FCRA seeks non-profit status for historic district

story by Aric Mitchell
[email protected]

Fort Chaffee Redevelopment Authority (FCRA) board members approved three measures at Thursday’s meeting (Oct. 23), including a move for 501(c)(3) non-profit status for the Chaffee Crossing Historic District and two separate deed proposals.

FCRA board member Janie Glover, whom executive director Ivy Owen credits as being instrumental in the efforts to attain non-profit status, discussed what it would mean for the citizens of the area as well as those who served at Fort Chaffee.

“Other places around the state are working on military memorials and museums, and this is something that can certainly help us,” Glover said. “Hopefully, we can get some grants to help restore barracks to the way they once were, so we can let people see what we have. Also, a lot of people who’d served at Fort Chaffee would like to come and meet and spend a weekend here. There’s just a lot of things we can do with it to preserve history.”

Glover, citing her talks with area residents, suggested that war-games facilities could also be popular attractions. The vote to move towards 501(c)(3) status passed unanimously. Crafton, Tull, and Associates have met with board members to discuss a master plan for the Historic District, though it is still in the early stages. Owen said board members will remain involved throughout the process.

Also on the agenda, board member Linda Schmidt motioned to deed additional property to Sebastian County for expanding the bike trail and adding parking to the Chaffee Crossing McClure Amphitheater. Also, FCRA board member Bob Evans motioned to grant a 50’ tract of land along Highway 255 to Sebastian County (totaling 2.89 acres including water and electricity rights). Both passed without opposition.

Thursday’s meeting included a report on this month’s groundbreaking ceremonies for the Mitsubishi Corporation and Umarex USA. The first ceremony was held Oct. 7 for Mitsubishi; the second Oct. 13 for Umarex.

“This (Mitsubishi) was the first groundbreaking ceremony where we didn’t have to do anything but mow the grass,” Owen said. “The governor did a great job. The Japanese delegation was tickled to death. And our maintenance crew went above and beyond what we could expect from them. I don’t know of anything that could have gone any better.”

Owen was equally pleased with the Umarex turnout.

“Chaffee Crossing and the Fort Smith Region were very fortunate to have these two events occur in the same week. Hopefully, there will be more announcements and ribbon cuttings in the future,” Owen said.

OTHER ITEMS
• Movement continues on a third high school to be located in the Chaffee Crossing District. Owen said the action is in the beginning stages, but he and Fort Smith Public Schools Superintendent Bennie Gooden would meet with the School Board on Nov. 15 to discuss the steps needed for completing the process.

“We’ve got a plot of land that fronts on 255; it’s about 80 acres around Wells Lake and Veterans that we’re looking at for the project,” Owen said.

• Owen reported the FCRA is almost ready to convey water and sewer lines as well as some existing roads to the City of Fort Smith.

“As we continue to update our infrastructure, we will get with the utility departments on a consistent basis and figure out how to update those so the city (Fort Smith) will accept them,” Owen said. 

• The Ritchie Brothers Auction held Oct. 7 resulted in a sellout, grossing more than $4.2 million, which pulled in additional sales tax revenues to the area. Also, the year-to-date budget was reviewed showing the FCRA with $360,324 income against $76,325 in expenses.

The next meeting of the FCRA will be held Nov. 18.