GENTRY -- The city council, on Dec. 5, approved a rezoning request of Jim Krein and Krein Development, LLC, for land located west of the building which houses La Huerta Restaurant along Arkansas Highway 59 (land between the restaurant building and the railroad) from C2 (commercial) to R3 (residential). The rezoning ordinance was approved with rules suspended, on three readings with a single vote, and with an emergency clause attached, putting it into effect immediately.
The purpose of the rezoning, which was recommended by the city's planning and zoning commission and by the Gentry Chamber of Commerce, is to allow Krein Development to construct apartment complexes with 64 units which will be used to house Simmons employees.
According to Jim Krein, Simmons Foods, headquartered in Siloam Springs, is recruiting workers for its plants in Siloam Springs, Decatur and Southwest City (Mo.) and is looking to fill 900 or more positions. Simmons is also focusing its recruiting efforts in Puerto Rico since it is a U.S. territory and residents are U.S. citizens.
The biggest problem Simmons is facing is a housing shortage for the company's workers.
In a letter recommending the zoning change submitted by Daniel T. Houston, chief human resources officer for Simmons Foods, he said: "With Simmons' compelling message of growth and our reputation of strong values, safety, and putting our people first, we have little trouble convincing good employees to come to work. Our struggle, which we have faced for the last two years, is a lack of good, affordable housing in this area."
Houston's letter continues: "The proposed complex that Jim Krein brings before the [Gentry Planning and Zoning] Commission is critical to Simmons' continued growth and success. His plan of 64 apartments will house Simmons employees and their families. These families would join other Simmons employees in the Gentry community, adding to our number of strong wage earners that support the local economy. These apartments will house employees that will work in Siloam Springs, Decatur and Southwest City, Mo., for Simmons, and will certainly provide housing for other companies' growth initiatives in the area."
The letter goes on to explain that Simmons has agreed to certain occupancy levels at the apartments to guarantee the project's success for Krein Development. According to Krein, the guarantee is for 90 percent of the housing units at first, with that percentage declining by 5 percent each year thereafter.
Krein said the apartments would be nice apartments which would rent for $625 per month.
"The Chamber board is in consensus that there is a considerable need for housing, of all types, in the city of Gentry and, in order to continue our community and economic growth, affordable housing is a necessity," wrote Janie Parks, executive director of the Gentry Chamber of Commerce, in a Nov. 28 letter addressed to the mayor and members of Gentry's city council. "Krein Development has a long history of providing clean, well-built and well-managed properties in the city of Gentry. We hope that the Gentry City Council will vote to approve the rezoning of the property and support the growth and vitality of our city."
With the city's approval, Krein hopes to begin building soon and complete the first unit (closest to the restaurant building) by July of 2017, with the others to follow.
General News on 12/14/2016