North Walton Boulevard could get a facelift if the Bentonville City Council approves a development plan at its Tuesday meeting.
Harps is building a new store in the area, and the city wants to capitalize on the investment, adding landscaping and sidewalks to turn North Walton into a walkable shopping district.
"Private development is having a huge role in remaking North Walton," says Troy Galloway, Bentonville's community development director. "Our hope is to add sidewalks and tree plantings over the long term and then also focus in on the continuity of the businesses and the types of services that are available along the corridor."
Planners also want to revamp intersections and add roads to nearby neighborhoods, making it easier for people to visit new stores.
"That's what makes North Walton Blvd. so unique, is there are neighborhoods East and West of the corridor that could readily access the businesses and services that could be made available," he says.
The city will work with the highway department to build the sidewalks if the plan is approved, but landscaping could start even sooner.
"There's money programmed this year to get us started on some of these projects and at least show our initiative to move this plan forward," Galloway says.
The planning commission adopted the plan last week, and hopes the city council will do the same. The meeting starts at 6 p.m.
Harps is building a new store in the area, and the city wants to capitalize on the investment, adding landscaping and sidewalks to turn North Walton into a walkable shopping district.
"Private development is having a huge role in remaking North Walton," says Troy Galloway, Bentonville's community development director. "Our hope is to add sidewalks and tree plantings over the long term and then also focus in on the continuity of the businesses and the types of services that are available along the corridor."
Planners also want to revamp intersections and add roads to nearby neighborhoods, making it easier for people to visit new stores.
"That's what makes North Walton Blvd. so unique, is there are neighborhoods East and West of the corridor that could readily access the businesses and services that could be made available," he says.
The city will work with the highway department to build the sidewalks if the plan is approved, but landscaping could start even sooner.
"There's money programmed this year to get us started on some of these projects and at least show our initiative to move this plan forward," Galloway says.
The planning commission adopted the plan last week, and hopes the city council will do the same. The meeting starts at 6 p.m.
