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FARGO — BLOC, a mixed-use redevelopment project proposed earlier this year for the 1600 block of South University Drive, will get an introduction to the city’s Planning Commission on Tuesday, Dec. 6.
Later that day, an open house will be held 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Sky Commons Conference Center of the Civic Center at 207 4th St. N. Property owners living within a quarter mile of the 1600 block — which currently holds the 1950s-era South Plaza strip mall and about 10 rental homes — have been directly invited to the event, with notifications also going out on social media.
Tuesday's hearing is for review and comment, not formal action. Formal consideration of the project by the Planning Commission is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 3, a city memo said.
BLOC Partners, LLC, proposes to redevelop the block, putting up a five-story building with 15,258-square-feet of commercial space, heated underground parking, heated indoor parking on the ground floor, and four floors above offering 127 apartments, which will be a mix of one- and two-bedroom units.
Construction is planned to start in 2023, according to information shared in Planning Commission documents.
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“The largest impact by this project are (sic) the removal of an entire city block of blight and disrepair and in doing so we bring back the safety of the area all the while retaining three current tenants that are important to the identity and character of the neighborhood,” according to an explanation included with the project’s details.
Duane’s House of Pizza has said it will be one of the businesses remaining and that it would be moving into the new building.
The project was introduced early this year by developer Jesse Craig of Fargo-based Craig Development.
In a brief email exchange Friday, Dec. 2, Craig wrote that he would be making presentations at both meetings and that he would present the development timeline.
Craig told The Forum in March of this year that he had signed a purchase agreement to take ownership of the South Plaza shopping area on June 1. At that time, South Plaza was the home to 11 businesses. However, since then, at least one business— CJ’s Kitchen — closed after the owners were told that their lease would not be renewed.
When the project was announced, the cost was pegged at $30 million. Craig said he hoped to get Tax Increment Financing from the city to help underwrite some of the costs of redeveloping the entire block.
