[SmileyBoy]

Fargo Forumers and the rest of the Forumers-
I am hereby resigning from the Skyscraperpage Forum.
I will still be reading what is going on because I want to be an informed Fargoan, but I will not post my ideas or tell anyone of developments that I know that are going on. I cannot deal with the people so I am wallking away. Thank you and good bye.

P.S. Of course I'm impressionable. I'm only 14.

F-M, don't let a bunch of arrogant Winnipeggers get to you. I was merely presenting the possibility in a thread in that forum that if Winnipeg doesn't get its act together, Fargo-Moorhead may surpass it someday in the far future. Don't take it any more than that. Let them gawk. Most of them probably have never even been to Fargo. And the one person who said they hated it here and it was boring, was obviously making shit up and/or embelleshing shit.

Don't take it personally.

And this is the 1,000th reply in this thread.

[SmileyBoy]

I know alot of data centers are located where hydroelectric power is because thats the cheapest form of electricity. North Dakota is a coal state, which is more expensive then hydroelectric power.

I think as far as utility costs North Dakota is at a disadvantage compared to places with rivers that have big elevation declines. Then again if they get the wind power going then North Dakota will be at an advantage because the wind is always there.

North Dakota Coal is in its last throes. Coal in ND will be non-existant 20 years from now.

And we need, need, NEED to embrace wind power like never before.

[Jimbo]

F-M, don't let a bunch of arrogant Winnipeggers get to you. I was merely presenting the possibility in a thread in that forum that if Winnipeg doesn't get its act together, Fargo-Moorhead may surpass it someday in the far future. Don't take it any more than that. Let them gawk. Most of them probably have never even been to Fargo. And the one person who said they hated it here and it was boring, was obviously making shit up and/or embelleshing shit.

Don't take it personally.

And this is the 1,000th reply in this thread.

Actually, I've been to Fargo and it is quite boring. I don't understand why you cannot accept peoples opinions and get so mad about it.

[NanoBison]

Actually, I've been to Fargo and it is quite boring. I don't understand why you cannot accept peoples opinions and get so mad about it.

Thanks for blessing us with your great wisdom. Nobody has to accept anyone's opinions. Sure it's great to listen to what people have to say, but you never have to accept it.

I think most of you people that come to Fargo and say it's boring are already spoiled by the big city life. Of course Fargo doesn't have as much to do as Winnipeg, Winnipeg doesn't have as much to do as Minneapolis, and Minneapolis sure doesn't have as much to do as Chicago. Point is, it's simply logical, the larger a city is, the more there is to do. Also it's logical, that certain people, that are always looking for a good time, will bore of there own city eventually. Hence why I've heard of people from Minneapolis say it's boring and I've even heard of Chicagoan's say their moving to New York, because there's nothing to do. If that's your prerogative in life, to always be looking for a good time, so be it.

[JoeJoe]

North Dakota Coal is in its last throes. Coal in ND will be non-existant 20 years from now.

And we need, need, NEED to embrace wind power like never before.

I agree that we need to embrace wind power more, but the coal industry is not going away anytime soon. I doubt in 20 years that the US will decrease it's dependence on coal energy (about 52%) enough for us to consider coal to be in it's last throes. Also ND has single largest lignite coal deposit in the world, enough to keep fueling the current coal fire plants in ND for about 800 years.

You might over exagerate wind power as a draw to ND. Yes it is definitely a draw but it's part of the states energy trifecta of oil/coal/wind. The state of ND won't discourage coal use just as it won't discourage wind or oil. Why? Tax revenue. For Fargo it's a good thing, additional state revenues that can be allocated our way plus plentiful energy at a reasonable price.

Back a little closer to home, I see that 40th Ave out to Eagle Run is now open. I drove on it and saw that the new elementary school seems to be coming along well. It also seems that they're planning on it being four lanes from 45th St out to Eage Run eventually. I hope they're trying to fast track adding the new overpass/exit in West Fargo and widening the road to Horrace...

[NanoBison]

I just saw on WDAY that they are planning on expanding 52nd Ave S in 2008. However, instead of 5 laning it to I-29, they are actually considering 5 laning it to 45th St, due to the high volume of traffic that is expected to be on that road in the immediate and long term future. Estimated cost will be $14-$15 million dollars.

[sanchopanza]

Wow, 41 pages of discussion regarding Fargo.

I was searching the City of Fargo's website and came across this:

The historic Ford Assembly Building is undergoing renovation. It will soon reopen with a mix of residential condos, office and retail.



http://media.cityoffargo.com:8080/photos/albums/downtown-fargo/Remodeling.jpg



Does anybody have more info?

[F-Misthebest]

Sanchpanza, that picture is of the Historic Ford Building. You probably already knew that because you posted that, anyways, it has in it a high-end furniture store (I believe the only high-end furniture store in Fargo, unless you count Love It Furniture :)), the MBA Architecture Group and Condos on the top floor. There are I think 4 left. I think this building is one of my favorites in Downtown Fargo.

Way back when when Smiley posted that 2007 map of Fargo with the "sprawly sprawl sprawl down south", well that sprawl has taken yet another step in being done. The roads are now paved on the west side of 45th Street and north of 52nd Avenue.

Entrees is another locally owned restaurant for the Fargo-Moorhead area. It has a drive up window and looks like it has space for sit down as well.

Blockbuster looks like it's almost ready to open in the new Town Square stip mall along with Entrees, Starbucks, and something else that I saw the sign for but forgot. I'll post that info later.

The stip mall in front of Playmakers is coming along and guess what, has arches. That is a popular design for Fargo, and probably many other places.

The giant stip mall in front of Target is almost done and looks very, very nice. Speaking of very nice, the Woodhaven Devlopment looks schnazy and looks to opening soon.

[Paintballer1708]

Has anyone recently gone on a photo tour of downtown Fargo? I would really find it interesting to see if it has changed since i was last out there in August. I cant seem to get my pictures on here.

[thomjoe]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52121951@N00/

[Paintballer1708]

^Thanks for the link, thomjoe.

[thomjoe]

Thomjoe took those pics in 2004 with a crappy camera. I am new to this site, am a Fargo native, love my hometown. Fargo is something special. I was born and raised on the North side. I will never forget looking out my bedroom window at 8 yrs old and seeing the cool Hector Field search lights, and the Starlite Theater. Great city !!!! I miss you, Fargo.............

[F-Misthebest]

Strip malls cropping up all over F-M: A renewed trend
By Craig McEwen, The Forum
Published Saturday, November 18, 2006

Strip malls.

They’ve been popping up across Fargo-Moorhead – about 70 scattered throughout the metro area.

Since 2000, 25 strip malls have been built or are under construction in Fargo alone.

The city got its first in 1955 when the Southside Shopping Center opened at 1503-1543 S. University Drive.

Northport Shopping Center opened in north Fargo in 1956. Anchored by Hornbacher’s grocery store, the strip mall had three other tenants – a Marshall Wells hardware store, a Ben Franklin variety store that is now in the process of closing and a Walgreens drug store.


http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7599/18stripmalls2ad7.jpg

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4233/18stripmalls3by0.jpg

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/1461/2006111818stripmalls1he7.jpg

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/971/1118stripmallshg4.jpg

There are now 41 strip malls listed on Fargo city assessor Ben Hushka’s 2006 tax rolls.

Another dozen or so have either opened during the past year or are under construction, according to Fargo Planning Department records.

One of the newest strip malls is The Shoppes at Osgood complex at the intersection of 45th Street and 44th Avenue South. The complex also houses Fargo’s newest Hornbacher’s store.

Two proposed south Fargo projects, the328-acre Urban Plains development and 277-acre White Oaks Trust LLC of Nevada project, contain plans for future retail centers.

A similar – but smaller – trend is occurring in Moorhead. Developer Kevin Christianson, owner of Paces Lodging, has filed plans to build Azool Retail Shoppes, a 22-acre complex containing a 35,000-square-foot strip mall, and a separate grocery store, restaurant and bank at Eighth Street and 40th Avenue South, said Moorhead City Planner Deb Martzahn.

“People down there are pretty excited about getting a grocery story on the south side of the Interstate,” she said.

The project plat has been approved.

Another new retail/office complex is being built by Fargo-based Arista Development at 12th Avenue and 34th Street East.

Early Years Enrichment Center for infants, pre- and after-school children has already opened in that strip center.

When completed, Moorhead will have 10 strip malls.

West Fargo has three strip centers. The newest one is Eagle Run Plaza being built south of I-94 at 32nd Avenue West and Sheyenne Street.

Dilworth has no strip malls, but there has been some interest expressed in building them, said City Planner Stan Thurlow.


A renewed trend

“The strip center proliferation in America really began in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s,” said West Fargo City Planner Larry Weil.

The concept has endured several phases throughout the country, he said. They’ve been overbuilt in some metropolitan areas and left vacant until a new use can be found.

“A community or area can only support so much,” Weil said. “Whether we’re going through that scenario – or whether developers are more mindful of what the market can bear – I’m not in a position to say.”

Many shoppers today prefer smaller malls with individual store entrances, said Fargo City Planner Jim Gilmour.

“The strip center is probably becoming more popular than the enclosed mall. You don’t see that many shopping centers built anymore.”


Neighborhood hubs

“Strip centers are trying to locate closer to where people are living,” Gilmour said. “It’s kind of where you get your neighborhood conveniences for the week. It’s not where you go to buy a refrigerator.”

Some have become neighborhood shopping hubs that offer drug stores, branch banks, coffee and sandwich shops, and hair and nail salons.

Gilmour said he expects that trend to continue. “As we work on our land-use plan for the future, we’re trying to identify the best kind of locations for those strip centers.”

Communities around the country are building lifestyle centers, said Martzahn.

“They are trying more to replicate downtowns where you have shops on both sides of the street,” she said.

That’s happening in downtown Moorhead.

“What we’re doing on Fourth Street is a strip mall in a sense,” Martzahn said. “And we have those stores facing each other across Fourth Street. It’s convenient and efficient.”

Moorhead’s first strip center – The Brookdale Mall – was built in 1962 at 24th Avenue and Eighth Street South with several businesses using individual entrances.

Much of the mall had been vacated by 1999. Today, the site has a stand-alone bank, a grocery store and several retail businesses.

EasTen, the city’s largest strip mall, was built in 1990 along the north side of Highway 10 between Moorhead and Dilworth.

Later, The Shoppes on 10 was built on the south side of Highway 10.

One of the city’s oldest strip malls is Midtown at Main, which houses The China Garden restaurant, 1126 2nd Ave. S., and a former Walgreens.

A small strip center with a Stop-N-Go, Domino’s pizza and two other tenants is located at Second Avenue and 21st Street South.

Several stores – including True Value Hardware, O’Leary’s Pub and CVS Pharmacy – are located in a strip mall at the intersection of Eighth Street and 30th Avenue South that once housed Sunmart Foods before it moved to Brookdale.

Holiday Center, a strip mall that occupies the former Holiday Mall site at 24th Avenue and Eighth Street East, is home to Aggregate Industries, Minnesota Relay and Little Caesar’s Pizza. A food court on the same site has attracted Qdoba Mexican Grill and Starbucks Coffee.


W.F. follows suit

West Fargo got its first strip mall in 1997 with construction on the Pioneer Center at Ninth Street and 13th Avenue East.

“The whole thing was laid out for a strip center development,” Weil said.

The number of store units fluctuates. They are contained in five separate strips with a stand-alone bank. There will be a Subway in a new unit, expected to open soon, Weil said.

Westgate Commons, home to retail outlets such as Old Navy and Michaels, is in the 1600 block of 13th Avenue East in West Fargo.


Readers can reach Forum Business Editor Craig McEwen at (701) 241-5502

[NanoBison]

I don't know about anyone else, but is it just me, or does reading about more strip malls just make you want to scream "stop building the damn things!!!". With the article stating that there is somewhere around 70 strip malls in the area, it makes one think. If you say the average strip mall has 5 stores/businesses in it, what if they would have just built a larger mall somewhere else in the metropolitan area. Yeah, I know many of the stores and shops are duplicated (Starbucks for example), but heck thats 350 businesses really spread out. If you would have concentrated that, you could have probably had another mall built and close to 95% occupancy with 150 stores. Here's another question, when is West Acres going to go through a major expansion. (I'm not talking food court, I'm talking the addition of up to 50 or more stores.) They've got all that land available if you pretty much demolish savers and the old Menard's site. Heck you could easily add another 40-50 stories with a multi-storey structure and have a skyway so shoppers can get to the new section of mall from the older one.

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/8792/westacresmallrt1.jpg

Thoughts? (Please pardon the absolutely crude attempt, with little detail and effort, I did on that image...I'm studying for Comps still and was in a rush)

(Glad to see you back FM...)

[JoeJoe]

I hate to say it, but I don't think the current environment in Fargo (or the nation as a whole) is conducive to shopping malls. For example Bismarck is having issues reviving its secondary mall (Gateway Mall) and has struggled to get it to be very active for years, but they haven't had issues with strip malls struggling and are going through a strip mall growth spurt like us.

Why? Sprawl. People don't wanna drive to a centralized place to get to one mega Starbucks, they want to go down the block to get to the nearest one. I don't necessarily like it myself, but what can one do.

As far as your design goes, not bad. I would think it would be better if they just expanded a little bit to the south beyond Macy's out to where JC Pennys is. Yea it wouldn't give them an additional 50 stores, but it would be a more practical and incremental expansion (10-20 stores). My preference would not be expanding out but up, I'm partial to multistory malls - less of a waste of space. I do like bringing in a hotel to the location though, you could put a beautiful hotel right behind Best Buy. Maybe a Hilton or something of that sort? Hell even a Motel 6 would make the area seem less fugly.

[NanoBison]

I hate to say it, but I don't think the current environment in Fargo (or the nation as a whole) is conducive to shopping malls. For example Bismarck is having issues reviving its secondary mall (Gateway Mall) and has struggled to get it to be very active for years, but they haven't had issues with strip malls struggling and are going through a strip mall growth spurt like us.

Why? Sprawl. People don't wanna drive to a centralized place to get to one mega Starbucks, they want to go down the block to get to the nearest one. I don't necessarily like it myself, but what can one do...


I hate to say it, but I agree with most of what you said. Yep, America is pretty damn lazy when it comes to doing anything. They usually want to goto the place that is the most convenient and closest to them as possible, not to mention, park as close to the entrance as possible.

Hopefully this trend turns around, as it's going to have to, especially if we starting having an oil crisis in the next couple of decades where it gets to the point that having an automobile that runs on gas is more of a luxury, than a necessity. (I hope by that time, alternative fuels and other means of transportation, are mainstream).

I do know one thing, there is a group of America, that is just fed up with sprawl and the wastefulness of the country and that's the group that efforts should be directed towards attracting for people to live in communities like Urban Plains and, hopefully in the future, a strong downtown core, where you can get EVERYTHING within a 10 block radius.

Here's to mainstream America's thinking.... :brickwall:

[F-Misthebest]

I have to agree with both of you. Yeah, strip malls are not the best or most attractive thing but it's convinent and that's what people want. Some strip malls aren't that bad though. If you really think about it, the District at the Lakes plan in southwest Fargo is really a giant upscale stip mall. It's just like a bunch of stip malls clumped together in an upscale manor. It's a giant outdoor, upscale, stip mall. Well actually all stip malls are outdoor, but whatever.

[NanoBison]

Yeah, pretty much, when they get to the size or high-endedness of a small mini-mall, I don't have so much a problem with them. However when you look at the development on 25th St next to Playmakers, I don't see anything special. What I'd rather see, is a whole section of land get developed with different purposes, which is happening with the developments at the airport. They just built a decent hotel and restaurants, banks and shops are popping up around it. When that happens, I don't mind it so much.

[Greco Roman]

F-M, don't let a bunch of arrogant Winnipeggers get to you. I was merely presenting the possibility in a thread in that forum that if Winnipeg doesn't get its act together, Fargo-Moorhead may surpass it someday in the far future.



:haha:

What the hell are you talking about????????????????

[F-Misthebest]

Does anybody know when the Mallard Creek Commons in Moorhead is supposed to start on construction? I know that one of the pad sites is already sold. Thinking of construction, what about the Home Depot in Moorhead? Maybe it is one of those buildings that is forever on the proposal sign :rolleyes:
Here's the Mallard Creek Commons site:
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/6561/mallardcreekxy2.jpg

Here's the site of the new Azool Retail Shoppes on 40th Avenue South:
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/4602/stripmallmoorhead40thavoo1.jpg

[Paintballer1708]

Originally Posted by SmileyBoy
F-M, don't let a bunch of arrogant Winnipeggers get to you. I was merely presenting the possibility in a thread in that forum that if Winnipeg doesn't get its act together, Fargo-Moorhead may surpass it someday in the far future.

Winnipeg doesnt look like it's a city in good shape. Maybe it could be reffered to as the "Detroit of Canada." I have never been there so i cant say anything, but judging by pictures it doesnt look to be on some kind of comeback like Detroit either.

[NanoBison]

Winnipeg doesnt look like it's a city in good shape. Maybe it could be reffered to as the "Detroit of Canada." I have never been there so i cant say anything, but judging by pictures it doesnt look to be on some kind of comeback like Detroit either.

Trying to get the train back on the tracks... (it's a Fargo/Moorhead thread...)


Anyways, I've finally finished the Comprehensive Exam for the Masters level in Comp Science at NDSU. Glad to get that out of the way, so now I can do some more posting!!!

Anyways, I'm sitting here at the Atomic Coffee in downtown Fargo and I must say, I'm impressed. Right as I walked in they were in the process of installing their new fancy chairs to replace some cheapy plastic ones. Good thing too, I just about broke the plastic one!!! It was pretty cheap. Anyways, it's got good atmosphere and one of the girls behind the counter is a hottie, so I also have eye candy to look at.

:tup: :tup: :tup:

Saw a few more developments going up around town, but nothing too spectacular. I think, while the family is cooking Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow, I'm going to head out early and take some pics of the developments in Fargo. Maybe throw them into a photothread. We'll see. I should be starting the Blog back up here pretty soon since the workload on my shoulders just decreased considerably.

Have a good thanksgiving everyone!

:banana:

[NanoBison]

The other thing I failed to mention, was that as I was driving downtown I keep seeing small changes that weren't there when I last visited. For example, I was driving down Broadway and was heading north. I saw this nifty LED display that Fort Knox had just installed on the side of it's building. It just happened to be flashing advertisements for NDSU Bison sports, which is always good in my books. I tried to flash a pic with my phone camera, but traffic started flowing again, so I missed that opportunity.

I got to thinking, I've been seeing a couple of this signs go up lately, and believe it wouldn't hurt if more of them went up downtown. I think it would create an overall sense of "things always happening" downtown, and give it a more fast paced feel. Of course I don't want it plastered like Times Square in NY, but I don't think it could hurt, unless the building was already a gem, like the HoDo. ( I wouldn't stick anything on the HoDo... it's too nice... )

But like the Forum Building, they could definitely use something. I'd like to see something along the lines of what is on the outside of MSNBC or CNN building or the Nasdaq building, displaying the latest headlines from around the world. With today's technology, it shouldn't be tough to do, even for the Fargo Forum.

Here's something like what I'm talking about :

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/2761/nasdaq3hr6.jpg

Of course, it doesn't need to be this grand, but anything would be better than that plain old building facade that they currently have. Here's another question... If WDAY and WDAZ and the Fargo-Forum, are all owned by Forum Communications Company, why don't they just building a new building downtown and combine all the resources so they are in one place (Obviously WDAZ can stay in Grand Forks)? If it was built right, it would be a nice 6-8 storey building and it would probably look quite nice. Then gut the current Fargo-Forum building and rennovate it for offices and condos (mid-range). I think that would be pretty cool...

:notacrook:

Thoughts?

[NanoBison]

I was also thinking. I just saw a show on the Science channel where they have a laser, neon, led, light show, choreographed so you basically see a huge displayed on the shore front from the bay (against all of the highrises). I can't remember if it's Tokyo, Singapore, or Shanghia, but it was damn cool. It got me thinking, why the heck don't we do something like that downtown? Obviously it doesn't have to be on scale with that, but add a couple of neon lights on the tops of the taller buildings or do a color effect like that building in downtown Minneapolis ( I think it's the Target Corp, where it changes color every couple of seconds... ). That I think would be cool, especially to see it from like the interstate, or downtown Moorhead or the surrounding area. It would definitely add a "pull" factor to downtown and maybe attract more people to it. Especially if the effects are done well....

:tup:

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/8279/downtownfargonightou0.jpg

(My lame attempt at my idea from a very low quality photo... I'll try to improve upon it in the future... ) :slob:

[Paintballer1708]

Originally Posted by NanoBison
Trying to get the train back on the tracks... (it's a Fargo/Moorhead thread...)

Sorry, Nano i just wanted to know what Winnipeg was like. Seems like a lot of them visit the Fargo area. It just doesnt seem like a city that is doing well. I know there have been many instances of people talking about Sioux Falls in here.

[NanoBison]

It's no problem, you can talk about whatever, I just didn't want it to turn into the smackfest between the Fargoans and the Winnepegers like in the other thread in the Canada section...

Man, everyone has been quiet lately. Must be the school break and Thanksgiving.....

[F-Misthebest]

Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Turkey Day! Whatever you call it, hope you have a good day!

[F-Misthebest]

What did you guys think of this development that was proposed a couple of years ago. Did you want the Cityscapes Plaza downtown or were you apposed to it. I personally liked the architecture but I did not want a sports arena downtown.
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/3568/cityscapesplazaud3.jpg
This picture was from the Forum.

[Paintballer1708]

^ Thanks, FM hope you and everyone else had a great one as well. Im in Philadelphia right now at my brother's and my mom and dad came up from Dallas. The only thing is the weather sucks because we are having this coastal storm that is just sitting over the Mid Atlantic. If i were in Pittsburgh it would be nice and sunny.

[Greco Roman]

Winnipeg doesnt look like it's a city in good shape. Maybe it could be reffered to as the "Detroit of Canada." I have never been there so i cant say anything, but judging by pictures it doesnt look to be on some kind of comeback like Detroit either.

In all fairness, I've heard that Pittsburg is a pretty ugly and crime ridden city. Definately not on my "American cities to visit" list.

[Paintballer1708]

Originally Posted by Albertaboy
In all fairness, I've heard that Pittsburg is a pretty ugly and crime ridden city. Definately not on my "American cities to visit" list.

Well where did you get your information from? Have you ever even seen pictures of Pittsburgh? It is an amazing city that has made a huge comeback. Sounds like you dont even know anything about Pittsburgh or any other American city for that matter. Winnipeg just doesnt look attractive in the pictures i have seen, and i have heard some pretty negative things about it. You dont even know how to spell the city's name right. You add an H to it. If you dont even know that it shows your intelligence on Pittsburgh. Why dont you read up on Pittsburgh, you will be suprised. BTW, you will notice that Pittsburgh is really appreciated on this site. Now lets get back to what this thread is about, and that is Fargo.

[F-Misthebest]

Pittsburgh=schnazy city Winnipeg=schnazy city Fargo=lets talk about this instead of the other two. :)

[Greco Roman]

Well where did you get your information from? Have you ever even seen pictures of Pittsburgh? It is an amazing city that has made a huge comeback. Sounds like you dont even know anything about Pittsburgh or any other American city for that matter. Winnipeg just doesnt look attractive in the pictures i have seen, and i have heard some pretty negative things about it. You dont even know how to spell the city's name right. You add an H to it. If you dont even know that it shows your intelligence on Pittsburgh. Why dont you read up on Pittsburgh, you will be suprised. BTW, you will notice that Pittsburgh is really appreciated on this site. Now lets get back to what this thread is about, and that is Fargo.

Well, you picked up on my point. No, I have never been to your city, and you have probably never been to Winnipeg (my hometown). What is the lesson from this? Don't judge somewhere based on what you hear from secondhand sources. They often misreprent the facts. Winnipeg is a cool city, just like Pittsburgh is most likely. Looks like you are just as guilty of condemning from second hand sources like many other people. In terms of intelligence and reasoning, you have a lot of improving to do too, man.

[F-Misthebest]

Well I'm in Sioux Falls right now and am having a good time. Well, just thought I should share that with you guys. Smiley Boy, where are you? Maybe on some Fargo retreat

[Paintballer1708]

Im not even going to waste my time with, Albertaboy.

So FM, were you in Sioux Falls for Thanksgiving? Glad to hear you are having a good time. I leave Philly today, and should be in Pittsburgh by this evening. Have a great Saturday everyone.

[F-Misthebest]

I came down to Sioux Falls yesterday (Friday) to meet some of family. I was in Fargo for Thanksgiving. Not to dis Sioux Falls, honestly, I was in their downtown and there was like no one here. Wierd, I honestly hope they can get more people down there. There were not that many places for lease, so that's good but not very many people. I'm having a good time though. See yah.

[Greco Roman]

Im not even going to waste my time with Albertaboy.


:haha:

[SmileyBoy]

Hey, I'm back. Been really busy and shit like that.

I'm in the Twin Cities for Thanksgiving. I went to Costco in St. Louis Park. Made me wish even more for a Costco to be built in Fargo. I mean, they have one in Kalispell, Montana (pop. of less than 20,000), but they can't build one in the F-M area, which has over 200,000 people??

It made me think about that open parcel of land on 45th between 15th and 17th Ave. South across from Scheels, and my wish that they could build a Costco there. How no one has yet done anything with that land is beyond me. It's the most prime real estate in probably all of the Dakotas, and it's WAAAAY overdue for development.

[Reichert]

I can't see Costco being located right there....it's too close to Wal-Mart. Also, Costco skews toward higher income areas. That means a 52nd Avenue South location or an Osgood location would be more ideal for the demographic they aim for. With that said, Costco is also VERY secretive when it comes to where and when they build new locations. I wouldn't be surprised if they have something cooked up for F-M already and nobody knows about it yet.

[NanoBison]

What did you guys think of this development that was proposed a couple of years ago. Did you want the Cityscapes Plaza downtown or were you apposed to it. I personally liked the architecture but I did not want a sports arena downtown.
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/3568/cityscapesplazaud3.jpg
This picture was from the Forum.

I was initially for the project, however, as time went on, several people convinced me why it wouldn't be good for downtown. However, I do think that the particular location where it is sitting is RIPE for redevelopment. Once the downtown fire department gets re-located with better facilities, someone just needs to come in a tear down the station and our favorite building downtown (that stupid movie theatre, or I mean church, or I mean some pointless other use for a building that should have never had been built.

But what would be the best use for that space? An office tower, a hotel, residential units? I'm actually going to go out on a limb here and propose that in the future, hopefully some wealthy NDSU alumnus or supporter of the University can buy the land and put a new, large, sturdy building there. It will add on to the University's footprint and continue their commit to downtown. Could you imagine the ENTIRE engineering program (EE, CE, ME, etc...) in a building, as large as that of UofM's, sitting on that downtown block. Might as well add the Computer Science department to that list too, since the classes tend to overlap quite a bit with EE. Now add tons of landscaping, and I think you'll end up with a pretty nice and BUSY downtown area. Then that paves the way to free up space for any newer departments that are bursting at the seams. Heck, I wouldn't mind seeing a Medical/BioMedical/NanoMedical/Hospital/etc... Complex rise up in the area that is now the engineering complex. That would be huge. At that point you'd have buses running to and from the university every 10 or even 5 minutes. Probably two/three at a time during class switching time.

If that was to happen, downtown Fargo would really start becoming pretty hip, since the affects of several thousand students every day would tend to rub off on many of the downtown business and property owners.

I wouldn't mind walking downtown and seeing a robot or something strolling along, as a normal thing, from the work that would go on in that building... Maybe even a mini-MIT? I SAID MINI !!!

One can imagine... :tup:

[Paintballer1708]

Seems like a lot were away for Thanksgiving. Smiley, did you have a good time in the Twin Cities?

[Brian77]

I came down to Sioux Falls yesterday (Friday) to meet some of family. I was in Fargo for Thanksgiving. Not to dis Sioux Falls, honestly, I was in their downtown and there was like no one here. Wierd, I honestly hope they can get more people down there. There were not that many places for lease, so that's good but not very many people. I'm having a good time though. See yah.



Most of the White Collar workforce that work downtown probably took the Friday after Thanksgiving off. In the Federal office I work, there was maybe a 15% skeleton crew working that Friday. This is common practice on that day with all the traveling and family etc.
If you come on a 'normal' weekday, not around a holiday, you will see that downtown Sioux Falls is like many other CBD's. (busy and bustling!) :cheers:

[F-Misthebest]

^Thanks! Though I want to add I went there I believe around October 1st and the downtown seemed pretty dead. Well not dead, maybe in a coma.:rolleyes: No I know that Sioux Falls' downtown is very active.

Sorry that I haven't posted in a while. When I was in Sioux Falls, I got a call saying that my great uncle died so I have to go to his funeral in Kearney, Nebraska. We stopped in Lincoln and Grand Island and went to his funeral today. Anyways, any new developments that have sprung up since last Thursday?

[BigTicket]

Walaker proposes addition

Fargo Dome Authority members saw a slam-dunk Tuesday in Mayor Dennis Walaker’s proposal to add a multipurpose arena to the Fargodome to host Bison basketball and other events.

Walaker said the 7,000- to 8,000-seat addition will ensure the dome’s success as a regional events center and keep North Dakota State University’s home court on campus.

The university is also considering an offer from developer Ace Brandt to move Bison hoops into a proposed 8,000- to 8,500-seat arena in his Urban Plains by Brandt development in south Fargo.

Walaker said he’s afraid Brandt’s arena would draw events away from the Fargodome and, coupled with changes in the concert industry, turn the city-owned dome into a money-losing facility for the first time since it opened in 1992.

The Dome Authority voted unanimously to appoint members Ryn Pitts and David Suppes to a task force to explore the feasibility of an addition and come up with a preliminary cost estimate. Walaker said he doesn’t have a rough price tag.

The addition would sit on the dome’s west side and accommodate smaller concerts, basketball games and other conventions and trade shows, Walaker said in a letter distributed Tuesday to the Dome Authority, city commissioners and NDSU President Joseph Chapman.

If everything goes smoothly, the addition could be open by fall 2008, Walaker said.

Dome Authority President Marilyn Guy said the group is excited about the flexibility an addition could provide for hosting smaller, more intimate events and larger events by combining the two arenas.

Walaker and others stressed several times that the addition would not host hockey. The city will leave that up to Brandt, who has proposed a 4,000-seat, four-sheet hockey complex that Walaker called “extremely appropriate.”

The addition would have to be built in partnership with NDSU, Walaker said.

About $12 million to $15 million in excess revenue from the half-cent Fargodome sales tax could be available for the addition, he said. Revenue from the tax was originally projected to grow by 4 percent annually, but instead has grown by 7 percent to 8 percent per year, he said.....

http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=147821&section=news


Its been a few years since the last arena vote so I guess its about time the talk started to heat up again. The big thing here is that it looks like NDSU will step up to the plate and get involved with paying for it.

[NanoBison]

I'm all for it, as long as it is going to be a nice arena, which will make you feel contained, instead of the great expanse which is the Fargodome. Great for football atmosphere, not so much Basketball. Good to see NDSU is stepping up with part of the costs. I don't actually think this would require a city vote though, since the vote was for the tax in the first place. They've already collected the funds and the Fargodome may use them as they please. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

NDSU's Current Fund Raising Efforts ... : $8,000,000+

Fargodome Sales Tax Leftover .......... : $12,000,000-$15,000,000+

Additional NDSU Benefactors
stepping up to the plate once
they see the bigger plan .................. : $5,000,000-$10,000,000+ (who knows? I'm optimistic on NDSU's supporters...)
---------------------------------------------
Bottom Line :
New NDSU Basketball Arena .............. : $25,000,000-$30,000,000+ :tup:

That kind of money can build a NICE arena.... hopefully not DIRECTLY attached to the Fargodome, but as a seperate entity that's connected through a mezzanine or corridors...

I sure hope though there isn't a bunch of whiners (and NDSU haters) coming out of the wood work and complaining these funds should be used somewhere else (the new library {botched project if you ask me}, etc...). I just hope Walaker, stands up and says, "Nope, sorry folks, it's Fargodome money". Hopefully they handle it professionally where NDSU, Fargo, and the leadership all maintain a positive image and there is no sour notes.... (glad it was noted that there were several repeated statements "this will not include hockey", because Brandt apparently is going to build a smaller, yet decent rink out in Urban Plains....I think...)

:tup:

No offense to Brandt and his development ( I hope it does well ), but I would rather see all NDSU Athletics remain on the main NDSU campus.

If this gets built as well, we will be in a better position to attract the smaller concerts and events normally going to Grand Forks because of their 3, yes count them 3, venues. That city is overdone on the Arenas.

*cough*welfare city*cough*Canadinns*cough*paid for by FEMA*cough*

Sorry I had something in my throat. :brickwall:

[F-Misthebest]

I agree Nano.

I was driving home from Grand Island, Nebraska and I got to 100th Avenue South and I was just imagining that some day (hopefully in like 45-50 years) that this will all be Fargo and it's amazing metropolitan area with all the amazing retail, offices, and cool restaurants. :slob: :slob: :slob: :slob: Excuse me. Anyhoo, I'm just excited to see what the metropolitan area looks like in 50 years. I think it's going to be very much like a mini Omaha. A strong growing downtown, an excellent suburban areas, many job opportunities, and growing faster then a speeding bullet. That was supposed to sound cool but whatever. I am just excited to see whats going to happen. :rolleyes:

[NanoBison]

Well guys, I've finally had enough of living in apartments. Last night I almost got into a physical altercation with an upstairs neighbor. His damn kids run, jump, fall on the floor and scream at the top of their lungs ALL day. I finally hit the ceiling to signal it's time to shutup and the MOFO has the nerve to not only stomp back 10 times louder, but the jackass actually comes to my door and gets in my face with "I'm playing with my kids, deal with it."

Well I've had enough of that sh*t so I'm moving downtown. I see a few condos that might be in my price range $75,000-$85,000 on my starting position salary, so hopefully towards the end of January, I'll be downtown.

Note to anyone else on the board. NEVER EVER rent an apartment. It's not worth it. Now I have to go and find some legal counsel, because they are going to probably try to make me pay for the remaining months in my lease. I'm sure I have more than enough evidence that they are bum landlords. Can't wait to own my own property.....

[Paintballer1708]

When i lived in my condo in Monroeville, Pennsylvania i can really relate to that problem. You had to share a wall with your neighbor. That might not be so bad compared to an apartment. Luckily i left for Cleveland after that and had my first house after leaving home. Now i have a great house in one of the greatest suburbs Pittsburgh has to offer. Its nice to walk just a few blocks to the east, and i can see the skyline. I couldnt ask for a better place to live. I really would like to head to Mt. Lebanon, but it is pricey there. Congratulations, Nano on finally deciding to leave your apartment. You wont regret it. Does downtown Fargo offer a lot of living spaces?

[NanoBison]

When i lived in my condo in Monroeville, Pennsylvania i can really relate to that problem. You had to share a wall with your neighbor. That might not be so bad compared to an apartment. Luckily i left for Cleveland after that and had my first house after leaving home. Now i have a great house in one of the greatest suburbs Pittsburgh has to offer. Its nice to walk just a few blocks to the east, and i can see the skyline. I couldnt ask for a better place to live. I really would like to head to Mt. Lebanon, but it is pricey there. Congratulations, Nano on finally deciding to leave your apartment. You wont regret it. Does downtown Fargo offer a lot of living spaces?

Thanks on the Congrats. I'd say downtown Fargo offers a decent amount of options available, however it's nothing in abundance. But the good thing is that it is starting to get much better. The Condo I'm looking at looks like the walls and ceilings/floors are made out of concrete (slab construction), so it will be a much better improvement over my current situation which is a row of 2x4's sandwiched between Sheetrock (walls, ceiling) or particle board (floor).
There's nothing in between though. The only insulation is along the outer perimeter walls of the building and that isn't much either. Put it this way, if I put my ear up to the wall, I can hear both conversations my neighbors above me and below me are having. Add the 15-20 or so children running around and it can really start to grind on an individual. I also figured that people that actually own their own property are a shade higher on the respectability and integrity scales than those who typically rent. Not saying every renter is bad ( I'm certainly not ) but a majority just don't give a flying you know what...

I've also spoken with other individuals who lived in that condo-complex and they said it's pretty much older couples and older families...so it should be an improvement on the current situation, not to mention I won't be throwing money away anymore....

:tup:

[F-Misthebest]

Congratulations Nano.

I've seen lots and lots of new buildings being built all around south Fargo including some more work on The Crossing. Can't wait 'till that's done. More buildings in front of Sincebaugh, the First International Bank (by the Hornbachers), south of Hornbachers, and Urban Plains.

[Paintballer1708]

Im sure once you move, the situation will get much better, Nano.

[Boizean]

Greetings Fargonians from Boise,

Just thought I would post to let you know I've been watching Fargo's development off and on occasionally for some time now. Keep the faith guys, Fargo will blossom in it's time.

I suppose one of the reasons I read your guy's thread is that it reminds me so much of myself 30 years ago when Boise was just but a small dot on the map that no one had ever heard of. 30 years of faith and now Boise is having its day in the sun. I guess what I'm trying to say is don't give up and don't get overly frustrated, it takes time. Fargo "WILL" blossom after the bud is fully developed. :tup:

I noticed that some of you are against that good looking sports arena proposal downtown. Boise built the Idaho Steelheads Hockey Arena right downtown complete with high-rise hotel and all. It's been a really good boon for downtown business. I don't really like the design of our arena but sheesh, you guy's have a very good looking proposal there, makes ours look like crap.

Anyway I'll be checking back later...keep the faith!

[F-Misthebest]

Thanks! Boziean. I think I speak for everyone when I say that you are completley right when it comes to Fargo's blossoming. About the skyscraper sports thing downtown, that was already turned down early 2006. So yeah, it's not happening, but other things are and will continue to. :)

[Boizean]

About the skyscraper sports thing downtown, that was already turned down early 2006.
I guess I did get that impression, sorry I didn't convey that in my post. Our arena has been nothing but good for our downtown. What ever major catalyst you can get for the heart of a city is a good thing. What made it fail?

[F-Misthebest]

Jeez where is everyone?

Boziean, what I think made it fail is that they didn't want the raised property taxes, and because they did not want a sports arena. The added cars to downtown with not enough parking. Don't get me wrong, downtown Fargo is a parking lot haven. See yah.

[Justin_144]

The same thing is happening here in Sioux Falls, Some want to build an eventscenter downtown while others say there will not be enough parking

[Paintballer1708]

There was a proposal for an arena in downtown Fargo? Does anyone have any renderings of what it would have looked like?

[WLF]

Where is the "Crossing" located in Fargo and what is it?
Where is Sincebaug? is it by south of Hornbachers?


Congratulations Nano.

I've seen lots and lots of new buildings being built all around south Fargo including some more work on The Crossing. Can't wait 'till that's done. More buildings in front of Sincebaugh, the First International Bank (by the Hornbachers), south of Hornbachers, and Urban Plains.

[F-Misthebest]

Paintballer, http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/8933/339826ke4.jpg That's what it looked like.

WLF, the Crossing is located on the north eastern corner of 32nd Avenue South and 45th Street. It is planned to have a Pottery Barn, a Starbucks, and a Comp USA. Sincebaugh is a housing development about a fourth of a mile north of 40th Avenue South and 45th Street. It's only private building and you must have a colonial style for your house.

[Paintballer1708]

Would that have been the tallest structure in Fargo?

[F-Misthebest]

Yes I think it would have been and I think it would have been the tallest in the state of North Dakota. Not to mention South Dakota.

[SmileyBoy]

Yes I think it would have been and I think it would have been the tallest in the state of North Dakota. Not to mention South Dakota.

Actually, no. The building in question would have been around 160-170 feet tall and 14 storeys. the tallest building in ND is the State Capitol which is 242 feet tall (19 storeys). The 2nd tallest in the state (and the 2nd tallest in the Dakotas - The two tallest buildings in the Dakotas are in ND) is the Downtown Radisson at 207 feet tall and 19 storeys.

Also, I saw a lot of new interesting things driving around town today. I'll post them later.

[WLF]

and what you find. thanks.

[Paintballer1708]

No matter if it would have been the tallest building in the Dakotas, it still would have made a huge impression on the Fargo skyline.

[NanoBison]

I agree, we definitely have to get more additions to the Fargo-Moorhead skyline... anyone heard if Konrad Olson is working up anything on his tower?

[NanoBison]

Anyone else in the thread been reading the "Proposed Arena" in the talk section of the Fargo Forum? It just gets so disheartening listen to Fargoans that don't realize what an asset NDSU is to the whole region and state. They have nothing better to do than bitch about how the Fargodome is really NDSU's, even though we pay rent to use it and lease the land to the city, which it sits on, for $1. Even if somehow NDSU found a rich benefactor that graced the campus with a $10 billion endowment and they built a brand new football stadium and basketball stadium, I'm sure EVEN then, there would be some people in Fargo that would piss and moan about it.

:hell: :hell: :hell:

Then there was another poster that said, if a new arena was to be built, it should be built to serve the needs of ALL of Fargo and it should go where Sunmart is on 13th Ave and 25th St, because those roads can handle the traffic better and were recently expanded. Uh huh. Right......

:shrug: :koko: :shrug: :koko:

I can now see why many students have the attitudes they do, especially when people like those above have a voice in the local media and do nothing but berate them....

:(

Sorry guys, I've been super busy. I'll see how I am at the end of the week.

[F-Misthebest]

When I was in Sioux Falls, I noticed something shocking and maybe some Sioux Falls residents could clear this up. Their Radisson on 41st Street near the mall was closed and abandoned. So please Sioux Falls residents clarify this, or tell me that I'm wrong.

[rrskylar]

It must bother the Fargo-Moorhead forum members to no end that the tallest building to be constructed in ND in quite some time is being built in Grand Forks.

http://www.canadinns.com/photogallery/gallery/pics/385_1165848214.jpg?1166251328

[Paintballer1708]

In Grand Forks? How tall?

[fredstrom]

F-M,

I asked a friend in Sioux Falls about that hotel. Apparently its closed for a remodel and expansion. He said they might be adding a 100 room tower on it.

[Paintballer1708]

^Well at least that is good news.

[NanoBison]

It must bother the Fargo-Moorhead forum members to no end that the tallest building to constructed in ND in quite some time is being built in Grand Forks.

http://www.canadinns.com/photogallery/gallery/pics/385_1165848214.jpg?1166251328

I'm happy Grand Forks is finally getting something built. You know how long that tower took to get approved and for construction to start? But being jealous about it, or it bothering us? Please. That building is going to be, I believe, 12 stories tall. That would put it up there with the Bank of the West tower down here. The Radisson has at least another 100 ft on that building. This new "tower" isn't going to add anything to Grand Forks' skyline, since it's not going downtown, but right up next to the interstate. The other thing that disappoints me about it, is how much Grand Forks actually had to do to lure CanadInns to build there. They gave them the land it will sit on as part of a lease for $1 for the next 50 years. I won't even go into delays on the construction. I don't even want to touch how the whole thing is being financed. I don't even want to touch on how frustrating it was to get that off the ground for most people in Grand Forks.

It's supposedly going to lure tons of people from Winnipeg to spend money in Grand Forks. We'll see. If they are staying there, I can easily coming down here for the shopping and dining in the West Acres area and then heading back up late at night. So it's good for Fargo anyways.

Now if we read tomorrow that Grand Forks somehow managed to start construction on a 18-20+ storey office building downtown, then I would definitely start to get jealous. But when this current project is built with FEMA flood money and taxpayer money, it's what I've come to expect from Grand Forks.

To see just how "wonderful" that project is for Grand Forks, read the comments at the end of this Bismarck Tribune Article on a proposal for the same type of development in Bismarck...

http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2006/05/26/news/local/115250.txt


That's what I have to say about that... :tup:

[Paintballer1708]

Well that is disappointing that it wont be in the downtown.

[NanoBison]

Yep it's kind of like the Multiband Tower on I-94 as you come into Fargo from the west. Sure it says "you've arrived", but I think it would have been better to build it downtown. But hey, what can one do...

[Paintballer1708]

Well hopefully Grand Forks can get some development going on in the downtown. Does Grand Forks have a dead downtown?

[NanoBison]

I don't think they have a dead downtown. They had the opportunity to rebuild most of it after the flood of '97. However, I haven't heard any "big" projects coming out of there lately. I can't exactly tell you what they've done either in terms of a Renaissance Zone, like Fargo's been doing. While I'm not a big fan of Grand Forks, I do realize it's importance to the economy of Fargo-Moorhead, since many people make frequent trips down here.

[SmileyBoy]

This is the stupidest god-damned thing I have ever read in my life. Check out this letter to the Forum today. I seriously think this person is mentally disabled.

Nikki McAlpin, Grassy Butte, N.D., letter: Rapid development will destroy state
Published Sunday, December 17, 2006

North Dakotan, do you like your life? Do you like the safe, affordable living you have here? If so, then put a stop to the “development” your politicians are trying to sell you. Let me give you a picture of “development.”

Are your kids safe when they go to school now? They won’t be.

Will your income increase because another housing complex is built? Not likely. How about when another business is brought in? Not likely. But your expenses will. Who do you think will pay for the new roads … more police protection … more parking lots … bigger schools? You will. In your taxes. But your wages will not increase.

Do you like breathing fresh air? You won’t be able to after several years of developments.

Do you enjoy watering your garden? Washing your car? You won’t be able to when the water is monitored.

As the crime increases, you will no longer feel safe in your homes or going out at night.

These “developments” will not increase crop prices or cattle prices. But they will increase land prices, making it impossible to afford to farm or ranch.

Isn’t agriculture the mainstay of what makes North Dakota the safest and cleanest place to raise your family? Development will put an end to that.

Do you believe that if the value of your own home increases that you will be able to run out and buy another at a more reasonable cost? Well, you won’t. And your kids may never own a home if “developers” continue to barrage us. Your wages and your children’s wages will not increase. But real estate prices will.

Crime will run rampant.

Air will be polluted. Water will run short.

Schools will not be safe. Homes will no longer be affordable.

Agriculture will be destroyed.

Taxes will be outrageous.

But your income will not increase.

Denver, Ft. Worth, Nashville … they all tell the story. I know, I lived through it.

Developers and politicians are lining their pockets while destroying our homes and lives. Tell your politicians, “No more.” We have already lost too much ground. Protect your quality of life. Make phone calls, send letters, cast your votes, refuse to sell to “developers”… do what it takes to stop their “development.”

[SmileyBoy]

NanoBison, you know you're more eloquent than me in your arguments. Time for you to fire off a reply to this bitch. I know you'll lay a can of whoop ass on her. I'm soooo mad after reading that letter, it's just unbelieveable.

I did not even know where Grassy Butte was, and I know North Dakota very well. Turns out it's in the middle of fucking nowhere (surprise, surprise) between Killdeer, Williston, Dickinson, Sidney, MT and Glendive, MT. So she lives in the middle of bumfuck and she thinks she has the right to tell Fargoans that they better start living like her (no more development in Fargo-Moorhead means our city starts becoming like her little nowhere nook of hell)

What I got out of this was a bitch who is sick of not only the city, but even TOWNS (Grassy Butte is nothing - I checked on Google Maps. If she was only sick of cities, she could have lived in Killdeer or Bowman or a small town like that) and the reason is that she is probably just sick of interacting and socializing with people in general, and has sand in her vagina about a part of North Dakota (Fargo) that's growing rapidly, and she's bitter about it, so she bitches about it to the Fargo Paper.

Yeah, Nikki. People in Fargo are gonna listen to a bitter sandy vagina bitch from Gassy Butte, North Dakota about how we should stop getting people to move here. Idiot.

[Paintballer1708]

Thank you, Nano for the information on Grand Forks. I dont hear to much, or know to much about the city itself. I know it is not as progressive as Fargo, but im sure it plays a role in the North Dakota economy.

[F-Misthebest]

F-M,

I asked a friend in Sioux Falls about that hotel. Apparently its closed for a remodel and expansion. He said they might be adding a 100 room tower on it.

Okay, good.:)

[F-Misthebest]

About Grand Forks, I have nothing personally against it. If they get something like this hotel thingy buy the Alerus Center, I just think to myself, who has the larger population, which city/metro is doing better in every asset, who has bigger tourism, who has more of "that horrid development" (:rolleyes:) going on that is positive for the continuing sucess of the town, who has actually grown past I-29 (that last one was stupid but you know what I mean), all the answers to those, yeah, you guessed it, the BIG FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA.

As for that Nikki chick. :twoguns: :D

[jwmn]

I did not even know where Grassy Butte was, and I know North Dakota very well. Turns out it's in the middle of fucking nowhere (surprise, surprise) between Killdeer, Williston, Dickinson, Sidney, MT and Glendive, MT. So she lives in the middle of bumfuck and she thinks she has the right to tell Fargoans that they better start living like her (no more development in Fargo-Moorhead means our city starts becoming like her little nowhere nook of hell)
The funniest thing about that letter is that it was written by someone from Grassy Butte. I've driven through Grassy Butte more than once, and it is just as you described. It's not really even a town, and the only reason that I knew I drove through it was that there was a sign. Maybe this person just moved to Grassy Butte after she decided she didn't like civilization, which is fine, but some of us do like civilization. Unfortunately, I do think there are people in Fargo who don't have any interest in living in a growing city, and this Nikki person is just an exaggeration of that attitude.

[F-Misthebest]

I had to go to the dentist today and so I had to drive to Moorhead on 30th Avenue South and there was a sign on the vacant lot there that said future site of CEC Theatre's Moorhead Theatre. So Moorhead's getting a movie theatre.

[trueviking]

do bismarkians know that they are getting a 14 storey canadinns hotel soon?...i saw the design today...big complex, like in grand forks.

edit...damn...i went back one page and there it is...sorry....i was looking at the design drawings today in my office so i thought i would bring it up....my apologies.

[SmileyBoy]

I had to go to the dentist today and so I had to drive to Moorhead on 30th Avenue South and there was a sign on the vacant lot there that said future site of CEC Theatre's Moorhead Theatre. So Moorhead's getting a movie theatre.

Also, the new Menards on 34th Street and I-94 is getting close to done. It also looks like that land will be more than just a Menards. Hopefully the new Home Depot will start construction soon across the street.

[WLF]

do bismarkians know that they are getting a 14 storey canadinns hotel soon?...i saw the design today...big complex, like in grand forks.

edit...damn...i went back one page and there it is...sorry....i was looking at the design drawings today in my office so i thought i would bring it up....my apologies.


who is the owner of the project? can you give me a name and phone number? Would like to talk to him about some designs. thanks.

[F-Misthebest]

I drove by the new Menards in Moorhead today and saw lots of progress. I had to go back to the dentist again so this time I decided to look at it. The West Acres 14 is painted a new color with the new UltraScreen in it. Growth in all cities is good with me.

[NanoBison]

NanoBison, you know you're more eloquent than me in your arguments. Time for you to fire off a reply to this bitch. I know you'll lay a can of whoop ass on her. I'm soooo mad after reading that letter, it's just unbelieveable.

I did not even know where Grassy Butte was, and I know North Dakota very well. Turns out it's in the middle of fucking nowhere (surprise, surprise) between Killdeer, Williston, Dickinson, Sidney, MT and Glendive, MT. So she lives in the middle of bumfuck and she thinks she has the right to tell Fargoans that they better start living like her (no more development in Fargo-Moorhead means our city starts becoming like her little nowhere nook of hell)

What I got out of this was a bitch who is sick of not only the city, but even TOWNS (Grassy Butte is nothing - I checked on Google Maps. If she was only sick of cities, she could have lived in Killdeer or Bowman or a small town like that) and the reason is that she is probably just sick of interacting and socializing with people in general, and has sand in her vagina about a part of North Dakota (Fargo) that's growing rapidly, and she's bitter about it, so she bitches about it to the Fargo Paper.

Yeah, Nikki. People in Fargo are gonna listen to a bitter sandy vagina bitch from Gassy Butte, North Dakota about how we should stop getting people to move here. Idiot.

I too read that article and wasn't overly thrilled about it. However, after hearing and reading some of the comments others are making about that particular letter to the editor, it's quite obvious that I don't need to send a rebuttal to her. I believe she's already made enough of a fool of herself by writing something which can't be backed up by facts or figures, on her behalf, and is nothing more than opinion that lacks a continuous flow to it. I did hear someone say that we should petition the Big Box retailers (Walmart, Target, Lowes, etc...) to open up shop in Grassy Butte. I found that quite amusing.

Sorry I've been gone for a while. Had to go out of town on family business, to the unfortunate city of Minot. Aside from the progress already described above, has anyone else noticed the Medical building going up in the Urban Plains development and the Office Space getting close to finish behind Ruby Tuesday's on 25th St S? The Tech Incubator in the NDSU research park is coming along nicely and the Student Wellness Center and Memorial Union Expansion seem to be fast on track to being finished.

Has anyone heard any gossip of any big projects coming up in 2007?

[rrskylar]

What no news on the latest location for a Payless Shoe Source for the so-called Fargo-Moorhead minor developments information thread?

[F-Misthebest]

Clinic being built
Craig McEwen, The Forum
Published Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Construction is under way on a 14,000-square-foot medical center in south Fargo.

Dr. Susan Mathison is building the Center for Specialty Care and Catalyst Center for Aesthetic Medicine and Wellness at 1800 21st Ave. S., former site of Oak Manor Trailer Court.

Expected to open mid- to late-summer 2007, the new medical complex will double the space of Mathison’s practice at 2700 12th Ave. S. in Fargo, she said.

Mathison, an independent physician specializing in head and neck surgery with a focus on facial plastic surgery and skin rejuvenation, opened the Center for Specialty Care in 2000.

The business employs 18. “We will probably be adding about10 more,” she said.

The new facility will house specialty medical services including adult and pediatric ear, nose and throat care, an allergy and sinus center, a hearing health center and surgical rooms.

It will also have an aesthetic center for skin care, laser procedures and facial plastic surgery, Mathison said.

Mathison, a Fargo native, returned in 1997 and worked for Dakota Clinic for three years.Dr. Lesley Soine joined Mathison in 2005.

Their practice primarily serves patients in eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. “We get referrals from as far away as Minot and South Dakota,” Mathison said.

Oak Manor Trailer Park was vacated in 2004 after the property was purchased by Old Oak Park Partners LLC.

Readers can reach Forum Business Editor Craig McEwen at (701) 241-5502

[F-Misthebest]

Well Fargo is building it's third Kelly Inn on 18th and 45th Street right behind the Bennigens. It will have an indoor pool, 94 rooms, and a Conference Center. Construction has already started.

[BigTicket]

What no news on the latest location for a Payless Shoe Source for the so-called Fargo-Moorhead minor developments information thread?

Well the city is looking at building a 45 million dollar basketball arena next to the FargoDome. A private developer is looking at building a smaller arena for hockey on the southside of town. I think the 45 million dollar arena will happen but I am not sure about the private arena.

[rrskylar]

Well the city is looking at building a 45 million dollar basketball arena next to the FargoDome. A private developer is looking at building a smaller arena for hockey on the southside of town. I think the 45 million dollar arena will happen but I am not sure about the private arena.

Good news for NDSU, lets just hope it's built on/near NDSU and not in south Fargo as some want!

[F-Misthebest]

’06 big year for building
Andrea Domaskin, The Forum
Published Saturday, January 06, 2007

Like the rest of the country, Fargo-Moorhead faced rising interest rates and building challenges last year.

But construction in the four-city metro area continued with barely a bump in the road.

“We’re an anomaly to the rest of the country, really,” said Bryce Johnson, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Fargo-Moorhead. “Home building in the Midwest is much stronger than the rest of the country.”

Fargo, West Fargo, Moorhead and Dilworth issued 1,159 permits for new housing in 2006, with a combined $219 million in value, according to figures provided by each of the cities.

They issued 132 permits for new commercial construction, with a total value of $127 million.

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/7049/0106fmbuildar8.jpg

Of the four cities, West Fargo and Fargo both issued fewer permits for new housing than they did in 2005.

Moorhead had a banner year, setting records for nearly every kind of new construction.

“We were pleasantly surprised that the market has stayed so strong here,” Moorhead City Manager Bruce Messelt said.

The area’s strong economy plays a role, Johnson said. Skyrocketing property values on the coasts and natural disasters contributed to the decline elsewhere, she said.

By the Home Builder’s Association’s figures, housing construction in the metro area was down slightly through the third quarter of 2006, but still strong.

“We didn’t see the decline that everyone was predicting,” Johnson said. “It’s slowing down a little bit, but the market is still a very positive market to build in.”

Moorhead

Moorhead reaped the benefits of a years-long effort to attract development, City Manager Bruce Messelt said.

Last year was a record for residential construction and most other kinds of construction in the city. Permits were issued for 329 single-family homes and twinhomes, edging out the record of 320 set in 2005.

Moorhead issued more multiple-family housing and set a record for commercial activity.

That’s in a city that didn’t grow much in the 1980s and 1990s.

“There’s clearly been a conscious effort since about 2000 to position Moorhead for some smart growth and development,” Messelt said.

He believes the city has lower special assessments for its new developments because the infrastructure is already in place. A new tax structure in Minnesota helps.

The city also has new and remodeled schools, a renewed emphasis on improving the parks and recreation system and three higher education institutions.

“All of that combination led to, in many ways, a perfect storm,” Messelt said.

This year, Messelt said the city will focus on selling the existing lots – there are about 1,200 available – rather than continuing to push for more subdivisions.

“This can’t be a growth-at-all-cost game,” Messelt said. “This has to be a well-managed and sustainable development goal or development plan.”

West Fargo

In recent years, West Fargo was the poster child for growth in the metro area, but the city’s building boom slowed in 2006.

West Fargo issued 246 permits for single-family homes and twinhomes, down from the 440 it doled out in 2005.

Fewer permits were also issued for multiple-family buildings and townhouses. West Fargo issued nine permits, compared to 15 in 2005.

“For years there, we were adding over 1,000 people a year. It’s hard to sustain that, so this doesn’t surprise me.” Mayor Rich Mattern said.

Part of the reason is the decline in the housing market nationwide, Mattern said. Interest rates and property values are rising, making it more difficult for young families to enter the market, he said.

But the quiet building period gives the city a chance to catch up with its growth, he said.

“All the department heads, they were just scrambling to keep up,” Mattern said. “Now they can take a look at where are we at, and where do we need to go in the future.”

Mattern thinks there will be more residential developments in West Fargo once an interstate exchange is built at Ninth Street and Interstate 94. The overpass is scheduled to be built in 2008, with ramps coming later.

West Fargo issued 18 commercial permits in 2006, compared to 25 issued in 2005. But the valuation attached to this year’s commercial permits, $26.1 million, is about $286,000 less than last year.

Mattern said he wants to draw in more retail business.

He’s disappointed a commercial area in Eagle Run, a massive housing development south of Interstate 94, hasn’t filled in faster.

And the city, which estimates its population at more than 20,000, has just one grocery store.

“That tells me we’ve got a problem with retail,” Mattern said.

Fargo

Housing in Fargo was down slightly.

Overall, though, it was a good building year, said Inspections Administrator Ron Strand.

“It was a big year,” he said. “In terms of value, it was the biggest year we ever had.”

The city issued 2,513 building permits for various new and remodeling projects with a total value of $339.6 million.

Permits for single-family housing was slightly less than in 2005, with 489 permits issued in 2006 and 493 the previous year.

Of the 2006 single-family housing permits, twinhomes surged, with 180 issued. That’s 73 more than in 2005.

Single-family home permits dropped. In 2006, Fargo issued 282 of those permits, 56 fewer than in 2005.

Building permit numbers can shift across Fargo-Moorhead from year to year, depending on a number of factors, Strand said.

“All we can do is be ready for development and have the services,” he said.

Dilworth

Dilworth issued 57 permits for single-family homes last year, and it has room for more, City Administrator Ken Parke said.

“We do have a large number of vacant lots available still,” he said.

The city is also looking at additional subdivisions in the coming year.

Last year’s total for single-family homes is 21 more than in 2004, but not a record.

That came in 2004, when the city issued 64 permits, Parke said.

Dilworth also issued one permit for new commercial construction in 2006, for a $64,000 storage building foundation.

Parke expects more commercial development this year. He hopes construction will start this spring on a Wal-Mart supercenter, and other commercial developments are being discussed.

“We think we’re going to have a very active year,” Parke said.


Readers can reach Forum reporter Andrea Domaskin at (701) 241-5556

[F-Misthebest]

BlackRidge plans Woodhaven bank
By Jonathan Knutson, The Forum
Published Thursday, January 04, 2007

Fargo-based BlackRidge Financial plans to establish a bank in Fargo’s Woodhaven Development.

If regulators approve, the new BlackRidge Bank would open in late spring or early summer at 4040 42nd St. S. in the Woodhaven Plaza.

“This is a wonderful opportunity,” said Jon Kretchman, who has been named president of the bank.

The bank – which will have the equivalent of seven full-time employees – has also been advertising for other positions.

Fargo/West Fargo banking deposits are growing, and the market is expanding geographically, said Mark Anderson, president of BlackRidge Financial.

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/8569/0104woodhavendevic4.jpg

That creates opportunities for new banks, he said.

“There’s definitely room for more,” he said.

Cornerstone Bank is the most recent bank to come to Fargo, opening in November in south Fargo.

Anderson is a former executive of Community First, which was purchased by Bank of the West in 2004.

Anderson and several other Community First executives later started BlackRidge.

The name suggests “progressive” and “positive” and differentiates BlackRidge from banks with more traditional names, Anderson said.

The former Community First executives didn’t have a noncompete clause with Bank of the West to prevent them from starting another bank, Anderson said.

Even though BlackRidge is relatively new, the experience of BlackRidge executives will make the bank a good tenant in Woodhaven, said Steve Stoner, Woodhaven developer.

“These guys have a good track record,” he said. “We’re glad they’re coming.”

When it was sold, Community First had more than 2,100 employees at its 155 branches in 12 states and assets totaling $5.6 billion.

BlackRidge doesn’t plan to get that large, Anderson said.

It’s concentrating on communities with 5,000 to 150,000 residents in a four-state area.

BlackRidge already owns Lakewood Bank, which has four offices in the Brainerd, Minn., area, and First State Bank of Alexandria, Minn.

The company is looking at several other markets as well, Anderson said.


Readers can reach Forum reporter Jonathan Knutson at (701) 241-5530

[F-Misthebest]

Along with Kelly Inn, Expressway Inn and Suites is building yet another hotel in Fargo. It is located on 17th Avenue South between 45th Street and 42nd Street. I'll give you more information on this hotel tomorrow.

[F-Misthebest]

Expressway Suites has 124 rooms, a Conference Center, and a Lounge and Casino

[NanoBison]

There is a decent size construction crane as you drive past 32nd Ave S going down University. What I wouldn't give to have 10-20 of those going downtown right now...

Plus I just saw, there is another building, structural steel at this point, that is going up in the Urban Plains development.

Development in 2006 : $339.6 million. Not too shabby...

Did anyone else

[Paintballer1708]

Originally Posted by F-Misthebest
Expressway Suites has 124 rooms, a Conference Center, and a Lounge and Casino

Do you have a lot of casinos in the Fargo area?

[F-Misthebest]

^No because it's illegal except for blackjack. That's what casino means in Fargo.