hundreds.
The build-to-rent kind of style,
too, where with garages and not
just, you know, garden style
apartments, it seems like more,
you know, family-oriented.
SPEAKER_00: And some of that has
just been it's been very
thoughtful and intentional
planning with some of that.
And so I think that's why when
we see this area come together,
it's coming together in a very
wonderful way where the fabric
of it just kind of complements,
right?
There's compatibility with all
of it.
It's been a very um intentional,
but that the medical quarter,
that is, that's exciting.
That's that's big.
But Springdale, um, it's
interesting.
All of our quadrants kind of
have um um have have their
unique parts to it, right?
Um we also have, I know one
thing is our on our mind is like
workforce, um, workforce,
workforce training.
You know, we had our Cargill um
plant close earlier this year,
um, which which uh, you know,
unfortunately, a a lot of jobs
were lost.
And the Chamber of Congress
hosted like a job fair, and we
have been um groups have been
trying to be so proactive.
Um, we've had new employers
come.
Um I I wish I had the the list
of all the the different ones in
some of our industrial areas
that have come, central states,
premium brands just opened.
SPEAKER_02: Um Keytronics.
SPEAKER_00: Keytronics just
opened, and that brought like
what, 400 new jobs to our area.
Um there's more in in the works,
more planning of more businesses
and more jobs.
Um Springdale at its roots is
kind of a is a gray-collar town,
right?
Um and and it's it's so exciting
and wonderful to see some of
these job opportunities come
because when when we know that
the job opportunities come, we
know that people are gonna want
to live here.
So we're gonna need all the
other things that come with that
with planning.
So schools, commercial activity,
the roads and the infrastructure
to make it work.
Um it's great.
SPEAKER_02: And I think, you
know, to what your what you said
about workforce housing, I think
that's something that is both an
incredible opportunity and
something for the future.
Um, we were both just at the
groundwork conference this
morning.
Great infrared uh regional
workforce housing conference
with experts in from all over
the country.
And, you know, I think what
we're gonna see, and this is an
incredible opportunity for
investors and developers, is
housing choice.
You know, that's what we need
more of, is that, you know, it's
no longer an option just to only
have single family houses.
And I think that regardless of
where you're at in the
workforce, whether it's white
collar, gray collar, blue
collar, um, having those choices
is what people want.
And so I think Springdale is
well positioned for that in
order to increase that housing
supply.
And with the mix of both
corporate jobs, factory jobs, um
I think it also creates some
sustainability there, right?
You're not all your your eggs
aren't just all in one basket,
right?
It's not just medical, it's not
just the protein industry, it's
more distributed across.
And I think ultimately that
makes a more just uh resistant,
resilient city.
SPEAKER_00: And another area um,
it's kind of an extension of uh
of downtown to the east, East
Emma, um on the east side of
265.
Um, I have to brag about some of
the developments that's going
there.
Just at our August Planning
Commission meeting, we passed
two um large multifamily
projects, one on the north side
of Ford and one on the south.
Um and it it's so fantastic.
So it's a uh it's a partnership
between Mercy Housing and
Community Development, Northwest
Arkansas.
Um, so this is our first kind of
nonprofit um um housing project,
and it it is it is all workforce
housing.
Um, so I think they're they're
capping it at 60% AMI for all of
the residents.
And I mean, this is very
exciting, right?
And we have Dean's Trail, which
is a trail, a connection that is
right there nearby, um, which
can easily connect over to the
Greenway.
So we're gonna have these
multifamily housing options for
new people are coming that we
know are gonna be affordable, we
know they're gonna be
accessible.
Um, just more opportunity, more
things to for me to brag about
screen craft.
SPEAKER_05: That's huge.
That's huge.
I didn't know that was online.
And I that was gonna be one of
my questions is what how can it
be incentive?
You know, the workforce housing
is such a big, you know, uh
awareness of NWA and Springdale
particular.
I wonder how it can be more
incentivizing for or what are
you guys seeing that's makes it
incentivizing for the developer
who has the same, you know, what
uh similar cost to build it to
rent it out to you know a
thousand dollars and fifty nine.
You know, I think a big part of
that is the nonprofit stepping
up, you know, which Mercy
obviously did big there.
Um you know, something else for
our project in particular was
the letting us go from three
stories to four stories.
So I think that was super
interesting and unique structure
there where we could get more
density and bring our cost down
per door while bringing that 80%
AMI for 20 units.
What other kind of things are
you doing?
SPEAKER_00: And that's such an
exciting density bonus.
And I have to give that credit
to Patsy.
She was the one like who
whenever she first was thinking
about this downtown master plan,
working with developers and
thinking how do we kind of
incentivize people to come,
right?
And obviously we have an airport
in our downtown, so there are
some height restrictions at some
point.
Um, but we know that's a good
incentive.
And so we are we're continuing
with that, with our our
workforce um attainability
density bonus.
And so if you if you you know
guarantee a certain percentage
of those to be workforce
housing, you get another floor
to be able to build.
Um so we're hoping that more and
more projects kind of kind of
come forth like like the one you
have in the works.
SPEAKER_02: And and that's
really, I think that's something
that helps Springdale stand out
from other cities in the region
is just policies like that.
And I think you have a city
administration and staff who are
continually looking at how they
can improve that.
Um, and with the forthcoming
updates to the downtown master
plan um and the unified
development code, I think those
are there's really incredible
opportunities there to do even
more to encourage um workforce
housing.
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, we have some
exciting things in the works.
Um October 28th, we have our um
H3 studios, our consultants who
who have been been on this
journey about the downtown
master plan with us and all of
our downtown development for the
last 10 years.
They're coming at the at the end
to to present kind of the
findings.
This last year we we did a a
study on the southeast quadrant
of downtown, and then a parking
study for all of downtown.
So we have an addendum that
we're putting to our downtown
master plan and presenting to
council at the end of the month.
Um but this parking study really
identifies we know that we need
a parking structure.
That that's really the at least
one.
We need one to start with, and
then potentially more to come.
So this helped us identify some
key areas where um the first few
or at least the first would be
the best way to kind of start,
explored some of those options.
Uh we also tried to find some
low-hanging fruit with parking.
There's some things where we, if
you notice, we um we restriped
Holcomb and Emma to add some
angled parking um and kind of
realigned that road.
And that I there were, you know,
hundreds of parking spots gained
just just from that, which which
only cost paint um and staff
time, um, which which was uh an
easy one.
Um what else?
There's so many great things.
Um we're always trying to get
better because we know that
Springdale will thrive if we
have clear, predictable rules.
Because with clear predictable
rules, we're gonna get clear,
predictable development, and
that is gonna help us thrive.
So that's usually our goal.
So as we update, you know, all
of our comprehensive plans,
whether it's a master street
plan, master of trails plan, our
downtown plan, our you know,
downtown zoning code, um we we
always just have to keep
implementing them.
But to keep keep that, we need
the the more simple, um, the
better it's gonna be for
everybody.
SPEAKER_05: I love that.
And and so opportunities for
investors, what do you see?
Yeah, I think you mentioned the
industrial, you know, Keytronic
making the$27 million investment
into Springdale, not just down
to you know, into Springdale.
I I think I've seen some
tightness in uh industrial.
Seems like, you know, there's
some older industrial type
buildings that could be
renovated and maybe, you know,
have flex base or retail.
What what kind of opportunities
do you guys see outside of uh,
you know, density and the
housing?
SPEAKER_00: Well, that there's a
lot, like um even Kendrick
Avenue when in in North
Springdale, an industrial park,
um the city finished Kendrick
Avenue, and it's been an
incredible industrial park where
businesses have come.
Um, and then some of the some of
the older areas too.
Like some of uh there's some
places in our downtown that were
our original industrial area.
We have Ferry Street plant, we
have some places, some of our
first industrial routes were
actually right downtown or
adjacent to downtown.
Um there's a lot you just have
to wait and see.
I gotta think about which
projects are are are ready to
come forward.
SPEAKER_02: Right.
I think we'll see like the
Cargill property.
That's a great example.
I think we'll see a repurposing
of that into some type of
facility that will help, you
know, provide jobs and um
continue kind of that just
manufacturing history.
SPEAKER_05: What would you say
Springdale needs a MOSAF right
now?
SPEAKER_01: I was gonna say
housing.
SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
Um I'd have to agree.
It's definitely housing.
I think uh yeah, especially with
it, all these things that you
guys are talking about, that's
continued growth.
It's gonna be a continu I know
the RBS guideline report just
came out in the vacancy, and
Springdale is what like one
percent.
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
SPEAKER_05: So there is a huge
need, you know.
So I think that, you know, can
be a problem, but also an
opportunity for developers, you
know, that shows pretty good
strength and in their
developments.
What about uh like grow grocery,
you know, uh grocery stores?
Are we gonna get a Trader Joe's
and uh Springdale?
SPEAKER_01: I hope so.
Do you know something I don't?
I don't know.
We'll have to we'll have to wait
and see, but um I'm another
Whole Foods just popping up in
NWA, maybe Whole Foods.
SPEAKER_02: I think a grocery
store in downtown.
I mean, as we have all these
residential units um come online
in the next few years and then
continue with the momentum, um,
I think we'll see like a major
grocery store.
We have an incredible little
market, maple market downtown
that you can go and pick up, you
know, your your basic
necessities.
But I think the number of people
as downtown infills as it
redevelops, um, seeing different
types from you know, duplexes,
quadplexes, multifamily units,
uh, that's going to sustain a
grocery store, right?
So I think we also, it's a
chicken or egg.
We have to have enough people
downtown to sustain it.
Um, but I think we'll get there.
SPEAKER_05: How many people live
in you said a thousand you're
expecting about a thousand um
ambitiously to come in?
Do you how many people would you
would you say live in downtown
right now and then all of
Springdale?
SPEAKER_00: All of Springdale
were approximately 90,000.
Um, but just downtown, I I don't
have a good number that I would
actually want to cycle.
SPEAKER_02: Um that's a that's a
good number for that I should
know, and I'll definitely
research that for future uh
questions.
SPEAKER_05: 90,000 at
Springdale, what what's been the
growth of that?
Like, is that what do you see in
average annually?
SPEAKER_00: Unbelievable.
I will I will say at least just
a snapshot from the past.
Um 25 years ago in 2000, we had
uh 45,000 people.
So I mean, in in 25 years,
you've seen this exponential
growth.
And I think, you know, the the
common theme that we hear is by
2050, um, we're gonna reach a
million people here in northwest
Arkansas.
And Springdale is at at the
absolute heart of that, at the
heart of Northwest Arkansas.
Um and we have strong job
opportunities and workforce, so
we know that people are coming.
Um so the the growth is
inevitable.
It's just a matter of is it
gonna shape us or do we get
ahead of it and help shape this
growth?
So all of our efforts downtown
um are playing directly into
that.
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and just like
you know, we have the largest
school district.
And so I think that just shows
that um it's a place, you know,
that it's like the crossroads in
Northwest Arkansas, right?
But it's families, um, people
are living here and working
across the region.
And I think as the city
continues to implement like
workforce affordable housing
initiatives, we'll just see even
more of that, you know, as a
place to live, regardless of
where you're working across
Northwest Arkansas.
SPEAKER_05: I see a lot of
opportunity, you know, we talk a
lot about downtown Springdale,
but also just being close to
4849.
You know, I think with
Springdale being right in the
heart of North, the greater MSA
of Northwest Arkansas, when you
have these split, you know, the
husband works at Walmart and the
wife works at U of A or vice
versa, you know, you have
Springdale is uh the perfect
place to be where you're
splitting that commute.
SPEAKER_00: So and if you think
of some of the future road
connections coming, right?
The 612 project and and even
some of the the you know R DOT
projects that are in the works,
and I know those are still a
little far out.
Um, but we're already trying to
plan for that because we know
that those road connections are
only going to open up more
opportunities for development
and businesses and our community
to grow.
SPEAKER_02: And and I think as
you spoke to like
transportation, we were talking
about housing, but a key um
piece of of housing and
attainability and affordability
is transportation.
You know, in fact, you never, if
you ever just look at housing
prices on their own, you're
missing it, right?
Because you can have a very low
housing price, but a high
transportation cost.
Um and so I think that's one of
the the great pieces about not
only investing in the road
network, but also investing in
the trail network.
Um, you know, all the major road
projects that the city's been
doing include a biking
component, biking and walking
component to it with the trail.
So I think that's gonna help
providing transportation
options, um, which gives people
more choice, kind of going back
to that housing choice, having a
choice of how you get to work um
is going to be key.
And I think that's just once
again part of building a
resilient city.
SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
And it's and and it's it's it's
a smart um it's a smart
strategy, right?
Is to kind of look for um
promote more of the housing and
development with with Infill,
right?
Because with we we have areas in
in the city, right, where the
infrastructure, the utilities,
the roads are already built.
Some of them they have water and
sewer, they have some capacity
there.
Those are the spots.
And a lot of those we have
downtown or adjacent or near
downtown.
And those are the ones that we
really should kind of help
target and promote.
Um, I mean, Springdale is still
growing, right?
We still have sprawl and we
still have new developments
coming.
Um, but for the areas where it's
more efficient, it's way more
efficient since we don't have to
build new roads and and put in
all new infrastructure.
Um downtown still has a number
of opportunities for that.
SPEAKER_02: And I think speaking
of infrastructure, um, if you've
you know been paying attention
to the news headlines northwest
Arkansas, you will see sewer and
water in the headlines many
times over this past year.
Um, but that's really incredible
that Springdale has been looking
at this for quite a while and
making investments.
And I would argue is probably in
some of the best shape of any of
the other cities in terms of
adding and handling this growth
and development in terms of its
water and sewer capacity.
SPEAKER_00: Yes, big props to
Springdale Water Utilities.
Um I mean, really, and and and
they serve, you know, Johnson
and and and Lowell and they they
expand out more than just um our
our city limits, Springdale
Water Utilities.
And and they did, that team,
they they saw ahead and have
been have been working.
But yes, that those utility
challenges, those capacity
challenges, um all the cities in
northwest Arkansas face.
So as we think about like future
road connections and potential
areas of growth for new
industrial development, um,
sometimes that that is a huge
factor that can be a barrier
that we have to kind of figure
out is we want this density,
this would be a fantastic place
for XYU land use, but how long
is it gonna be until we have
sewer or water or able to build
a sufficient road to carry said
traffic?
SPEAKER_02: And I think that's
where it's really important that
people are supporting the city
and making these decisions
because it's gonna take money to
fix these um these issues that
we're gonna be facing as growth
continues to increase.
And, you know, we've got to make
it politically feasible to make
some of those tough choices
because not everybody, you know,
investing in a water line or a
sewer line is not the sexiest
thing, right?
Much rather see other
investments, but um, those are
critical to ever having um a
properly healthy functioning
industry or business
environment.
SPEAKER_05: That was gonna be
even one of my questions was
what are some of the challenges
that you guys could see by you
guys are being pretty far
thinking, you know, thinking
ahead about these uh water
issues and infrastructure
potential potential issues and
getting in front and getting in
front of park adjacent parking,
you know, simple plans like that
to add hundreds of parking
spots.
So definitely hats off to you
guys for being continuing to be
forward thinking on that and not
just being proactive versus
reactive, which is success,
which is a successful trait with
any industry, uh, you know.
SPEAKER_02: So you know, and
that's like I think the other
key piece we're talking about
water sewer is parking, right?
So every downtown at some point
faces a parking challenge, and
it's sometimes it's just a
perception, there's not a
parking problem, but a walking
problem.
Um, but I'd say regardless,
perception trumps reality in
those um situations.
So for somebody to come downtown
and get a restaurant, if they
don't think they're gonna be
able to get a parking space,
they're gonna make a choice to
go somewhere else.
So I think that is something
that as we look at continuing
this momentum and growth, and as
we have more restaurants and
shops and people living
downtown, um, also making it
politically feasible for the
city to invest in parking
solutions, which ultimately
means parking decks, right?
Um, I think one of the it's a
it's a great concept of looking
at your um tax tax revenue per
square foot.
And if you look at that, um
having vacant land, having park
surface parking lots is not a
good return, right?
So if we can have cars parking
and parking decks, that frees up
real estate so that you get more
tax dollars, which ultimately
just helps feed the system and
provides more business
opportunity.
SPEAKER_00: And having having
that parking problem is a is a
sign of success.
Whenever we started, I sounds it
sounds backwards, but when we
started getting, you know,
influx of parking complaints, it
was a good thing because we I
remember the days when you
didn't have a parking problem.
You could park anywhere and you
could always go downtown and
park right in front of the shop
or the business that you're
going to.
Um, so that is just a sign that
now we're getting the attraction
and people are coming to see how
fantastic downtown is, and now
we have that parking problem.
Um and years ago, Patsy said,
once we have the problem, it's
too late.
We've got to start.
But when you don't have a
parking problem, but here we
are.
Um but I I'm glad that everyone
gets to that point in the
transformation of a downtown
where they they have to address
parking and growth, but it is a
sign of success.
So although it's frustrating and
we we need to work out some sort
of solution, um, it's a good
thing.
It's a good thing.
SPEAKER_05: Once you have a
problem, it's too late.
That is what a good what a good
mind, what an awesome mindset.
And like uh t taking extreme
ownership mindset, I think
that's awesome.
That's a good takeaway from uh
from here.
And that do you guys have a
timeline for you know park it?
Like a yesterday.
I have a friend that was
approached by like uh by a
certain group about buying his
land.
Uh so I know it's probably in
the work, you're probably
looking at identifying some
sites.
SPEAKER_00: And we have that
that that study that that we
have, and we're gonna present to
council at the end, a nice
parking study, just identifying
where we think the most density
would be, where those structures
should be.
So I'm hoping that's the guiding
document.
So once we get some of these
interested parties um and
propose some solutions out, at
least we have this guiding
document um with some some real
data to be able to guide those
decisions.
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and I I'd love
to see a public-private
partnership of you know, some
land owned by private developers
and the city partnering uh
barring that.
It's probably gonna be a bond
issue, right?
I mean, that's those parking
decks are very expensive.
So I would say that if we don't
have some type of partnership
come forward, it'll it'll need
to be in the next bond project.
And if if the city doesn't do
that, then we really will have a
problem, right?
When that hotel opens in 2027,
when we have five new
restaurants downtown, you know,
hundreds of people living
downtown.
It's something we really got to
start working on now.
SPEAKER_05: Sounds like you guys
are on it.
And um, well, I'm gonna finish
with uh with a lightning round
here.
Couple couple questions for each
of you guys.
I'll let each of you guys
answer.
What what's your favorite, I
think I know that, favorite new
public space in in Springdale?
SPEAKER_00: I'm gonna say Luther
George Park, but I'm biased.
I live downtown, I work
downtown.
Um, so it is the closest park to
my house.
That is where uh me and the kids
are um almost every other day.
So I spent a lot of time there,
but I can't I can't just say
enough good things about how
that project turned out.
It's great for kites and
whenever the wind over the hill
by that amphitheater.
SPEAKER_02: I mean like being on
kites.
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02: I think since Sharon
took uh Luther George Park, I'll
I'll have to go with um if you
if you haven't been downtown
lately, you know, the greenway
runs right through downtown and
Emma Onyx just opened up a new
location right there on the
corner, which is just such uh
such an incredible addition to
downtown and bringing a lot of
new people downtown.
But um the city invested in um,
and this isn't this probably
doesn't sound as good as it is,
but um there was this grass
strip in between Shiloh Square
and the Greenway that was always
muddy, and the city just put in
Astroturf.
And uh it's just really
incredible because that space is
now used like every day.
And you can come downtown, get a
coffee or a drink from Onyx, sit
outside um at a table, and kids
can play, and it's just really
incredible.
SPEAKER_00: I was surprised how
much how much the public could
now utilize that space or how
underutilized it was to begin
with, which I didn't think it
was.
Um, what a little turf will do.
SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
Okay.
What's one restaurant ever when
we talk about Gaskins, which we
all have, we shared a nice meal,
that's a nice uh steak dinner
there.
What's the one restaurant
everyone should try?
SPEAKER_00: My heart goes to
probably Spring Street Grill.
Only because that is, I don't
know how long Spring Street
Grill has been in downtown
Springdale, but uh as far back
as I can remember as a child, we
would were going to Spring
Street Grill.
So it is a it is a comfort
place.
So as we have all these
incredible new ones pop up and
they're all fantastic, there are
some days that I just kind of
want to go back to that comfort
place that um has always been
there.
And the recipes are still the
same, the coconut pie still
tastes the same.
SPEAKER_02: Love it.
I'm gonna have to check it out.
And then I think I'll have to
say, like for date night, I
would try Bistro 16.
Um for a long time.
There's a restaurant called BN
Venue French restaurant, also um
sells the most French wine of
any place in the state, which is
a fun fact.
Uh recently rebranded to Bistro
16, so a little more casual, but
still definitely nice.
And going in for a nice meal and
um if you like French food, it's
definitely incredible.
Awesome.
SPEAKER_05: I will check that
one out as well.
And and uh what what's I guess
one word, if you can give it one
word, what would you describe
Springdale's future?
SPEAKER_00: Strength.
SPEAKER_05: That's good.
SPEAKER_02: I like it.
What about you, Paxson?
It may sound boring, but
opportunity.
It's just an incredible amount
of opportunity.
I love it.
SPEAKER_00: I know we're
wrapping it up, but I do want to
throw in there the opportunity
zone.
I don't know if we talked about
that, but it is over our
downtown.
Just to add, we we can stay here
for hours and talk that on that.
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think that's
something that you know the
opportunity zones made it
through the big beautiful bill.
The rules are being written
right now.
Um, I believe there will be um a
zone still in Springdale, and I
think that's an incredible
investment opportunity that if
people don't know about, they
really need to get it.
SPEAKER_00: The Secretary of
Cloud, um, Scott Turner actually
came with the governor um in
spring of of this year and
toured some of the developments
that were completed under the
opportunity zone.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
And if you guys, if listeners
can go back to uh the episode
with Mayor Sprouse, we did we
did we did touch on Opportunity
Zone and how that's been
tremendous for uh you know
downtown Springdo specifically.
And it'll be interesting to see
how that does get the zones get
re-designated if they move a
little bit or re get get
redesignated.
Um I guess that's 2026.
SPEAKER_02: Um so yeah.
I do want to add, I think when
we were talking about new things
this year, because this is
really new, it was just
announced last week.
But uh, if you're a resident of
Northwest Arkansas, I grew up
here.
Um, you probably knew of AQ
Chicken.
Oh, yeah.
It was a longstanding
institution on uh Thompson in in
Springdale and uh growing up
going deep family dinners there,
and just really excited that it
is going to um be opened up in
downtown, right up right across
from Shiloh Square next to Onyx.
And I think that is probably
some of the biggest news that
happened recently.
SPEAKER_00: But chicks are
coming home, I think is what
their line is.
That that's a huge announcement.
That's so exciting.
I mean, that is that that kind
of reminds me of like the Spring
Street Grill, like a comfort
something from your past is AQ
coming back.
SPEAKER_05: I mean, yeah, I was
lucky to have it before they
shut down the old location.
And what what better spot now,
too, right?
In the heart of downtown
Springdale.
So that's awesome.
Well, well, uh, thank you guys,
Sharon, Paxton, for coming on.
Um, where can people learn more
or get more involved?
SPEAKER_00: Absolutely, thank
you.
Um, our city website, Springdale
AR.gov planning department.
Also follow planning um on
Instagram.
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and for us
it's downtownspringdale.org and
of course on social media
downtown Springdale, and we've
got an incredible event calendar
and lots of information about
downtown.
And we also support somebody's
opening up a local business in
downtown and has questions,
we're happy to help them in any
way we can.
SPEAKER_05: Love it.
All right, guys.
Thanks for listening.
Um, remember to leave a review
and share the episode, and we'll
see you on the next one.
SPEAKER_03: Again, thank you
guys for tuning in.
I'm gonna go ahead and uh list
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