GRAVETTE — Gravette may soon be able to boast a small retail “strip center” as a result of action taken by the Gravette City Council Thursday evening.

Owners of Fineline Developers, LLC, of Springdale, confirmed following the meeting their plans to build a 5,000-square-foot building on property in Gravette.

Aaron Ennis, together with his father-partner James Ennis, said the building will be located on property on the west side of Highway 59,across from the Care and Share Specialty Store.

Aaron Ennis said they “hope to break ground” in about 30 days and expect the building will be completed by the end of this year.

He added, “We are negotiating with a national retail chain restaurant to occupy one unit of the structure.” He indicated it is premature to identify the business.

The building will be able to accommodate two or three additional tenants, depending upon their space requirements.

Prior to the special meeting Thursday evening at cityhall, the council conducted a public hearing involving the property for the proposed project. After hearing no comments or objections, the council unanimously approved two ordinances: one combining three lot parcels into one, the other rezoning the highway frontage from R-1 (single family residential) to C-2 (highway commercial).

The council then proceeded with the meeting, which normally is a committee meeting, to discuss other council matters. See related story on Page 1A in this issue of the Eagle Observer.

News, Pages 3 on 07/18/2012