Riggins Construction Enters SW Missouri

Riggins Construction and Development Co. in Springdale is three months in to what is expected to be a lengthy expansion into southwest Missouri.

The company, a titan of the residential home-building industry in Northwest Arkansas, has opened an office on Rangeline Road in Joplin, across the street from Northpark Mall.

Kevin Riggins, president of the company’s construction side, said there are multiple custom homes started in the city as well as Webb City, Duquesne and Carl Junction.

“We are currently meeting with people every day,” Riggins said. “With those affected by the [May 22 tornado] and from others who just want to build a new house.

“We’d considered branching out for a couple of years and we just felt like this was a good opportunity to come in with some affordable housing.”

Riggins said there are currently a handful of speculative homes being built in the Chesterfield subdivision in Webb City. Sizes range from 1,400 to 1,800 SF in the horseshoe-shaped development that includes 12 lots. Riggins said “three or four” of the starts are already under contract.

Riggins said the company, which is a primary homebuilder used by Lindsey & Associates in Fayetteville, has built 176 homes in Northwest Arkansas in 2011, up from about 100 a year earlier.

“We hope to have the same impact in Joplin,” said Riggins. “We anticipate this being a several-year project.”