Mixed-income complex to be next to senior living facility, resident reacts

Bella Vista, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — A new 40-unit apartment complex is about to be built in Bella Vista thanks to Community Development of NWA, a nonprofit organization. Some units will be “steeply discounted” for people making less than half of the median income in Northwest Arkansas.

The Cottage Lane Village Apartments will have five apartment buildings with eight units. A news release states that all the units will be 873 square feet with two bedrooms and two bathrooms and have a patio. The complex is located on Highway 279 and Lancashire near the Boys and Girls Club and the new Bella Vista District Court.

Eleven units will have “steeply discounted rents” according to a news release. The 11 units will be reserved for households earning less than half the Northwest Arkansas median income, which was reported in 2022 as more than $73,000. And a “workforce” rate will offer moderate discounts from the market rents, that most households will qualify for. These discounts are financed by The Walton Foundation and the Arkansas Development Finance Authority.

“The Cottage Lane Village Apartments project demonstrates our dedication to expanding affordable housing solutions in Northwest Arkansas,” said Casey Kleinhenz, executive director of CD NWA. “We are proud to contribute to the Bella Vista community and provide more residents with accessible and secure housing options.”

The units will be on the south side of The Cottages at Highlands Crossing, senior living duplexes.

The project team includes CORE Architects, CEI Engineering, Krein Development LLC, and CD-NWA. Arvest, Arkansas Development Finance Authority, and The Walton Family Foundation are funding partners.

“We’re excited to have included them in this project,” Kleinhenz said.

Gyla Waggoner has lived in the neighborhood for seven years.

“In the evening we can sit outside and you can see the deer running through the fields and stuff. And it’s just really quiet, peaceful,” Waggoner said.

She says there is a need for housing so she understands why the apartments are being built.

She also says it could bring in more businesses in the area but thinks that the peaceful environment in her neighborhood could change.

“The construction is going to be loud, noisy, so that’s going to be different too,” Waggoner said.

Waggoner says together, they asked the developers to put up a privacy fence to keep the housing separate.

“We’re older people, [in our] 70’s, 80’s even some in our 90’s, and we’re not maybe the safest drivers. So I said ‘them getting in our parking lot or anything, it’s kind of dangerous because kids will run in the parking lot and stuff,’” Waggoner said.

She is also concerned about the possible crime that may take place because they are living by themselves.

“Breaking into cars or stuff like that and it is because we’re out here by ourselves and elderly people. And you have kind of a concern,” Waggoner said. “I’m a Christian and I want to be welcoming to everybody and love everybody. But you want to protect yourself, too,” Waggoner said.

She says she loves children but they have to think of themselves too.

Kleinhenz says they hear there’s a need for more multifamily-type housing and they’re excited to provide more.

“There’s a lot of single-family homes in Bella Vista, and not all households are able to do the upkeep for a single-family home,” Kleinhenz said.

Kleinhenz says the apartments are really close to the back 40 Trailheads.

“It’s a really great part of Bella Vista to be in and I would say summer 2025, start reaching out about pre-leasing information,” Kleinhenz said.

The groundbreaking for the Cottage Lane Village apartments is on July 30th at 9 am and construction will be finished in 2026 according to Kleinhenz.

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