Bentonville School District holds groundbreaking ceremony for affordable housing project
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Community members gathered in Bentonville for the groundbreaking ceremony of a new affordable housing project for educators.
“We’re so thrilled,” said Debbie Jones, Superintendent for Bentonville Public School District. “There will be 35 two bedroom cottages reserved just for Bentonville school staff.”
The plan is to put 120 multifamily apartments and 40 single-family cottages on the southwest corner of 41st and I streets. The new apartments will range from $700 to $750 a month.
The district partnered with the Excellerate Foundation, Benton County, Mercy Health, and Arvest Bank. The McAuley Place is named after Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy. Mercy Health donated the 11 acre lot.
“We got together, and we said this is a community problem. Let’s find a community solution,” said Sister Lisa Adkins with Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.
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Eric Pianalto, chief strategy officer for Mercy Health says the prices of rent in Northwest Arkansas is hurting not only the education field but other industries. He hopes this project will help entice more people to experience life in the region.
“It will become an attraction because it keeps people away today because they can’t afford the rents in Northwest Arkansas,” said Pianalto.
Originally, McAuley Place was to be built next to the Bentonville High School. According to Jeff Webster, CEO of the Excellerate Foundation, the new location allows for the project to help more people.
“It’s bigger. Instead of 100 units, it’s 160, it has an early childhood development center,” said Webster.
The project is also connected to a shared equity program.
“So, teachers can pay in as part of the project and walk away with a check if they’re part of the shared equity. And that check can be used to invest in their first home because we want them to stay in Bentonville,” said Jones.
Jones says all of the project’s different components make it stand out from the rest.
“All the components within the program, the shared equity piece is very unique nationally. And having the child care space on this property is phenomenal,” said Jones.
According to Jones,, phase one of the project is expected to be complete by 2025.
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