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July 07, 2006
At Last
The Divinity project finally got approval from the Fayetteville city council. What's the Divinity project?
The Divinity Hotel & Condos is a mixed-use building on Dickson Street, between Church and Block avenues.
....
The project was originally designed as a 225-foot-tall building with 15 stories. Designs gradually shrunk the project to 135 feet tall and nine stories in response to comments from commissioners and residents that the project was too tall and incompatible with the area.
The project was also downsized by moving parking from the building to a recently acquired plot of land immediately southwest of the proposed site.
Why all the fuss? Good question.
"No amount of stepping back floors next to the street will ever make this building compatible," said resident Cyrus Young. "You will be deciding the fate of Fayetteville with this project."
Opponents Wednesday unveiled a model of Dickson Street, made of Legos, to illustrate the height of the Divinity project and surrounding buildings.
"I'm limited by Legos, but it's easy to see that this is obscene, out of balance," said Joanne Kwamme, a resident. "It won't just change the neighborhood, it will destroy it."
Balderdash.
It couldn't be more unattractive than the sprawling 60's red brick school style building that is the Walton Arts Center....not to mention the hideous eyesore that is the Three Sisters building. Seriously, could this be any worse? Here's a current photo of the location. (I can't find any links to the final design, but I'll update when & if I do.)
I fail to understand why a multi-story parking deck is ok, a 6 story condo/retail building is ok, and the 7 story Legacy building & the 9 story 'Lofts at Underwood Plaza' are ok but a 9 story hotel is not in keeping with the 'character' of Dickson Street. Could it be that a swank hotel on Dickson would affect the market for million dollar condos? Nah, that can't be it.
Not everyone is so clueless, however.
"We don't want Fayetteville's slogan to say eclectic, funky, and only 30 minutes to your hotel in Bentonville," Bowman said.
Nope. Once the new sports stadiums are built in B-ville & Springdale, Fayetteville will have a new slogan.
"As exciting as Springdale & Bentonville, but now with more taxes!"
Posted by Rita at July 7, 2006 09:25 AM