More development planned for Pleasant Grove Road area of Rogers

Areas on both sides of Pleasant Grove Road have grown in recent months with the opening of Whataburger in August and the $3.6 million Burlington Coat Factory in the next few weeks. And that’s the really short list of what is planned for the area.

Wal-Mart has had an established presence on Pleasant Grove Road for several years and is in the midst of a major renovation. Chick-fil-A, Walgreens and Academy also staked out their ground ahead of the recession, and in the last year other businesses, like the $2.5 million new location of Cavender’s and the Pleasant Crossing Strip have sprouted in the Pleasant Grove area.

Now, new retail centers and a 200-unit apartment complex are planned on Pleasant Grove Road, bringing more customers and residents to the area. Rogers Mayor Greg Hines recently told The City Wire that development and interest in this southwest corner of the city has picked up steam after it sat mostly dormant for in the recovering economy. He said the city is now following some of the retail commercial growth with several multifamily projects given the lowest vacancy rates across the region in several years.

Rogers officials recently approved the construction of the two retail centers at 2401 and 2301 W. Pleasant Grove Road, respectively, according to Tom Henley at Crafton Tull and who represented both centers at the Planning Commission.

Construction is expected to begin in mid-October on the 18,385 square-foot center at 2401, developed by David Boener. It was approved in June as Lot 12 of Center Point as a commercial subdivision.

The other center, called the Grove Retail Center will be a 14,280-square-feet building developed by Harold Crye, CEO of Crye-Leike Real Estate. The Crye building is expected to start in mid-November, Henley said. Both centers will probably take about 12 months to complete, Boener added.  

More than 600 apartment units are in various stages of development at three locations in Rogers, according to Lori Ericson, assistant city planner. Promenade Point is a 200-unit complex under construction at Bellview and New Hope roads, north of Pinnacle Hills Promenade. The project is being developed by HSB Rogers Apts. LLC, of Mishawaka, Ind.

Palisades at Pleasant Grove, is a 208-unit complex being developed by Salter Properties of Conway. It will be on the north side of Academy Sports and Outdoors which is located on 26th Street.

Watermark at Walnut Creek has been issued grading and construction permits for a 220-unit complex at 600 S. Promenade Blvd., just south of the Scottsdale 6 Shopping Center. The project is being developed by Watermark Residential of Indianapolis Inc. The company, on its website, describes itself as a leader in the development of upscale apartment homes in eight states. 

Wiring is already in place for a traffic signal to be installed at the 40th Street and Promenade Boulevard intersection, Ericson said. 

“We are always happy to see development in the city. The Pleasant Grove Road area and the Pauline Whittaker area in western Rogers have been some of the hottest areas for new growth. The residential density with multifamily is now starting to fill in there,” said Steve Cox, economic development director for the Rogers Lowell Chamber of Commerce. 

Cox said the city’s median age of 32 and the mobile nature of young professionals call for more multifamily housing given that vacancy rates are historically low – around 2% to 3%. He expects to see more retail development on tap given that there is ample single family density just west of the Pleasant Grove Road interchange.

“Back in the recession there was a fair number of finished, but unoccupied homes in some of those subdivisions just west of Pleasant Grove Road. They have been absorbed and there is new construction underway. Retail is likely to follow these rooftops,” Cox said.