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City Hopes New Cross Church Fayetteville Location Attracts Businesses

FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) – Cross Church announced plans on Sunday (Jan. 18) to open a large church along I-49 in Fayetteville. The church calls the land “prime...

FAYETTEVILLE (KFSM) - Cross Church announced plans on Sunday (Jan. 18) to open a large church along I-49 in Fayetteville.

The church calls the land “prime,” and so does the city.

The land was appraised at more than $5 million.

However, since the church is protected by the first amendment, they will not have to pay property tax on their new land at the corner of Wedington and I-49.

“When it comes to property taxes, churches have historically been exempt from that,” said Kit Williams, Fayetteville City Attorney. “Usually churches do not pay property taxes. But, property taxes are not very substantial in the budget of the city. Less than 5% of our budget comes from property taxes.”

Williams says the land was specially zoned to be developed.

“It was zoned urban thoroughfare,” Williams said. “Which was actually a very high intensity zoning that allows residential and commercial use.”

Residential, and commercial, development would bring property tax revenue to the city.

But, that is not the case now with Cross Church moving in.

However, Williams says the city will still benefit from the church’s move.

“[Much like] a park is a facility that citizens need, a church is a facility that citizens need,” Williams said.

Although Cross Church may not be bringing in property taxes at their new facility, local restaurants, like Gusano`s Pizza on Wedington, say it may be bringing in more customers to the restaurants. This, in turn, will bring more sales taxes to the city.

“Of course, it is going to bring in new people, a lot more people,” said Madalyn Mika, a server at Gusano’s. “We could always use more business.”

Some, like Gusano’s manager Melanie Brydle, say no matter the tenant, they`re just excited to see the area expand.

“It is about time someone moved in there,” Brydle said. “Casey`s moved in there. This is a booming place.”

Williams says he hopes the new church in Fayetteville will bring businesses to the area, the same way that Cross Church at Pinnacle Hills did in Rogers.

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