Mixed-use village planned at rural crossroads
A plan was created for a 61-acre walkable, mixed-use village in Elm Springs, Arkansas, during a charrette this week.
Located just west of the City of Springdale in the growing Northwest Arkansas metro area, Elm Springs downtown currently consists of commercial and industrial buildings at the crossroads of North Elm Street Highway 112), and Water Avenue/School Avenue.
Elm Springs is the first of three 2026 Legacy Projects sponsored by CNU. “The project will develop a conceptual downtown plan that strengthens Elm Springs’ small-town character and sense of established community while adding context-appropriate amenities and local services in a walkable, connected, and vibrant environment,” according to the Legacy Project proposal.
Legacy Projects leverage CNU’s planning and design expertise to make a long-term impact on the host region of the annual Congress, which will be CNU 34 in NWA, May 12-16. The New Urbanist team was led by TSW Design, with support from ZVA, DPZ CoDesign, and J Griffin Design, working with the City of Elm Springs, the United Methodist Church, and a business, KMS ESTS CDC LLC, which owns land at the project site.
The Elm Springs plan includes civic space, retail/commercial space, office space, parking, and a mix of multifamily residential, townhouses, and detached single-family dwellings. The plan has five main components:
• Plan for additional commercial growth
• Create open spaces and places to gather and belong
• Establish a hub for local restaurants, service, retail, and office
• Design a walkable district with adequate parking (no drive- throughs)
• Enhance the Highway 112 streetscape
Substantial highway changes are already funded by the state DOT. The two-lane road will be expanded to four lanes with two roundabouts in the village center to slow traffic. The design team envisioned that highway segment as a main street. The roadway design is already far along, so changes to the right-of-way are unlikely. "Given that, our focus was on identifying potential east-side frontage improvements that could help better transition between the highway and a more walkable environment, working within the constraints of an already-defined roadway design,” says Katy O'Meilia, associate principal of TSW Design.
Elm Springs currently has 2,300 residents, and, given the community's small size, the charrette drew a decent turnout of 30-35 people. “Both the CNU staff and the community seemed very pleased with the level of engagement and feedback at the final open house,” O'Meilia says.
