to its expansion.“As of right now, we are in a housing deficit,” states Souter, putting a number to the historical challenge,“a couple years ago, it was about 350 houses.” With new construction not keeping pace, the need for a major development was critical. The solution comes in the form of The Reserve at Magnolia Lakes, a transformative, 500-home project that represents the largest development of its kind in the city’s history. To facilitate this project, which lies just outside city limits, the city council approved an agreement to extend a sewer main to the site. This proactive support underscores a commitment to overcoming obstacles for high-impact projects. Nelson explains this collaborative ethos, noting that despite the project being outside their normal jurisdiction, “I took that project under my wing and I made sure that it was constantly at the forefront of everybody’s ideas and talking about it… for the betterment of the community.” The development itself is designed as a comprehensive, modern community. It will be a gated facility featuring two lakes, a walking trail, and various amenities. Nelson emphasizes its unique nature in the region, describing it as “truly a development where you can live and play and not have to leave the compound of the subdivision.” With the project in its final planning phases, the city anticipates groundbreaking by the end of this year or early next, marking a pivotal step in attracting and retaining a growing workforce. A PARTNER FOR BUSINESS Magnolia’s approach to economic development is defined by flexibility and proactive partnership rather than a one-size-fits-all incentive menu. The city consciously avoids a rigid checklist. “We do not have a checklist that says if you’ll do XYZ, we’ll provide ABC,” Nelson explains. Instead, Nelson notes that “the mayor has looked at it from you bringing any and every idea that you want to us, and we will look at them on a case by case basis and decide what we can do.” 127 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11 MAGNOLIA, AR
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