The May - Lecta - Sweet Neighborhood Association

The May - Lecta - Sweet Neighborhood Association

A bit of our history...

The May – Lecta – Sweet Neighborhood is over 100 years old. Platted in the late 1890’s as the Barnes & Sweet addition of a younger Fort Smith, it was marketed under as an affluent suburb featuring large, majestic residences. Completion of the Fort Smith streetcar line, which ran down may Avenue, provided a reliable transportation connection to downtown from what was then the outskirts of town.

Once a large grove of pecan trees, the May – Lecta – Sweet neighborhood was marketed as the "fashionable part of the wealthiest and most booming city in the state." The first houses built in the neighborhood were stylistic examples of late 19th-century domestic architecture. Many of them were built in the Queen Anne, Victorian or American Foursquare style by locally prominent citizens.

In the 1930’s, May – Lecta - Sweet's architectural character shifted to smaller, more modest frame houses. The preponderance of bungalows in the neighborhood was the result of construction during this period. Popular across the nation from the 1910s through the 1930s, bungalows often were associated with early efforts in suburban development.

The second half of the 20th century found the neighborhood far from its original stature. It was zoned commercial and home to many businesses and rental properties. In the early 1990’s, a group of the neighborhood’s residents began a campaign to return the area back to single family residential homes in hopes of revitalizing the once proud community. After several years of effort by a small group of residents, the neighborhood was rezoned and slowly began to flourish into what is now considered the ‘model neighborhood’ for the city.

The May – Lecta – Sweet Neighborhood is now one of the most desirable locations to live in Fort Smith.

About our association

Welcome Home

The overall goal of the May – Lecta - Sweet Neighborhood Association (MLSNA) is to represent and advance the interest of residents in the neighborhood by keeping them informed of issues vital to the neighborhood - and to have some fun and fellowship along the way! MLSNA belongs to the residents - homeowners and renters alike, active members or not. We give you an opportunity to meet your neighbors, whether it is to welcome the new ones or meet those who have been here for decades. Share your thoughts, your energy and your ideas to help us protect the essence of our urban oasis for years to come!

Like many other neighborhood associations, ours began in response to developments that threatened the wonderful character of our neighborhood and impact the quality of our lives. Founded in the mid 1990’s, MLSNA was a natural extension of the Neighborhood Watch. It is now the official representative to the City of Fort Smith for the area bounded by Kinkead on the north, the abandoned railway on the east, Rogers Ave on the south, and Greenwood on the west. Prior to us, this area of the city was not represented by a neighborhood association, and therefore did not have a collective voice in city plans and decisions affecting us.

While supporting ideas of smart growth and recognizing that changes are inevitable for Fort Smith as it moves into the future, MLSNA intends on being a full partner in planning for our area. Since 1998 we have been working with the City Council, the Board of Directors and other Fort Smith neighborhood associations to build sound plans to ensure that our growth is indeed intelligent and thought out rather than harmful to the old historic neighborhoods. We strive to stay informed about issues and proposed solutions, to hear them with an open mind, and to advocate for answers that preserve the relaxed and friendly atmosphere that has become synonymous with life in Fort Smith.
Most of all, MLSNA hopes to be a resource for every individual who lives within our neighborhood association boundaries, whether you rent or own, whether you’re an active participating member or not. Come on by a meeting and join your neighbors in celebrating and protecting our wonderful little piece of town.

In the meantime, check out the rest of May – Lecta – Sweet Neighborhood Association online.

Thanks for visiting!

Email us
maylectasweet@yahoo.com