NWA Times: Mayor says downtown is the best location for WAC expansion

BY SUSANNAH PATTON Northwest Arkansas Times

The Walton Arts Center expanding at its current site is the most viable option, according to Fayetteville Mayor Dan Coody.

“It’s more feasible to do it here than it is anywhere else,” Coody said

The preliminary results of an expansion study recommended three additional facilities at the Walton Arts Center in order to meet the growing audience demand. Those three facilities don’t necessarily have to be adjacent to the current site or even in the same city, according to consultants.

While the Art Consultants Group — the team conducting the three-phase feasibility study — are considering sites in Fayetteville, they are also looking at Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville.

The consultants reported that approximately 3 acres are needed for an additional 2,200-seat performing hall, 600-seat theater club and 100-seat black box theater. They also put a $180 million price tag on the three facilities.

Coody said the $180 million price doesn’t include land costs.

The city can provide the land adjacent to the center, he said, making the current site the most cost-effective.

“Financially, it looks like a good place to expand right here,” he said.

Representatives from the city presented an option to the Walton Arts Center Council in February that would allow the center to expand at its existing location. The city is negotiating a contract with Signet Devel- opment to construct a hotel, retail and commercial space and two parking decks on adjacent land owned by the city, including the large parking lot at Dickson Street and West Avenue, a smaller lot at West Avenue and Spring Street and the current site of Grub’s Bar & Grille. Officials said the project could be modified to meet the expansion needs of the Walton Arts Center

Coody said he’s also made it known that the city has some bonding capacity. By restructuring the Hotel and Restaurant Gross Receipt Tax Refunding Bonds, the city could generate $11-12 million, he said.

Regardless of where the facilities end up, the consultants said if the Walton Arts Center doesn’t expand, there’s the possibility that some other organization will build a performing arts center.

Willem Brans, vice president of the Arts Consulting Group, said because of the anticipated demand, it’s likely someone else will step in to fill the need.

Publication:Northwest Arkansas Times;     Date:May 24, 2008