Allegiant Air Develops XNA to Orlando Flight

Allegiant Air, the newest addition to the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA), has added a new destination……..

The airline announced this week that it has added Orlando to its list of XNA destinations. Beginning November 19, 2009, non-stop service will be offered between XNA and Orlando’s Sanford International Airport. Introductory fares will start as low as $70 for a one-way ticket. The flights will depart Thursday evenings from XNA at 6:15pm and returning from Orlando at 4pm on Sundays.

Orlando will be the 3^rd location serviced by Allegiant Air from XNA, joining Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Current Allegiant flights have been running at 96% capacity. Allegiant tends to service ‘travel destination’ cities, including Fort Lauderdale and Phoenix.

Allegiant has filled a low-cost carrier void at Northwest Arkansas Regional. The Las Vegas-based discount carrier has seen potential in the growth of Northwest Arkansas. As other airlines have cut flights and the number of operating planes, Allegiant has grown steadily – including the posting of over $50 million in net profit for 2008.

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Northwest Arkansas Listed as City for Real Estate Recovery

According to Forbes.com, Northwest Arkansas is poised as one of the cities to recover from the recession. It is estimated that area like Arkansas and Texas will recover faster, including cities like: Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and McAllen. Florida, Nevada and California will not recover as quickly – were based on education and health care growth.

The survey, estimated from Moody’s Economy.com, listed the cities that are “best poised for recovery”, considering the projected gross domestic product, unemployment figures, home prices, incomes and affordability data.

The Cities estimated for best recovery include:
1) Austin-Round Rock, Texas
2) Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, Arkansas
3) Boulder, Colorado
4) Huntsville, Alabama
5) San Antonio, Texas

The Worst cities for recovery include:
1) Flint, Michigan
2) Fresno, California
3) Detroit-Warren-Livonia, Michigan
4) Modesto, California
5) Salinas, California

Based on the fact that Wal-Mart is considered “recession-proof” by many on Wall Street, the Northwest Arkansas area is still experiencing significant growth. Northwest Arkansas has a $14.5 billion projected GDP by the end of 2010 and an unemployment rate of just 5%, far below the national average. Interested in property or real estate in Northwest Arkansas? Visit NorthwestArkansasLand.net to see property for sale near XNA Airport!

Crystal Bridges Permits Granted: Development to Continue in Northwest Arkansas

Late last week, over $30 million in building permits were granted to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, the museum received the permits on May 21st.

Announced in 2005, the museum was originally scheduled to open in May of 2009. The end date was reset to 2010 last year, and now, there is no target date. Virginia Germann, Director of Museum Relations for the privately-funded museum, won’t comment on a target date for completion. Many construction experts within the Northwest Arkansas community predict that construction may be completed closer to July 2011.

Even after the museum is completed, there will be a delay before its opening. Lance Blasi, the Chief Building Inspector of Bentonville, claimed, “You know that new car smell’? That has to be gone before they can bring the artwork in. It damages the art work, so I’m told.”

Eight separate permits – ranging from $1.2 - $14.5 million have been secured. Permits account for areas including: the Administrative building, tower and parking garage, museum store, museum area, dining and service area, and mechanical area. Permits do not account for construction progress.

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is a partnership between Wal-Mart heiress, Alice Walton, and the Walton Family Foundation.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will be a world-class museum that is a magnificent contribution to Northwest Arkansas growth. Interested in investing in commercial or industrial property in NW Arkansas? Visit Northwestarkansasland.com to see mixed-use and commercial use real estate properties located in Bentonville and near the Northwest Arkansas Regional (XNA) Airport. Click here for more information.

Bentonville Development to Include Skating Rink Near Crystal Bridges

Downtown Bentonville has approved a permanent ice-skating rink downtown….

Bentonville Mayor Coberly encouraged the project after an out-of-state trip in 2003. In 2006, in a joint effort with the Bentonville Advertising & Promotion Commission, the city and A&P worked together to turn the corner section of the Harps grocery store parking lot into a temporary ice-skating rink for 5 weeks. The temporary rink was at a cost of $90,000 per year. 10,000 people skated in the first year. What started as a temporary rink, now will be a permanent facility. The downtown area will accommodate an open-air skating rink, splash park and mini amphitheater.

The open-air ice rink will be located north of the downtown Bentonville Square, near Compton Gardens, and will operate from November to February each year. It will be a 70 ft by 100 ft rink, and will connect to pedestrian and bicycle trails to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. During the warm months, a fountain and splash park with amphitheatre will take the place of the rink.

Coberly claims that the skating rink creates “a Norman Rockwellesque atmosphere around the Square”. The funding for the permanent rink will come from hotel and restaurant tax funds. According to the Bentonville Convention and Visitors Bureau, construction will begin on the project within the next 8-12 months, with a slated opening date of spring 2010.

As development continues with the new rink and the Crystal Bridges Museum of Art, growth in Northwest Arkansas is inevitable. Interested in real estate and land in Northwest Arkansas? Visit northwestarkansasland.net to see our properties for sale in Bentonville and near XNA Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport.

Newer, Faster Projects for Development in NW Arkansas?

According to nwanews.com, Bentonville is looking to execute some “smaller-scale projects”-- while waiting for a prior-approved project--the widening of Southwest I Street from Hwy 12 to Hwy 102 to a four-lane thoroughfare.

Bentonville voters approved a $118 million bond in 2007, of which 85% of monies must be spent by 2010. As I Street awaits approval, two other projects have been proposed for execution:

First proposed project:

• Connecting Northwest 5th St. to North Walton Blvd. in Bentonville
• Would alleviate congestion during school hours
• Area encompasses three elementary schools, one middle school and a junior high school

Second proposed project:

• Beautification initiative to tie NW 2nd St., near Midtown Center, to the rest of the Bentonville Square
• New paving, brick sidewalks and crosswalks, decorative street lamps

The current economy is driving competition in the construction industry. In Northwest Arkansas, construction bids are coming in as low as 30% lower than comparable bids made from 2007-2008. Many Bentonville councilpersons are arguing that it makes sense to pay for these projects before the economy drives pricing upward. Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) officials have also experienced recent, lower construction bids amid the Highfill expansion…..

The council is expected to vote on the Bentonville projects in the near future.

Interested in Northwest Arkansas land and development? Visit Northwestarkansasland.net. View properties for sale in Arkansas, near Wal-Mart headquarters and Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA). Click here for more information….

Development for XNA and Northwest Arkansas

On May 22, 2009 at 8:25pm, the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (XNA) in Highfill, AR will debut the inaugural flight of Las Vegas-based, low-cost carrier, Allegiant Air.

XNA, which has operated for 10 years, has sough a low-cost carrier to further the development of the airport. Airport officials have dubbed the inaugural flight “an historic event”. The new flight will take off from XNA to LAX on Friday nights, and will return from LAX on Mondays. The flights will range from $99-$119. The MD-80 135 passenger jet is already booked at capacity for the first flight. This newest addition fills a void - XNA has been without a Los Angeles flight for a year, since American Airlines discontinued the service.

John Fenyes, Director of Sales for Allegiant Air has claimed “Allegiant has enjoyed a great deal of success, even with everything that’s going on with the economy and the airline industry….So much of that success can be contributed to timing, and we believe the time is right to offer service from northwest Arkansas”. In addition, on June 4th, Allegiant will begin service from XNA to Las Vegas with tickets starting at $79. Allegiant is focused on linking travelers to destinations including: Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Orlando, Phoenix/Mesa, Tampa/St Petersburg and Los Angeles.

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XNA Airport Development in Works for Northwest Arkansas

The Benton County Daily Record reported this week that the expansion of a second runway at XNA airport has begun in Highfill.

Although ridership was down slightly this year, it is viewed by XNA Airport officials as a temporary setback, due to the economy. The alternative landing surface runway at XNA is nearing completion. The last phase of the project, which will include paving and electrical work, should be completed by the end of 2010. The existing runway will be resurfaced upon completion of the second runway so that the airport will not have to shut down air service.

The improvements to XNA have cost the airport little. The airport received federal grant money for the project, and additional federal funds are expected to be awarded this fall.

The next project for XNA will be redesigning and expanding the upper level concourse. Gates will be added and moved, and a full-scale concession and retail area will be added. XNA officials have already paid for design work on the project. The expansion is estimated at $25 million, and the airport would need to raise about $12 million to finish the project. The expansion is expected to double the revenue to at least half a million a year. Bids have come in under expectations as the recession forces contractors to lower prices, so the project may win approval sooner rather than later.

Highfill is buzzing! There is amazing growth and development in Northwest Arkansas that can be attributed to the XNA Airport. Looking for land or real estate for sale in Northwest Arkansas? Visit Northwestarkansasland.com to see land listings near XNA Airport. Click here for more information.