ERC to build a new office park in Rogers, moving company from Fort Smith

Fort Smith-based ERC is a step closer to becoming a Northwest Arkansas-based firm. The company is building a new 5,772-square-foot office building in Rogers that will be the new headquarters for the multifamily and commercial real estate company headed up by Rob Coleman, a third generation owner and CEO.

The Planning Commission in Rogers approved moving the large scale project to the consent agenda in its regular meeting held Tuesday (Oct. 6). One minor change to the large scale development includes improvements being made to road frontage. The City Council will likely take up this action at its next regular meeting on Oct. 20.

The ERC office building will be located at 5102 Pinnacle Hills Parkway in Rogers which is situated on the unfinished portion of Pinnacle Hills Parkway between Pauline Whittaker Road and Pleasant Grove Roads. The city is close to finishing the new portion of Pinnacle Hills Parkway that will serve as a secondary road for local traffic on the west side of Interstate 49 between Pleasant Grove Road and Pinnacle Hills.

Coleman said he owns this property along the new part of Pinnacle Hills Parkway which is divided into four separate commercial lots. ERC is building out one of the four lots for its new Northwest Arkansas corporate office which will have 33 parking spaces. He said there is a contract pending on the three other lots which will be developed in the future. 

Daniel Ellis, the project engineer with Crafton Tull, who presented the ERC development to the city planning commission Tuesday (Oct. 6) said the other lots are likely going to be retail developments.

Coleman said preliminary dirt work should begin in a few weeks, with some vertical construction underway int the next couple of months.

“We hope to move into the new corporate offices May 1,” he said.

Coleman, who grew up in Fort Smith, is no stranger to Northwest Arkansas. He is graduate of Siloam Springs-based John Brown University and his family-owned company recently completed the Thrive Bentonville multifamily housing project in downtown Bentonville. 

After moving his own family to Northwest Arkansas from Fort Smith in recent months, Coleman said he’s excited about future opportunities for more development.

“Thrive in downtown Bentonville remains fully leased, and the two commercial spaces the Foxhole pub and Crepes Paulette will be finished up in the next few weeks. These retail establishments should help to add to the excitement in downtown Bentonville.” Coleman said.

“One of the Thrive tenants is a film-maker and he continues to amaze us with quality footage he shoots in the downtown area,” he said.

Coleman said the downtown vibes he is feeling from the major cities in Northwest Arkansas are electric and ERC continues to look for other downtown areas to put future Thrive projects.

“I really love downtown Rogers and continue to look for investment opportunities there and elsewhere,” he said.