At least four buildings would be demolished in a proposed redevelopment project at Fargo's 19th Avenue North and University Drive, the man spearheading the project said Wednesday.
The Stop-N-Go gas station, Tobacco City, Bison Inn apartments and Performance Centers Inc. building all would be razed under the current plan, said Jim Roers of Roers' Development Inc.
In their place, Roers wants to build a four-story retail, office and apartment complex, and a new convenience store and car wash.
The complex would contain about 30,000 square feet of retail and commercial space on the ground floor, he said.
Performance Centers Inc. would occupy 8,000 to 10,000 square feet of that space, roughly double its current space at 2001 N. University Drive.
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Gerald Maley, owner and president of Performance Centers Inc., said he wants to combine the telemarketing firm's north and south Fargo locations under one roof. Maley said he'd also like to add 50 employees to his current staff of 130 workers, but he needs additional space to do so.
Roers said he's also in discussions with two banks about locating a branch in the complex.
The 90 apartment units above the retail and commercial space would be geared toward older-than-average students from nearby North Dakota State University and professionals working in the NDSU Research and Technology Park, Roers said.
"My goal is to be digging this fall and have it ready for students by next August," he said.
Roers sent a letter Monday to Fargo Planning Commission Chairman John Q. Paulsen, asking the commission to determine that the property is blighted and forward that recommendation to the City Commission so it can create an urban renewal district.
With that designation, the project would be eligible for tax increment financing to help pay for the acquisition and demolition of the buildings and any required public utility or street work.
Fargo Planning Director Jim Gilmour said planners aren't confident the property is deteriorated enough to be called blighted. The buildings targeted for demolition were built in the 1970s.
However, state law also allows cities to use tax increment financing to assist developers in renewing industrial or commercial property, Gilmour said.
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Roers' project depends a lot on obtaining TIF assistance. On May 8, the Fargo City Commission directed city staff to explore a TIF district for the project, which Roers said would increase the value of the property from $854,900 to more than $14 million.
Roers said the TIF district would involve two ownership groups: Roers' Development would own the main complex, while Sheldon Ellig, owner of Stop-N-Go and Tobacco City, would own the convenience store. Tobacco City would be rolled into the convenience store, Roers said.
Ellig referred questions about the project to Roers.
David S. Kane, who owns the Bison Inn apartments, said five of the six units are now being rented, and tenants are aware they will have to move if the project proceeds.
"I have no assurances at this point whether this project will move forward," he said.
Roers applied late last week for a conditional use permit for the proposed apartment units. Fargo's zoning code requires the permit for housing built on land zoned as limited commercial, Fargo Senior Planner Jim Hinderaker said.
The Planning Commission will consider the request June 14, Gilmour said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Mike Nowatzki at (701) 241-5528
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