crazy development in Bentonville (Fort Smith, Fayetteville: real estate, how much, houses)

[gunslinger256]

I have a facebook contact that is a real estate agent and he posted about someone spending $1.8 million to purchase 4 homes on central only to tear them down to build one house.

I've seen all the rebuilding going on near the square and wonder how much more can go on there. I heard that 8-10 years ago those residents couldn't sell their homes for $80k. My friend almost purchased a home on central and is kicking himself now for not buying 8 years ago.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by gunslinger256

I have a facebook contact that is a real estate agent and he posted about someone spending $1.8 million to purchase 4 homes on central only to tear them down to build one house.

I've seen all the rebuilding going on near the square and wonder how much more can go on there. I heard that 8-10 years ago those residents couldn't sell their homes for $80k. My friend almost purchased a home on central and is kicking himself now for not buying 8 years ago.

love living in Bella Vista, it is perfect for us, but I would love to have, at least looked near the square when we moved here 8 years ago. We drove by a couple days ago; saw all the renovations going on everywhere. Just hope people building don't end up with contemporary style homes. The beauty of the old homes is so special.

[knialwilliams]

I delivered mail in Bentonville for 25 years. I looked at buying a big beautiful house on W Central in the 1980s. Their price was $98 thousand. Wish I could have bought it them. I watched Bentonville grow from 7,000 to what it is today. To give you and idea of the growth in the Bentonville area. There were 7 rural routes in 1983 that took in all of Bella Vista to what is now the Pea Ridge city limits to Water Tower Road and north east of there. to Cave Springs to Highfill to west of Centerton to the Missouri line. When I left the Bentonville Post Office in 2005 there were 45 Rural Routes and growing.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by knialwilliams

I delivered mail in Bentonville for 25 years. I looked at buying a big beautiful house on W Central in the 1980s. Their price was $98 thousand. Wish I could have bought it them. I watched Bentonville grow from 7,000 to what it is today. To give you and idea of the growth in the Bentonville area. There were 7 rural routes in 1983 that took in all of Bella Vista to what is now the Pea Ridge city limits to Water Tower Road and north east of there. to Cave Springs to Highfill to west of Centerton to the Missouri line. When I left the Bentonville Post Office in 2005 there were 45 Rural Routes and growing.

Boy you can remember back. Most of us are from other parts of the state or elsewhere and can't imagine what it must have been like 30 years ago. Heck since we have moved here, only 8 years ago we have seen so much growth and upgrading; some good, some not. I still love to drive through the countryside or stop in the small towns to grab a meal.

Today we visited the Gravette farmers market, we do almost every Saturday during the season. We got so many wonderful fresh produce, plus sausage and eggs. Then we had breakfast at this true hole in the wall in Gravette. Our usual diner was closed due to graduation.. The place we ate was ok,, not busy at all and the few people in there seemed to know each other. I laughed when the one old guy said they were headin for La Monday to buy some Alligator meat and something else. He added he didn't get as many squirrels this year as he wanted. I have no idea when you hunt for squirrels. Anyway, it was a fun, heartwarming morning.

[DC at the Ridge]

Originally Posted by gunslinger256

I have a facebook contact that is a real estate agent and he posted about someone spending $1.8 million to purchase 4 homes on central only to tear them down to build one house.

I've seen all the rebuilding going on near the square and wonder how much more can go on there. I heard that 8-10 years ago those residents couldn't sell their homes for $80k. My friend almost purchased a home on central and is kicking himself now for not buying 8 years ago.

Here is the story about the 4 homes.

At Least One Bentonville Home On National Historic Register Set For Demolition | Fort Smith/Fayetteville News | 5newsonline KFSM 5NEWS

Friends once owned the home at 701 W Central, one of the homes involved. I can assure you that that home was not one of the houses that "residents couldn't sell for $80k". The house at 703 W Central is in terrible condition. If you walk in it, you can feel the floor swaying under your feet. To restore it would be very costly. I can understand why they want to demolish it.

I think tearing all four houses down would be a disservice to Bentonville, though. The Central Ave homes have historical significance, plus to build a gigantic home in that area would be out of character for the street. There are plenty of neighborhoods where a gigantic home would fit right in. Central Ave, as an established neighborhood and historical district, should have some protections.

That said, I think the Scott family knows this, and whatever their plans, I think they would not want to do anything to harm that neighborhood.