Big Emma Development Breaks Ground In Downtown Springdale

Groundwork officially broke ground yesterday on its Big Emma affordable housing project, a 77-unit mixed-income apartment development located on Emma Ave in Downtown Springdale.

• From The Ground Up: Thanks to a grant from the Walton Family Foundation, 30 units will be reserved for households earning below the area median income, ensuring affordable housing options for teachers, nurses, and manufacturing workers near the amenities of city centers, like grocery stores, health clinics, and recreation opportunities.

• A Way Forward: The apartment will be owned, developed, and managed by the local nonprofit Community Development of Northwest Arkansas. Buffalo Builders is undertaking construction and expects to finish by the summer of 2025. Those involved are hopeful Big Emma will provide a model for future projects to address the region’s housing crises.

See early renderings of the Big Emma project in a brief video HERE.