With everything else that’s been going on in my life, I’ve been a little lax in the streets-related posting lately. The other stories will be coming out, but here’s the most recent from the Grand Forks Herald:
EGF’s Economic Development Housing Authority approved a package that will produce a four-story, 39-unit apartment building on the corner of DeMers Avenue and Fourth Street, two blocks from City Hall and two blocks from the Boardwalk.
The City Council needs to make the agreement official, but resistance is not expected. “Looking at restaurant row and the entertainment district, this fits in very, very well,” said Barry Wilfahrt, president and CEO of the Grand Forks and East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce. “It builds density downtown.”
[…]
The site also will have 6,500 square feet of commercial space. But the apartments — which will be the tallest building in the city — will be the focus. [emphasis added]
That’s right. Not only will East Grand Forks be home to more downtown apartments (which will continue to build the downtown ‘scene’), they will be the tallest building on that side of the river! Not only that, but the downtown will be given over to commercial space.
It’s an urbanite’s dream, and it’s happening here.
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UPDATE: both Tom Dennis (Grand Forks Herald) and Grand Forks City Councilmember Tyrone Grandstrand have recently written opinion pieces in support of more housing. Grandstrand is in favor of more mixed-use development designed to give college students and the “youth” set alternatives to renting homes that could be better used by families.