25-03-2025
Fayetteville businesses react to construction on College Avenue
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The traffic barrels and construction cones have been put up along College Avenue in Fayetteville, the first steps in a years-long process of rezoning Highway 71B to an Urban Corridor.
Businesses along the affected stretch of construction — which runs from about North Street and Memorial Drive — are experiencing some headaches, especially with traffic, but have a positive outlook for the long-term future of College Avenue.
'It's been hard here at Rick's (Bakery) just because it's been challenging trying to turn into the place,' Kennedy Kern, an employee at Rick's Bakery, said. 'They cut off part of our entranceway, so you have to go around the building and back, so it's been really hard for us.'
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Crews appear to be digging up portions of the right shoulder when traveling north on College Avenue, which bottlenecks traffic from two down to one lane.
Fayetteville Mayor Molly Rawn said at her State of the City address Tuesday that there will be upgrades to drainage, water and sewer lines, pedestrian and bicycle safety, landscaping and public transportation as part of the College Avenue construction.
During her campaign, Rawn told KNWA/FOX24 in October 2024 that the Urban Corridor Project could present housing opportunities. She said there could be buildings that have retail units on the first floor, office space on the second floor and condos or apartments above those, or 'courtyard-style residences.'
'My administration is committed to modernizing this corridor and making it a truly walkable and accessible space where housing and businesses can thrive,' Rawn said at the State of the City.
Kern said, that as a result of the increased traffic, she takes her time and 'inches' out of the parking lot, staying careful if turning right on College Avenue. If you're at Rick's Bakery and want to avoid the trouble of turning onto College Avenue, Kern suggests turning right onto Abshier Drive and then taking Hillcrest Avenue to North Street.
Lindsay Neely, the owner of Pink Fern Plants + Home, said one of her concerns with the future growth of the corridor is increasing rent prices on her business.
However, Neely thinks the construction will be a positive for the future of business along College Avenue.
'I think it's very exciting. I love the growth. More people means hopefully more shoppers,' Neely said. 'Although I'm not a big-city girl, I think it can be good for businesses.'
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