Several major new construction projects are underway in Fort Smith, including two multi-tenant buildings at Phoenix Flyover in Fort Smith and a Life Church in north Fort Smith.
The Phoenix Flyover development along I-540 recently began for multi-tenant buildings to house a Tacos 4 Life, AT&T and Mattress Firm stores. A Starbucks and an Arkansas Dentistry and Braces were the first businesses at Phoenix Flyover in early 2017.
A report provided by Fort Smith Building Safety shows the city saw just more than $47.7 million in new construction in 2017 and about $8.5 million in additions to current structures. Valuation on all permits issued, including demolitions, last year was about $171.4 million.
The Phoenix Flyover development, next to the new Starbucks, is expected to be completed early this summer and open for business in July, according to Bill Hanna. The Hanna family is the landowner. KMW Properties is the developer, according to Fort Smith Building Official Jimmie Deer.
The Fort Smith Building Safety Division issued permits Dec. 18 to Beshears Construction for the $2.4 million estimated total project at 4501-4509-4511 Phoenix Ave. and 4621-4625 Phoenix Ave. Each building is valued at about $1.2 million.
Tacos 4 Life, a Conway-based franchise with seven Arkansas locations, has a “Meal 4 Meal” business philosophy. For every meal purchased, the company donates 22 cents to nonprofit organization Feed my Starving Children.
A building permit for the new Life Church at 1900 N. 62nd St. was issued Nov. 17 to Whiting-Turner Contracting Co. of Kansas City. Deer said groundwork is currently being done on the 12-acre site. The building permit states the valuation of the project is $4.5 million.
Other high-value building permits recently issued include a $900,000 project for duplexes at 4601 Jenny Lind Road and a $450,000 remodeling permit for PRADCO at 3613 Jenny Lind Road. PRADCO announced in November it would expand four soft plastics machines to produce YUM baits, and move the Thill Floats production line from Minnesota to Fort Smith to create 60 new jobs at the facility.