A coalition of housing advocates laid out a comprehensive reform package Thursday that they plan to push through the Arkansas Legislature next session, aiming to tackle persistent affordability issues across the state — including in fast-growing Northwest Arkansas.
The group, Groundwork, presented its agenda during a forum at the Congress for New Urbanism national conference held at the Graduate Hotel in Fayetteville. The package includes measures to reduce regulatory barriers for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), streamline permitting processes, and incentivize the development of missing middle housing types like duplexes and townhomes.
Duke McLarty, executive director of Groundwork, said the group is modeling parts of its strategy on recent successes in Texas, where a similar slate of reforms passed in 2025. Joining him were Felicity Maxwell, executive director of Texans for Housing, and Brita Wallace, general counsel for Texans for Reasonable Solutions — both key figures in pushing those Texas reforms over the finish line.
“We’re not starting from scratch,” McLarty said. “There’s a roadmap now, and we’re building a coalition in Arkansas that includes local governments, developers, and residents who are tired of watching housing costs climb faster than wages.”
State Rep. Nicole Clowney, D-Fayetteville, who co-sponsored a bill during the last session allowing auxiliary dwelling units in Arkansas, also spoke at the event. She said she plans to sponsor broader housing reform legislation when lawmakers reconvene in January 2027.
“This isn’t about turning Fayetteville or Bentonville into something they’re not,” Clowney said. “It’s about giving people more choices — whether that’s a backyard cottage for a aging parent or a duplex near work instead of a long commute.”
The proposal comes as home prices in Benton County have outpaced much of the state, driven by continued population growth and a tight inventory of available homes. Median home values in Fayetteville have climbed nearly 12% over the past two years, according to recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
McLarty said the group will spend the coming months organizing grassroots support and working with city councils and county commissions across Arkansas to pass resolutions in favor of the reforms. A full policy outline is expected to be released by early June.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
