The revitalization effort along Emma Avenue involves several development projects. Dubbed “Big Emma,” one such project consists of 77 mixed-income apartments among three buildings. Features include 57 one-bedroom and 20 two-bedroom apartments, as well as two leased commercial spaces and common green spaces for residents. At least 30 of those are designated for households earning below the median income for Northwest Arkansas. The $34M effort is a development by Blue Crane, an investment company begun by Steuart and Tom Walton, grandsons of Walmart founder Sam Walton.
The group is also backing Hotel Sundry, a Hilton hotel with 124 rooms and an Italian restaurant on its ground floor. The five-story hotel at 203 East Emma will feature 129 boutique-style rooms and a restaurant with outdoor dining, situated just next to the Razorback Greenway.
Developer Tom Lundstrum is only one of several local business leaders involved in brightening Springdale’s downtown area and had this to say of the overall effort:
“The nice thing now is you’ve got about four or five developers downtown, and we’re all in the same boat. We’re rowing in the same direction.”
Banner printing is useful to announce grand openings. This $28M hotel is expected to open in early 2027.