Group weighs historic house’s future

FAYETTEVILLE — The Walker-Stone House near the square will serve as a satellite venue for some of the city’s existing events and programs until a committee figures out a long-term plan for the historic structure.

The Advertising and Promotion Commission unanimously made the decision Monday upon recommendations from Executive Director Molly Rawn.

The two-story, 6,000- square- foot brick house at 207 W. Center St. was built in 1847. The commission bought the home for $750,000 last year.

Since then, commissioners have tossed around ideas such as moving the tourism bureau office there or turning the house into a museum or event space.

Rawn, who took on her role last year, recommended in January the commission not move the tourism bureau office to the historic home. Crews gave the house a deep scrub, installed new lighting and moved the furniture and valuable items off-site.

Artist cooperative Fenix Fayetteville hosted exhibits there in April and held a month-long residency in July. The Green Candy public art event, which had muralists and sculptors create pieces throughout downtown, wrapped up with a party on Aug. 25 at the house. Tourism officials since then have kept Walker- Stone open to the public from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays to let visitors attending the Farmers Market see the murals painted inside and the sculpture on the lawn.

The commission could manage and operate the home as a museum or cultural center, but that would require full-time staff, money and at least a year of planning, Rawn said Monday.

Commissioners could lease the house to an outside organization or nonprofit to manage it as a tourist attraction but would still act as landlords and promoters, Rawn said.

Tourism officials also have considered opening the space for events such as weddings and meetings. That idea would require significant capital investment, months of renovation and, again, a fulltime staff, Rawn said.

Commissioners this year also dedicated $3 million over 15 years to help build a new Theatre-Squared building on West Avenue.

“The full impact of what that does to our annual budget is not yet known,” Rawn said. “At this point, I believe that we are not in a position, either financially or operationally, to execute any of those ideas right now.”

The plumbing needs work, the house needs new air conditioning and at least the bottom floor has to become compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act standards, Rawn said. Tourism officials have kept the second floor blocked to the public.

In the meantime, the house will serve as a space for existing events such as First Thursday and Lights of the Ozarks and can catch overflow crowds for Clinton House Museum programs and events.

Rawn will work with the commission’s attorney, Vince Chadick, to form a committee of tourism officials, historic preservationists, city staff members and others by the end of the year. Rawn said she should have the framework of the committee ready for the next meeting.

In other business, the commission expressed general support for the city to collect the 2 percent hotel, motel and restaurant tax from lodging service Airbnb.

The City Council will have final say on the terms of an agreement.

Airbnb lets property owners rent out their extra space to guests through its website or app. Bentonville began collecting a lodging tax on Airbnb’s bookings on Sept. 1. The company also began collecting and remitting state sales and tourism taxes in February.

Half of Fayetteville’s hotel, motel and restaurant tax goes to tourism. The other half goes to parks development.

Commissioners also gave Rawn a $5,000 raise during an executive session, bringing her salary to $ 90,000. Chairman Matthew Petty said commissioners also directed Rawn to come up with a strategic plan sometime next year and update it annually.