UA Solicits Proposals to Renovate Carnall Hall

Feb. 15 is the deadline to submit proposals to renovate Carnall Hall, the second oldest building on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville, to be used as an historic inn and restaurant.

David Martinson, UA associate vice chancellor for finance and administration, said developers can receive tax breaks to renovate historic buildings in Arkansas if they sign a long-term lease of 39 years or more.

The UA tried to solicit hotel chains to renovate the century-old building two years ago but none came forward with a proposal. At that time, the renovation was expected to cost $13 million. Martinson said turning the building into an historic inn should be less expensive than converting it into a full-fledged hotel.

Martinson said the UA has received a $1 million grant for the project from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council in addition to a $100,000 grant from another economic development group.

In addition to being used as an inn and restaurant, the building would also serve as a laboratory for students in the UA’s hospitality-management program so they could gain experience in a work setting.

Martinson said the UA’s goal is to “save the facility in an adaptive reuse,” have a facility that will support the hospitality program and create a “self-sustaining entity that we won’t keep dumping money into.”

Carnall Hall was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The Fayetteville campus has a total of 11 builidings on the list, which is a program of the U.S. Department of the Interior.