Downtown Fort Smith building to be renovated into a residence

Gary and Dusty Duke have bought the building at 1115 Garrison Ave. and plan to renovate the historic structure on the east end of the avenue into a residence. The building, once Lee’s Seed Store, sold for $300,000, according to the Sebastian County Assessor’s Office.

The Dukes bought the building from Blanco Properties, a company owned by Eric Arthur.

“We’re going to live in it,” Dusty Duke said when asked about their plans for the property.

She said they first considered buying the building in late 2019, but the price was too high. When the price was reduced they jumped on it and closed the deal July 28. The two-story structure is about 9,500 square feet, Dusty said, and they plan to have most of the living space on the top floor.

Other than having a garage in the space, the Dukes don’t have definitive plans for the bottom floor. They are still working with an architect and contractor on options. Dusty said options include “a gathering space” or maybe commercial space, but they are leaning against the commercial option.

Dusty said she has wanted to live in the downtown area after her parents, Debbie and Darrell Robinson, moved into a downtown apartment in late 2016. They thought about building a home outside of Fort Smith, but the price drop on the downtown property changed their plans.

“I have wanted to be on Garrison, down on the Avenue, since my parents moved downtown,” Dusty said. “We’re excited to be joining the downtown Fort Smith entertainment district. We go there now and park at the building and walk to the restaurants to get used to it. We even walked down to Bricktown (restaurant on the west end of Garrison) Now that’s a walk.”

She did not disclose what the renovation would cost, primarily because they aren’t yet sure of all renovation plans.

“It will be a significant amount. You can say that,” she said, adding that they want to begin the work as soon as possible and it will probably take a year to complete.

She also said Arthur left property, including a complete weight set and artwork, in the building and it will take time to remove those items before they can get a clear idea on renovation. They are also working to get electricity back to the building. The power was cut after a small fire in February. Dusty said the fire resulted in minor damage to a bottom-floor room.

Arthur is the same person who was arrested in August 2011 when charged by Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Shue with battery in the third degree for “recklessly causing physical injury,” in an altercation with then Fort Smith Mayor Sandy Sanders. Arthur, who ran unsuccessfully several times for a Fort Smith Board of Director position, was eventually found guilty of the charges but did not serve jail time.