Fargo-Moorhead developments information

[Doc]

Nice, Azstar. I'm assuming you currently live in Phoenix. I grew up there and am glad to be here (although there are unlimited things to do there if you can do them indoors in summer). There are quite a few projects underway and many more in the pipeline. Hope you have a great time when you come back!

[ajays]

I heard a rumor that we're getting a Sonic. Does anyone know if that's true???

[SmileyBoy]

I heard a rumor that we're getting a Sonic. Does anyone know if that's true???

OH PLEASE LET IT BE TRUE!!!!!

[Greco Roman]

OH PLEASE LET IT BE TRUE!!!!!


Why?

[Greco Roman]

BTW, why isn't there a thread devoted specifically to construction news in Minneapolis/St.Paul?

[JoeJoe]

BTW, why isn't there a thread devoted specifically to construction news in Minneapolis/St.Paul?

Maybe the residents of the Twin Cities communicate on that via blogs? I think there might be a thread on +300ft buildings for them, but I also have never seen a development thread on MSP.

Oh, and I want a Sonic too :)

[F-Misthebest]

I would like a Sonic too. On the Up the Creek Restaurant website, under coming soon, it says Fargo, ND. Construction has already started.

[jwmn]

BTW, why isn't there a thread devoted specifically to construction news in Minneapolis/St.Paul?
They probably post on Minnescraper instead.
Here's the link: http://www.minnescraper.com

[F-Misthebest]

The Catalyst Medical Center is nearing completion near 25th Street and I-94. And the Mexican Village in Urban Plains is going to be opening very soon. Just some updates.

[Justin_144]

Moorhead needs some development, im so sick of that ghetto walmart and small target.

[SmileyBoy]

Moorhead needs some development, im so sick of that ghetto walmart and small target.

The "ghetto" Wal-Mart will be knocked down next year, because a new Wal-Mart Supercenter is being built just north of it on 34th St. And Target has discussed plans of building a SuperTarget next to Menards on 34th Street.

You may not believe it, but Moorhead is growing and developing faster than any other time period in the past 30 years or so. When I lived in F-M as a child in the 80's, Moorhead was stagnant. Now it's really starting to take off.

[SmileyBoy]

I also got some bad news: Grandma's Saloon and Grill on 13th and 42nd is closing down due to a real estate dispute. It will be knocked down and replaced with a new Walgreen's.

This sucks, because I really liked the food at Grandma's, and the fact that Fargo had one...

[wilson]

ahhh crap, I love the stuffed mushrooms!

Why close when they can just move into another area?? What does "real estate dispute" mean?

[SmileyBoy]

ahhh crap, I love the stuffed mushrooms!

Why close when they can just move into another area?? What does "real estate dispute" mean?

This thread has more info: http://www.bisonville.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10550

And they actually haven't ruled out building a new Grandma's. Urban Plains has land available, maybe a new one could go there...

[MoreFM]

It could be in the future, they may decide to develop in the new developments at 52nd Ave on either the east or west side of I-94.

Driving down 52nd Ave South tonight I noticed they are starting the development of the area at the intersection of 52nd Ave and 25th St. And of course they have started to tear down the tree's there. I really wish the developers would work harder at utilizing existant vegetation in their development plans.

[wilson]

Regarding the Sonic talk... if you go to the Sonic website, then go to the locations/market area, then to "Available Markets", North Dakota is the ONLY state that they have not yet pursued, or are looking to pursue. Pathetic.

[F-Misthebest]

Settle Inn looks to be building a hotel on 23rd Avenue south by 45th street in Fargo.

[NanoBison]

Hey guys, a few updates :

Just drove by the new NDSU College of Business (expansion) and they have alot of the foundation done on the east side. If you look into the current building, it looks like a lot of floors have been gutted or stripped down.

NDSU is getting pretty far on the second LLC ( living learning center ) which will be directly west of the current one.

The University Motors property is being torn down, however I have no idea what's supposed to be going up there. I know the owner wants to build something nice for the NDSU area, but I don't know any details.

Spitfire Bar and Grill should be open towards the beginning of Oct. I tried samples of their food and it's gooooooooooood.

That's what I have.

[Doc]

Don't know if you saw this (http://surfnpoetry.blogspot.com/2007/09/park-that-anywhere.html), but it amused me.

[F-Misthebest]

Amphitheatre on the rise
Shane Mercer, The Forum
Published Friday, September 28, 2007

A mechanical arm stretches high into the air then bends back down to pour concrete into a wooden, rebar-filled mold.

The resulting concrete buttress will support one end of a 5-foot thick wooden arch that will span 170 feet across the new Trollwood Performing Arts School amphitheatre.

Pickup trucks and heavy machinery come and go across dirt roads at the site as workers get ready to raise four arches, which will serve as the support for the amphitheatre roof.

Plans are to set those arches the week of Oct. 9, said Steve Gerhtz, construction manager for Gehrtz Construction Services of Fargo.

In the coming weeks, “you’ll literally see it come out of the ground,” Gerhtz said of the new facility. “It’s going to be fabulous.”

http://img461.imageshack.us/img461/6032/newampithetreinmoorheadho9.jpg


The award-winning performing arts school will move to the new multi-million dollar facility from their present home on Elm Street, north of 36th Avenue North in Fargo. Plans are to hold the first performance at the new facility in summer 2009.

Work at the site will continue past the traditional construction season as crews plan to do interior work on the administration/commons building this winter, Gerhtz said.

The cost to make the move to the new site is $13.1 million, including construction of the amphitheatre, the administration/commons area and study/practice shelters. The current round of construction is funded by Minnesota state bonding money and private donations. Future construction is also planned, but isn’t part of the current project.

There’s more than just the work on the site itself to be done, however. Moorhead will spend almost $3 million on underground utilities and infrastructure improvements to roads that provide access to the school.

More than $400,000 of that total will be paid for by Trollwood, according to city officials.

But, at least for now, Moorhead will have to hold about $2 million of that debt itself because most of the assessments will have to be deferred.

Most of the properties benefiting from the work are outside city limits, owned by the city or qualify for deferment as agricultural land.

There’s nothing out of the ordinary about the city taking on deferred assessments, Moorhead City Engineer Bob Zimmerman said. In fact, it’s the only way to put infrastructure in an undeveloped part of town. The city currently holds about $26 million in deferred assessments, he said.

Further, Zimmerman said that the improvements would eventually have been done with or without Trollwood, though it’s impossible to know if it would have been a matter of months or years before that happened.

All of that $2 million could be recovered eventually if the deferred land were developed.

It’s “driven by development,” Zimmerman said.

But, when the city purchased the land in that area, the plan was to use some of it for park land, Moorhead Mayor Mark Voxland said. Of course, future councils could decide to do otherwise with that property.

And Voxland says Trollwood is only one reason for the improvements. There’s also “a lot of pressure to build in those areas,” he said.

Voxland also believes Trollwood will serve as an asset to Moorhead.

“I think it opens other opportunities for Moorhead to get other student venues whether it be arts or sports” or other areas, Voxland said. “I think it brings us a lot of prestige.”

Moorhead will own the bulk of the new Trollwood facilities being constructed for the 2009 season because a $5.5 million chunk of Minnesota bonding money is going to the project. That means that a Minnesota governmental sub-entity – like a city – has to be the recipient, said Moorhead City Attorney Brian Neugebauer.

Despite Moorhead owning the land, Trollwood will continue to operate as part of the Fargo School District.



Readers can reach Forum reporter Shane Mercer at (701) 451-5734

[SmileyBoy]

http://www.in-forum.com/gfx/photos/full/0930%20lauermans%20copy.jpg

Thorson leads development for lagging downtown block
Andrea Domaskin, The Forum
Published Sunday, September 30, 2007

Randy Thorson doesn’t know what he and business partner Warren Ackley will do with the Lauerman’s building they’re buying in downtown Fargo.

But he hopes it will be part of a larger effort to revive the block, which has lagged behind as other parts of downtown thrived in recent years.

“We’d like to be involved in getting that going,” said Thorson, who spent five years redeveloping the nearby block that includes the Old Broadway complex.

He said he could finish the deal this week on the Lauerman’s Chili, Sandwiches & Beer building at 64 Broadway. The business closed Sept. 9 after 25 years.

Nearly three years ago, the block it sits on became the site of a proposed $40 million events center that would have required razing most of the buildings.

Voters in May 2005 defeated the proposal, and the block remained mostly quiet.

“It still kind of sits there, waiting for what’s going to happen,” said Dave Anderson, president of the Downtown Community Partnership.

He thinks the time for development may be coming, if it hasn’t already arrived.

“There’s real opportunity there,” he said.

Downtown revival

The city and developers turned their focus to Fargo’s downtown, especially Broadway, about 1999.

They were successful.

Developers made more than $70 million in improvements through the Renaissance Zone created in 2000 to provide tax incentives on certain downtown blocks.

Now Broadway is nearing a state of what Anderson calls “semi-completion,” and First Avenue North and NP Avenue are the next logical places for development.

The Lauerman’s block is bounded by First Avenue North, Broadway, NP Avenue and Roberts Street.

Property owners have spruced up many of the buildings. Nachhatter Gill’s renovations included removing black granite fronts and repainting his buildings at the corner of Broadway and First Avenue.

Other businesses have moved in, including the Green Market at 623 NP Ave.

But there are parking lots and empty spaces that are ripe for new development, Anderson said.

“I think there are probably different scenarios that could happen,” he said. “It could be a mega project, or could be a lot of little projects that provide that infill.”

Combined effort

Thorson thinks changing the landscape will take a combined effort from the city, developers and property owners.

He and Ackley will be one of more than 10 property owners on the block.

Gill, whose property is directly north of Lauerman’s, said he’s happy Thorson bought the building.

Several others, including Rick Engen, who owns the Fort Noks building and gravel lot adjacent to Lauerman’s, and Mike Bullinger, who owns the former Lark Theater building, did not return messages seeking comment Friday.

“I think that you have to work together so that it can be successfully developed,” Thorson said. “I think we just have to talk about what this block would encompass.”

That’s a different situation than Thorson’s involvement with the Old Broadway block. He and his business partners acquired most of the property, renovated some themselves and sold other parcels to developers.

They also worked with the city to spruce up a parking lot.

“It was easy for us to get that block developed,” Thorson said.

He sees motivation to develop the Lauerman’s block, but said the city may need to provide financial help.

“It just requires so much money,” he said.

Bob Stein, a senior city planner who works with the downtown, said Fargo typically can offer Renaissance Zone tax exemptions or tax increment financing. The city is open to other options, too, he said.

“I would be very willing to help development on that block in any way I can, or any way the city can,” Stein said. “It’s time.”

[F-Misthebest]

Dome designs revealed
Benny Polacca, The Forum
Published Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Fargodome officials are pleased – so far – with a $30 million proposed expansion on the venue’s southeast side.

Members of the Dome Addition Task Force reviewed plans on Tuesday for a 6,000-seat arena that would be added onto the dome, which has a capacity of 18,700.

“I’m satisfied with the design,” said Dome Authority Chairwoman Ryn Pitts. The architects took everything into consideration everything dome wanted them to, such as seating and flexibility to host several events, she said.

Architects with Kansas City, Mo.-based ThreeSixty Architecture have worked on the arena plans since being hired by the city this summer.

Dome officials expect to see more details and a budget on the arena designs and construction later this month, which will help them decide whether to proceed with the project.

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/4838/thenewdomeim5.jpg
http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/3270/thenewdome3zp0.jpg
http://img396.imageshack.us/img396/2343/thenewdome2gi0.jpg


The proposed arena – which officials plan to use for events including North Dakota State University basketball games, basketball camps, concerts and exhibition shows – has expandable seating in a horseshoe-shaped pattern.

Fargodome General Manager Rob Sobolik said Tuesday the designs looked nice, but he will have more questions as planning progresses. “At this level of detail, you can’t really get a good feel for everything that’s expected.”

Proposed arena plans call for seating that could accommodate:

E 6,011 for an NDSU Bison basketball game

E 3,613 for a basketball camp that will use three courts

E 6,378 for an end-stage concert.

The event area has 19,446 square feet for exhibition events.

Some of the dome’s southside parking would be eliminated if the addition is built. Pitts said an independent study is under way that will help determine whether the expansion is feasible.

Dome officials could wait to decide how to proceed on parking space issues if the expansion goes forward, Pitts said.

Sobolik said if two sold-out events take place simultaneously in the main dome and arena, there would not be enough parking for spectators. “We might have to get to the point of running shuttles, but that all comes with costs.”

Tom Waggoner of ThreeSixty Architecture said he expects to present the Dome Authority with a final draft of arena designs and a budget of construction costs on Oct. 30.

The arena addition would be paid for with city, NDSU and private funding.



Readers can reach Forum reporter Benny Polacca at (701) 241-5504

[SmileyBoy]

I was going to post the new Dome expansion story, but I was busy all day. I've been talking about it on the Bisonville.com board. If anyone wants to discuss the new Dome expansion, come on over to Bisonville.com and we can talk!!

[SmileyBoy]

I was searching around the FMMetroCOG website, and I came across this pdf of the F-M metro profile. It says that the 2006 estimated pop. of Fargo (city) is 99,208. That's a figure that I'm a lot more inclined to believe rather than the census saying that we lost people.

http://fmmetrocog.org/projects/files/metroprofile.pdf

[NanoBison]

Unique groundbreaking (http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=179892&section=business)
Tracy Frank, The Forum
Published Thursday, October 04, 2007

The new 120,000-square-foot addition to the Microsoft campus is scheduled for completion in August 2009. It will be the third building on Microsoft’s Fargo campus and will allow space for 570 to 600 employees.

The project also includes renovating and expanding the existing Horizon Building by 65,000 square feet to add a new café, meeting rooms and a company store.The Vista building will also be renovated, and enclosed walkways will be built to connect all of the buildings so employees won’t have to go outside to get from one building to another....

read more here... (http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=179892&section=business)


Images :

http://img454.imageshack.us/img454/6640/microsoftmasterplan001xd5.jpg

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/9272/microsoftmasterplan002ii4.jpg

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/3261/microsoftmasterplan003dp0.jpg

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/1316/microsoftmasterplan004tf2.jpg

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/4576/microsoftmasterplan005fa4.jpg

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/2223/microsoftmasterplan006sm3.jpg

I can hardly wait to see how much the campus is going to grow in the next decade. Hopefully we keep recruiting top talent and they come up with some new products and we can host another division on that campus.

:tup:

[F-Misthebest]

Designing alumni support
Amy Dalrymple, The Forum
Published Saturday, October 06, 2007

John Klai II never dreamed he’d be instrumental in shaping North Dakota State University’s future.

The Las Vegas casino and resort architect credits his success to the education he received at NDSU. In turn, he wants to give back to the university.

NDSU held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for Klai Hall, which will house architecture and landscape architecture students.

Klai, 55, donated $1.5 million for the project, which involves renovating and expanding the former Lincoln Mutual Life building in downtown Fargo.

Celebrating the generosity of alumni such as Klai is part of homecoming week, said Jonal Uglem, vice president of the NDSU Development Foundation.

http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/6235/newlandscapingbuildingnzu9.jpg


“Without the support of these generous and dedicated alumni, many of the building projects we’ve done in the last 10 years would not have been possible,” Uglem said. “We couldn’t do it without them.”

Klai, an Osnabrock, N.D., native, first studied accounting at the University of North Dakota. He was interested in architecture, but his father said he lacked the math and science background from high school to purse that.

Klai eventually quit UND because he didn’t like accounting and began studying architecture at NDSU at age 23.

After graduating in 1978, Klai planned to spend a summer house-sitting in Las Vegas, but the city became his permanent home after he got a job working on the expansion of Caesars Palace.

Klai and his former roommate and classmate, Dan Juba, founded the Las Vegas architecture firm Klai Juba in 1995.

The firm specializes in hotels, casinos and resorts, the biggest project being the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino with 13 million square feet and 5,300 guest rooms.

The roughly 40-person firm has nine architects who are NDSU alumni, Klai said.

They often recruit from NDSU grads because the architecture department is one of the top in the country, Klai said.

“You always know what the individual is going to be like before you even meet them,” he said.

The hall that will have Klai’s name will become a second home to NDSU architecture students, said Maggie Tarr, a fourth-year architecture student.

NDSU tentatively plans to open Klai Hall next fall. The new facility will bring all students downtown, instead of having half of them at the main campus.

Juba Klai also supports NDSU in other ways, including donating equipment and making significant contributions to the architecture department’s library.

Justin Nelson, a fourth-year architecture student, said he’s “blown away” by what Klai and his partners have done with their success to support NDSU.

“It’s really refreshing to see him put that kind of investment into architecture education,” Nelson said.


Readers can reach Forum reporter Amy Dalrymple at (701) 241-5590

[F-Misthebest]

I ate at the new Mexican Village on Friday night and the place was completley packed. We had to wait for 45 minutes but it was still fun. I"m not the biggest fan of Mexican Village (I'm a Juano's Guy) but I still enjoyed the atmosphere and experience.

[NanoBison]

I just ate there this afternoon and watched the NDSU FB game. I must say, they did a great job on that restaurant building. The food could always use a little bit of improvement, but I usually go for the Chips and Queso.

:tup:

[F-Misthebest]

The Bison are doing really well. I'm proud to be a Bison Fan. I will be going to the cities in two weeks to watch them play the Gophers. Maybe they can redeem themselves from last time.

[JoeJoe]

Redeem themselves? I don't know if 'redeem' is the best word choice there ;)

What you probably meant was that this time Minnesota won't be able to weasel their way out of the Metrodome with a one point win, even though they statistically lost the rest of the game to NDSU. Minnesota can redeem themselves (maybe), the Bison can just beat the Gophers again like they did last year - plus on the scoreboard too :) .

[NanoBison]

Here is some information on the new Richard H. Barry Hall (College of Business Building for NDSU Downtown)

Construction Camera and Website (http://facilities-mgmt.ndsu.nodak.edu/maint_const/barry/)

and website for the newly announced Shadow Wood (http://www.shadow-wood.net/) development in West Fargo.

I'd post picks, but I've got to run.

[F-Misthebest]

Dilworth’s growth sector
Craig McEwen, The Forum
Published Thursday, October 11, 2007

A new Wal-Mart Supercenter is taking shape on a 26-acre Dilworth site just north of the current Wal-Mart store.

The nearly 221,000-square-foot store, employing between 350 and 400 workers, is expected to open next spring at 415 34th St. N., said Julie Idelkope, Wal-Mart senior manager of public affairs in Minneapolis.

“We have different prototypes. This is one of the larger ones,” said Idelkope.

The current, nearly 115,000-square-foot Wal-Mart store which opened in 1991, employs about 220 workers, she said.

That store generates about $127,000 in annual property taxes, said Ken Parke, Dilworth city administrator.

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/4345/dilworthsupercenteret3.jpg
http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/4480/dilworthsupercenter2st0.jpg
http://img385.imageshack.us/img385/1594/dilworthsupercenter3jx2.jpg


“We anticipate to double or triple the property taxes that they will pay on this new supercenter,” he said.

The city receives about 34 percent. The remainder is split by Clay County, Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton School District and a local watershed district, he said.

Parke expects construction of the new Wal-Mart to trigger more commercial development for the city of 3,500 that in the past has relied primarily on residential growth.

“I think you’re going to see more and more growth out there after Wal-Mart gets established,” he said.

“We feel that it’s going to help open up the 34th Street corridor to commercial expansion,” said Stan Thurlow, city planner.

In 2006, the city of Dilworth annexed 80 adjacent acres to the north of the new Wal-Mart site.

Forty acres was purchased by a developer and zoned for commercial use by the city, Parke said.

“We’re hoping next year will be an excellent year for us for commercial growth,” he said. “We’ve been waiting for this for many, many years.”

Retaining Wal-Mart’s presence was important, Thurlow said.

“We did everything we could to keep them in Dilworth.”

“The nice thing about it is they didn’t ask for any tax incentives,” Parke said. “The only thing they asked us to do is construct 1,150 feet of Eighth Avenue. They are paying half of the bill.”

Unlike in some other communities, there was little opposition to Wal-Mart building a supercenter in Dilworth because the community has no grocery store or pharmacy, Thurlow said.

“There wasn’t large opposition at all,” Parke said. “Just a few concerned residents in the Oakview Addition.”

The new store will have a grocery store, pharmacy, tire and lube express, liquor store, garden center, wider aisles and more checkout lanes, said Idelkope.

“We saw a need in the community and wanted to better serve them,” she said.



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

[F-Misthebest]

Center goes up despite questions
Helmut Schmidt, The Forum
Published Friday, October 12, 2007

Workers in hard hats labored Thursday on the west wall of the Urban Plains Center under gray, windswept skies.

Crews from contractor Anderson Olaf and Son worked 20 feet below ground level and out of sight of nearby 32nd Avenue South as they prepared to raise the walls of the southwest Fargo hockey arena.

Heavy trucks churned along a dirt track that will be 51st Street South, just to the east of the big pit on the prairie.

While not a hive of activity, the project – trimmed to one sheet of ice so a United States Hockey League junior team can play there next fall – is moving ahead.

Dan Huffman, an Urban Plains board member who is handling construction questions, said putting up the steel walls and roof, and pouring the arena floor won’t be a problem through the coming snow and cold.

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/889/urbanplainsonthegofm6.jpg
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/615/urbanplainsarenazu9.jpg

“They’re going to work on it all winter,” Huffman said.

“We’ve anticipated all along that we’d do steel erection and stadium seating” and other tasks “all winter long.”

The building will probably be closed in sometime next spring. If everything falls into place, construction should be completed “sometime next November,” in time for the hockey season, Huffman said.

Huffman is also the assistant superintendent for business services for the Fargo School District.

Concerns about the project became public Wednesday when Huffman announced it had been split into two phases – the first phase being the arena and a single sheet of ice. Phase II will be the other four planned sheets of ice by fall 2009, he said.

But rumblings about the center’s finances have been around longer.

The Forum last week made open records requests to several city of Fargo, Fargo Park District and Fargo School District employees.

Three of four public employees on the 11-member board of the Metro Sports Foundation received those requests. They were Huffman, Ed Lockwood, the director of student activities for the Fargo School District, and Jim Larson, the director of finance and human resources for the Fargo Park District.

The e-mails indicate that attempts have been made to run payroll and health insurance costs for foundation employees through the School District.

An Aug. 8 e-mail from Johnson to Larson said: “When possible, we need to firm up how payroll and insurance are going to work for the time being before we get our own system in place. I spoke to Ed (Lockwood) yesterday, and to his findings, he is not sure if payroll can be run through the schools or not, but will discuss with Dan (Huffman) as soon as possible.”

An e-mail earlier that day from Larson to Johnson also referenced payroll, and indicated the Metro Sports Foundation may have had difficulties meeting cash flow needs.

“Lance. You will need to talk with Dan Huffman, he will be able to determine better if we can do the payroll or not. See if you can confirm this with Dan Tuesday so we can finalize what we are doing for payroll on Wednesday.”

Larson urged Johnson and another foundation employee to continue to use their COBRA rights with their former employers to continue health insurance: “We should include you (sic) amounts for your insurance as part of your pay being it needs to be paid to you as taxable compensation even though we are reimbursing you for your health insurance benefit.”

The e-mail later takes up cash flow concerns.

“At this time we have about $48,000 remaining in the check book. We will need to talk with Todd (Berning, development director for Icon Architectural Group, a partner in Urban Plains) & Al (Hintz, of Fargo Flyers Hockey) to see when we will be getting more from Bremer (Bank). I want to make sure we hold enough back from the construction so we can make sure we make payroll and cover the critical expenses.”

Based on the e-mails received, The Forum made follow-up open records requests from some officials.



Readers can reach Forum reporter Helmut Schmidt at (701) 241-5583

[F-Misthebest]

New USHL team unveils team name
Kerry Collins, The Forum
Published Friday, October 12, 2007

There’s a new Force to be reckoned with in Fargo.


The city’s new United States Hockey League franchise unveiled its name and logo on Friday – and the team will be called the Fargo Force.


“When it got down to it, it was pretty unanimous,” said coach and general manager Dean Blais. “We liked the name, and it was something a lot of the fans came up with."

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/8762/fargoforcedv2.jpg


The Force’s colors will be blue, silver and white.


Blais said the other two names the team was considering were the Phantoms and the Fire.


For more on this story, see tomorrow's Forum.


Kind of lame but what are you gonna do.

[F-Misthebest]

Fastenal to open Dilworth store
Shane Mercer, The Forum
Published Friday, October 12, 2007

The commercial section of Highway 10 in west Dilworth is about to get a little more crowded with a Fastenal store getting set to anchor a new 13,000-square-foot facility.

Fastenal, a distributor of industrial and construction supplies, will occupy 7,000 square feet of the building, which will be located near OfficeMax and Weivoda Carpet.

The remaining 6,000 square feet will be leased to as many as four retail or professional office tenants, said Dennis Parr, president of Bismarck-based Global Properties.

Groundbreaking for the project was in June, said Parr, who also owns the contracting company that is building the facility. The Fastenal portion of the structure will be complete by Nov. 1, when the retailer will take up occupancy.

Kevin Christopher, general manager of the new store, said officials hope to have the store open by Nov. 5.

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/2743/fastenaltm1.748af7d6c6.jpg

Christopher said the store offers a good “niche” service to the area.

Many industries in that part of the metro area have to go to Fargo to get the supplies they need, he said.

“Fastenal certainly will be an asset to a lot of local contractors,” Parr said.

The portion of the facility not occupied by Fastenal will be completed as it is occupied, Parr said. He said he has already had calls from parties interested in leasing the space.

“I would hope to have it filled by spring for sure,” Parr said.

The new facility is part of the continuing effort to attract commercial development to Dilworth, City Planner Stan Thurlow said.

Thurlow said Dilworth’s commercial growth is the result of a combination of factors, Thurlow said. One factor is traffic flow. An average of 25,000 vehicles per day drive past the site of the new Fastenal store.

Dilworth’s growth is also a factor, Thurlow said. Dilworth had a population of 2,585 in 1990; the current estimate puts it at 3,650.

“Our focus is on residential development,” Thurlow said. “If you bring enough rooftops to the city, then the commercial tends to follow.”

While recognizing that the western part of the Fargo-Moorhead area is the local king of retail, Thurlow believes there is room for another commercial center. He looks for continued commercial growth on Highway 10 as well as on 34th Street in Dilworth and Moorhead.



Readers can reach Forum reporter Shane Mercer at (701) 451-5734

[F-Misthebest]

Board reviews Bonanzaville plans
Teri Finneman, The Forum
Published Wednesday, October 24, 2007

The Cass County Historical Society board reviewed ideas Tuesday for its future main museum at Bonanzaville.

Todd Novak and Joel Davy of JLG Architects in Fargo presented the board with a preliminary program summary and block diagrams for the one-story building.

The program summary includes 3,600 square feet for permanent exhibit space and 1,200 square feet for traveling exhibit space.

An 800-square-foot multipurpose classroom, a 500-square-foot museum store and a 2,000-square-foot reception hall are also included in the summary.

Total square footage of the building is estimated at 20,000 square feet, though Davy said that could change.

The board plans to meet at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 13 to review floor plans and exterior renderings for the main museum.

In a related matter, the board heard an update on its capital campaign.

Campaign Director Michael Walters reported the campaign has contributions of $293,750, or 6 percent of the Phase I goal to raise $5 million.

Phase II will involve raising an additional $7 million, said Campaign Chairman Syl Melroe.

The Campaign Cabinet will meet at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 7, Walters said. Plans are in the works to send out proposals to foundations and begin approaching businesses and pacesetter prospects.

In other business, the board:

- Decided on dates for special meetings. The Events Committee will meet at 3:30 p.m. Thursday to discuss this year’s Christmas event.

The board will also meet at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 20 to discuss Executive Director Bruce Whitmarsh’s annual evaluation.

- Agreed to appoint Ginny Newman to the board. Board President Virginia Dambach said the board should have someone with an accounting and finance background. Newman is a certified public accountant for Eide Bailly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I actually have someone on the inside and so I have some blue prints on what it is going to look like. I'll post those soon.

[F-Misthebest]

School Board selects top names for school
Helmut Schmidt, The Forum
Published Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Lake Agassiz or Agassiz High School is among the leading candidates for the name of Fargo’s next school among School Board members.

After taking input from the public, including about 200 submissions from Discovery Middle School students, board members submitted their favorites Tuesday.

Board members came up with 16 distinct names. Each could have submitted up to five names.

“Hopefully in a month or so, we’ll have a name for the new high school, rather than call it ‘it,’ ” Board President Robin Nelson said.

Agassiz, an obvious nod to Agassiz Middle School (now a ninth-grade annex for South High and called South Campus II), had seven nominations from the board.

http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/7931/thenewhighschoolee6.jpg

Other names for the new school include: Dakota, Ronald Davies or Prairie, tied at four nominations; Gateway or Great Plains, three nominations; and Heartland, Frontier, Wild Rice, Endeavor, Summit, Liberty, Destiny, River Valley, Roger Maris and Unity, all one nomination each.

The school is expected to cost $43 million and open in 2011. It will be southeast of 70th Avenue South and 25th Street South.

In other business:

E The board will meet with city and Park District officials at 4:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall.

Among the issues to be discussed are the new high school, improvements on 52nd Avenue South, flood protection, school resource officers, and legislative efforts on school and tax issues.

E Nelson will use her powers as board president to create an ad hoc communication committee in conjunction with the Fargo Education Association.

That committee will then create five subcommittees to address issues that weren’t resolved during contract negotiations.

Those issues include involuntary transfers of teachers, notifying teachers of vacant positions, longevity pay, reduction in force policies and class sizes. All of the issues are supposed to be addressed by June.

[F-Misthebest]

Dunn Bros Coffee is opening I think next to the new Verizon Wireless on 45th Street.

[NanoBison]

The people coming up with the nominations for the school name have about as much originality as Peanut Butter and Jelly...

[SmileyBoy]

Dunn Bros Coffee is opening I think next to the new Verizon Wireless on 45th Street.

Hooray!!! 4 down, 46 to go!!!

Jimmy John's
Bruegger's Bagels
Chipotle
Panera Bread
Dunn Bros. Coffee
Dave & Buster's
CompUSA
Pottery Barn
Dick's Sporting Goods
The Men's Wearhouse
Circuit City
Popeye's Fried Chicken
Marshall's
Hollister
Apple Store
Staples
Romano's Macaroni Grill
Ultimate Electronics
Borders Books
Boston Market
White Castle
Lids
Old Country Buffet
DSW Shoe Warehouse
Costco
Joe's Crab Shack
Houlihan's
Cinnabon
REI
Cabela's
Whole Foods
Noodle's & Company
Jamba Juice
The Sports Authority
Champs Sports
Baskin-Robbins
California Pizza Kitchen
P.F. Chang's
Buca di Beppo
Don Pablo's
Benihana
Sonic
Fuddruckers
Tony Roma's
Stein Mart
Archiver's
Williams Sonoma
Crate & Barrel
Fatburger
Bally's Fitness

[wilson]

I notice the Fuddruckers on your list... I know we used to have one (with the Fuddputters mini golf) where Timberlodge is, why did they leave, was it poor business or what?

[Doc]

NDSU needs rental housing
Andrea Domaskin, The Forum
Published Thursday, October 25, 2007
Fargo planners are considering ways to deal with the burgeoning need for rental housing near North Dakota State University.

The talk is spurred by an increasing number of rental properties in the Roosevelt neighborhood.

West of Johnson Park, the neighborhood is nearly all rental properties, said city planner Mark Williams.

East of the park are more owner-occupied houses, he said. But there have been more requests for multiple-family residences, planners said.

Meanwhile, the neighborhood wants to preserve its single-family homes and its namesake elementary school, which is combining with Horace Mann Elementary due to low enrollments.
That, coupled with redevelopment on 12th Avenue North and NDSU’s growth, led Fargo planners to broach a special campus zoning district Wednesday with planning commissioners and a representative of the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association.

The district could contain higher density developments than the current single-family homes, houses converted into apartments and apartment buildings on the neighborhood’s west end.

“I kind of see it more as a line in the sand,” said Jim Laschkewitsch, vice president of the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association.

The neighborhood has seen not only an increase in rental properties, but also cases when parents buy houses where their children live while attending NDSU, Laschkewitsch said.

Laschkewitsch and planners both said properties often deteriorate when owners move out and renters move in.

Laschkewitsch, who has lived for 17 years east of Johnson Park, said the grass across the street remained unmowed within two months after his long-time neighbors sold.

“Students maybe don’t have enough time or don’t know how to maintain a home,” he said.

Planners used the Roosevelt neighborhood as a starting point for discussion, so it’s not certain where the boundaries of such a district would be.

Planning Commission Chairman John Q. Paulsen suggested involving NDSU, the school district and the neighborhood.

“If everybody can somehow be made part of the planning process, we have a better chance of the result being something that is favorable to the various constituencies,” he said.

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

[NanoBison]

I notice the Fuddruckers on your list... I know we used to have one (with the Fuddputters mini golf) where Timberlodge is, why did they leave, was it poor business or what?

I remember eating there in my early college years (97-99) but then they closed down. I don't know why they didn't get much business. I thought their hamburgers were awesome and the fries with cheese dip were the absolute best "comfort food". I did notice one thing. The place seemed to be darkly lit and not many windows to let in decent amounts of light. Who knows, hopefully they can get them back in town in a more successful spot. They'd probably do alright over where Golden Coral, Up The Creek and others are opening up (Amber Valley area).

[F-Misthebest]

MSF offers arena as gift to Fargo Park District
Helmut Schmidt, The Forum
Published Wednesday, October 31, 2007

The Metro Sports Foundation offered today to give the Fargo Park District the privately funded Urban Plains Center hockey arena as a gift.

MSF board member Bruce Furness said the $25 million single ice sheet arena, and a $12 million four ice-sheet tournament facility to be built by 2009, would give the Park District a $37 million asset “free and clear” to solve a recreation need and be an economic boon.

“This is a gift to the citizens of Fargo,” Furness said.

The gift does have a caveat though.

Furness asked the board to approve the deal at its November meeting. A quick agreement would make it possible to issue $10 million in tax-free bonds by Dec. 31. The bonds, along with more to be issued in 2008, would be used to complete the facility, which is now under construction in southwest Fargo.

http://img478.imageshack.us/img478/254/urbanplainsarena2no9.jpg


Park Board members, while receptive, were also a bit leary about whether a quick decision on the Halloween day treat would end up being an expensive trick.

Joel Vettel said he understands that businesspeople want to move projects quickly, but he wants the public to have input.

“They have one boss to consider. We have 90,000,” Vettel said. “The public should demand input into the whole process.”

Vettel says Furness, the former mayor Fargo, brings a lot of credibility to the project, but it still must be scrutinized.

Barb Johnson was also concerned about who would be on the hook if the facility failed to meet financial projections. Would the gift become a financial liability?

“Is Ace that altruistic (to give up a $37 million facility)? Is the foundation that altruistic?,” she said.

Backers said the private project has experienced a series of setbacks over the past several months.

The decision to make the gift came about because the MSF couldn’t get a property tax exemption, Furness said. The extra $500,000 to $750,000 a year, depending on how much of the total facility was finished, made it impossible to pay the bills, he said.

The Park Board’s next scheduled meeting is Nov. 13.

Read more Thursday in The Forum.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Helmut Schmidt at (701) 241-5583

[NanoBison]

Well, not much is going on right now, so I'll post about my little trip up to G.F.
Decided to check out their CanadInn complex. Sure it was a decent looking hotel on the inside. However, it's out in the middle of nowhere (attached to the Alerus Center). Decided to eat with a friend in one of the little restaurants called L' Bistro. It was supposedly supposed to be, according to the menu, Mediterranean Cuisine. First of all, the decor looks nothing like Mediterranean. It was more of a confused SoHo Metropolitan look. Don't get me wrong, it was alright, but not as advertised.

Anyways, the server took about 10 minutes to finally get to us. Needless to say, it was a little slow. Probably did it out of spite considering I was wearing my full NDSU Bison gear.

Anyways, I decided to go with the classical spaghetti and meatballs. They had two sizes. Normal and Bistro. I asked exactly how big of a portion the "Bistro" size was and the waitress said it was enough for two people. So I went with that, thinking that I'll just take home what I don't eat. Anyways, the food finally arrived. The presentation was alright, but the disappointment was that it was slightly smaller portion that you'd get at Johnny Carino's for $9.00 where I was paying $13.00 for this dish.

The spaghetti was WAY overcooked. It fell apart as I twisted it around my fork. The so called "meat sauce" didn't have any meat in it. The meatballs were this tiny little things, about 1/4 the size of a Johnny Carino's meatball. Anyways, I ate most of it, and left the waitress a decent tip, because I'm a good person. But the truth of the matter is, it was a total disappointment.

To add to it, the two dirty stares I got at the gas station while I filled my car up, was just icing on the cake. Maybe I'm so well known in the area, that people actually have my picture as "that guy that talks sh*t about Grand Forks and UND", or their is some heavy baggage those folks have with their issues towards NDSU and Fargo.

Anyways, I would probably stay at the CanadInn if I ever had to visit Grand Forks over night, however I would not suggest eating at L' Bistro. I may try a different restaurant in the complex. I think they had 4 total.

Perhaps, my palette is just to developed, or I'm just too spoiled with the offerings we have in Fargo. But that visit didn't sit well with me. If you want to do Mediterranean Cuisine, come down here and eat at Santa Lucia's. They've got it down to a T, from the atmosphere to the professionally prepared dishes.

Many folks asked me why I didn't just go eat at the Blue Moose. Well for one, I forget that Minnesota just banned smoking ( last time I went there I could barely breathe ) and two I also wanted to try something different.

Anyways, Grand Forks, you're welcome for my $70 contribution ( Gas and Food ) to your city. Perhaps next time I stop by, you can be a better host.

P.S. they really should have built that hotel downtown. It would have been the tallest building. Unfortunately, it's just a building next to the interstate.

Back to Fargo....:tup:

[wilson]

Books, coffee, sunny spaces (http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=183384&section=news)
Andrea Domaskin, The Forum
Published Monday, November 12, 2007

Fargo library users who squeezed into the former Southpoint branch in a strip mall will soon have four times as much room and more bells and whistles.

The $2.8 million Dr. James Carlson Library, the second of three libraries planned in the city, opens Friday. It’s part of a new era in which Fargo’s public library system is changing to meet the needs of its users.

The $15,000-square-foot Carlson south branch will offer more books and computers, a coffee bar, a separate teen area, conference rooms and a drive-up book drop.

“We’re way beyond just book warehousing,” said Beth Postema, the interim library director, standing recently in the nearly finished brick-and-glass structure at 2801 32nd Ave. S.

Workers will likely add finishing touches until the grand opening, slated for 9 a.m. Friday, said Richard Moorhead, an architect with the local firm Image Group Inc. He is working with Minneapolis-based Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle Ltd. on Fargo’s library projects.

Carlson patrons will enter the building through an elliptical foyer with designs in the floor that mimic the room shape. To the left is the Ed Clapp Park Senior Center, which adjoins the library and carries the namesake of the land where they’re located.

To the right is the library, a sun-filled rectangular space. Though open and high-ceilinged, it’s inviting and has distinct spaces that accommodate a range of noisy and quiet uses.

A coffee bar and the circulation desk are both close to the entrance, along with the frequently used magazines and periodicals section.

Books for adults fill shelves near the back window-filled wall. In a quiet space by the windows, patrons can plug in their laptops and access the building’s wireless Internet.

The children’s area has colorful carpet and space for story time. Because the library is on the edge of a park, some activities may take place outside, Postema said.

Teens have their own space here, too, with teal walls and funky carpet and lights. It’s separated from the rest of the library by glass walls.

“Just a completely different vibe,” Postema said.

Neither the previous south branch nor main branch had a separate teen area.

The main branch had separate rooms for children and adult collections.

“When you walked in that front door, you had to decide right away whether you were a child or an adult,” Postema said. “There was nothing for the continuum of experience.”

Natural light floods the entire new library. Moorhead, the architect, said the windows have special glass that will make the place bright even on gray days, which gives it a different look and feel than previous libraries.

Decades ago, Fargoans once used a Carnegie library on Roberts Street. That library, torn down in 1970, is remembered fondly by its patrons.

“It was beautiful,” said Steve Ward, a retired English professor at North Dakota State University who frequented the library in the 1960s. “It was dark and mysterious and it seemed to have been there for a long time.”

Another downtown library opened at 102 3rd St. N. in 1968, but it wasn’t the same, Ward said.

“There was more spaciousness in a way, in the new library, but there was also a feeling of being herded into a common room,” he said.

Now that library has been razed to make way for a new main library, which will be the centerpiece of Fargo’s three libraries. The main library, at $8.4 million and 52,400 square feet, is expected to be complete late in 2008.

Along with building a new south branch, the library moved into a 4,000-square-foot space in north Fargo in July 2006.

The three are the result of private funding and an 18-month, ½-cent sales tax that raised $12.65 million.

The Carlson branch is a taste of what’s to come, Moorhead and Postema said.

The main library will be more formal, but the lighting, color, and separate environments for children, teens and adults will all be the same, Moorhead said.

He likes the openness of the Carlson library because it reinforces its status as a public building. It’s difficult to make other public spaces such as courthouses and performance halls feel as inviting as the Carlson library, he said.

“It’s a fun building to work on,” Moorhead said. “You know the impact it’s going to have. … A lot of people see the library as their space.”

http://www.in-forum.com/gfx/photos/full/1111%20new%20library%20branch%20copy.jpg

[ebitdadada]

...Perhaps, my palette is just to developed, or I'm just too spoiled with the offerings we have in Fargo. But that visit didn't sit well with me. If you want to do Mediterranean Cuisine, come down here and eat at Santa Lucia's. They've got it down to a T, from the atmosphere to the professionally prepared dishes....


Am I the only on who has the suspicion that if the Cannad Inn was in Fargo it would have been described as the greatest hotel on this little blue marble we call earth? :shrug:

Note: Poster has no association with Grand Forks.

On a side note, Congrats on beating the Gophers. It was hillarius though unsuprising. Its also kind of funny how NDSU can't get into a bowl game because of their "probationary period" or whatever but they keep kicking the crap out of everyone. Go Bison! Is UND going to change their name at somepoint?

[MoreFM]

Retail development proposed on Hector land
Andrea Domaskin, The Forum
Published Wednesday, November 14, 2007

A Twin Cities developer plans to create a retail center northwest of Interstate 29 and 52nd Avenue South in Fargo.

The Fargo Planning Commission gave initial approval this morning for the Fargo Crossroads Center, a 40-acre subdivision proposed on land currently owned by Fred Hector.

Planning commissioners have discussed numerous applications for the Hector land in recent years.

Now developer Tim McShane, who has a purchase agreement for the property, said an anchor tenant is interested in coming to the property. If he secures one, other businesses will likely follow.

He declined to name the retailers.

Planning commissioners are expected to consider a final plat for the property next month.

[SmileyBoy]

If any of you drive to Amber Valley south of I-94, you'll see that the entire area south of the 45th St./I-94 interchange is just a giant construction site. All the rest of Liberty Square and a good chunk of Urban Plains are currently being built.

[NysOne]

Has anyone heard if a Jared Jewelry store is coming to F-M? They've been running ads on local tv.

[ajays]

There's a sign on 45th St of a new restaurant opening soon. I can't remember the name of it right now..but it said Seafood & Steak. Yeah! Finally a new seafood place!

[NysOne]

There's a sign on 45th St of a new restaurant opening soon. I can't remember the name of it right now..but it said Seafood & Steak. Yeah! Finally a new seafood place!

That's the Up the Creek restaurant.

[Paulyt23]

NanoBison: "maybe my pallete is just to developed?! Give me a break, who do you think you are, Julia Child? By the way, it's spelled "palate," and "too" genius.

[NanoBison]

NanoBison: "maybe my pallete is just to developed?! Give me a break, who do you think you are, Julia Child? By the way, it's spelled "palate," and "too" genius.

Well well well, it's one of those bulletin board snobs who's prime thrill in life is to correct other peoples grammar and spelling... Fine, I admit, I'm no Julia Child, but I do know when food sucks enough to write about it.
:yuck:

Such a harsh tone for someone who has only posted 4 times... Did someone shove something up your ass or what? I can refer you to a good proctologist to remedy your situation.

Let me guess, you're from Grand Forks, and didn't appreciate how much I thought L' Bistro stunk? Well, tonight it's time to flame a local business that just opened up. Las Vegas Buffet, just opened on 45th. According to the name, and for anyone whose been to Vegas, you'd think excellent selection, decent amount of food and it all tastes good.

WRONG!

Las Vegas Buffet is a blatant situation of false advertising. To begin with it's nothing more than another typical Chinese Buffet restaurant. The food was terrible, everything was either overcooked, dry, poorly seasoned, etc. The only thing that resembled anything close to a Las Vegas buffet was the pork-loin (dry as hell), mashed potatoes (dry powder boxed variety), and dry stuffing. That's about it.

Avoid that place like the plague. Don't get lured in by their decent looking sign proclaiming an abundance of good food.

:hell:

[SmileyBoy]

Well well well, it's one of those bulletin board snobs who's prime thrill in life is to correct other peoples grammar and spelling... Fine, I admit, I'm no Julia Child, but I do know when food sucks enough to write about it.
:yuck:

Such a harsh tone for someone who has only posted 4 times... Did someone shove something up your ass or what? I can refer you to a good proctologist to remedy your situation.

Let me guess, you're from Grand Forks, and didn't appreciate how much I thought L' Bistro stunk? Well, tonight it's time to flame a local business that just opened up. Las Vegas Buffet, just opened on 45th. According to the name, and for anyone whose been to Vegas, you'd think excellent selection, decent amount of food and it all tastes good.

WRONG!

Las Vegas Buffet is a blatant situation of false advertising. To begin with it's nothing more than another typical Chinese Buffet restaurant. The food was terrible, everything was either overcooked, dry, poorly seasoned, etc. The only thing that resembled anything close to a Las Vegas buffet was the pork-loin (dry as hell), mashed potatoes (dry powder boxed variety), and dry stuffing. That's about it.

Avoid that place like the plague. Don't get lured in by their decent looking sign proclaiming an abundance of good food.

:hell:

Thanks for the tip, Nano. I was thinking about going there, but I wasn't sure.

I plan on trying out the new New York NY Fresh Deli on 45th, though. I hope that's good.

[ajays]

My ILs just went to Las Vegas buffet this weekend too and said how horrible it was. That's too bad!

Has anyone tried Spitfire yet???

[Doc]

I went and was pretty disappointed. Lots of good ideas, but poor execution. I got the nachos appetizer (it's supposed to be a BBQ variation). Same stadium chips. Same cheese from a can. Same jalapenos from a can. The only thing added was baked beans, sauce from a bottle and some meat. Not terrible for stadium food, but I expect more from a restaurant. My walleye sandwich wasn't that great either. The ciabatta roll was nice, but the fish was pretty bland and the sides, sauces, etc. seemed like they were shipped straight from Granite City (minus the gigantic portions). Now, I didn't have the ribs, which are supposed to be the feature, so I can't say it was a total dud.

The restaurant was a little more open than the old Uno's (and I like the small fireplace, rotisserie next to the kitchen), but the menu wasn't all that extensive, the wines were pretty much the 6-8 buck bottles sold for $20+, and I didn't see a beer list (although they do have beer). The decor is kind of drab. I think that they are still refining their menu, but as it stands, it's kind of a cheap knockoff of Dolittles, which is a pretty nice small chain.

[NanoBison]

I went and was pretty disappointed. Lots of good ideas, but poor execution. I got the nachos appetizer (it's supposed to be a BBQ variation). Same stadium chips. Same cheese from a can. Same jalapenos from a can. The only thing added was baked beans, sauce from a bottle and some meat. Not terrible for stadium food, but I expect more from a restaurant. My walleye sandwich wasn't that great either. The ciabatta roll was nice, but the fish was pretty bland and the sides, sauces, etc. seemed like they were shipped straight from Granite City (minus the gigantic portions). Now, I didn't have the ribs, which are supposed to be the feature, so I can't say it was a total dud.

The restaurant was a little more open than the old Uno's (and I like the small fireplace, rotisserie next to the kitchen), but the menu wasn't all that extensive, the wines were pretty much the 6-8 buck bottles sold for $20+, and I didn't see a beer list (although they do have beer). The decor is kind of drab. I think that they are still refining their menu, but as it stands, it's kind of a cheap knockoff of Dolittles, which is a pretty nice small chain.

I don't know, it's actually become one of my favorites to go eat at. But, alas, I do go for more of the BBQ section of the menu or steak. Their beans are the best in town. I usually get fairly large portions with my meals, so I don't know if they were having a bad night or what. But I do think you are correct that they are constantly working on their menu. Try the ribs. They are the best I've had in town. I do know I did go one time and the soup was served close to cold, but after my waitress looked into it, they discovered the soup cooker was actually broken, so they took it off my tab.

My usual thing is, I give every place 2 tries. If they don't hook me by then, I don't usually return. Las Vegas buffet will not be getting a 2nd visit.

[NanoBison]

Thanks for the tip, Nano. I was thinking about going there, but I wasn't sure.

I plan on trying out the new New York NY Fresh Deli on 45th, though. I hope that's good.

Let us all know how it goes. I've been wanting to stop there but keep forgetting to do so...

Also Golden Corral looks pretty much finished so that should open. Up the Creek is going up pretty darn quick as well. I just read in the paper that a hotel is going up near Gander Mountain as well. That area is booming.

Anyways, that's what I've got. Finishing up my Masters and then I'll be FREE!

[F-Misthebest]

Yup that hotel is settle inn.

[Doc]

Glad that Spitfire has good ribs, because that is what they are trying to specialize in.

Who has the best ribs in town? Who has good ribs?

[NanoBison]

I just noticed that new fencing has gone up around the bare lot next to the Fargo Theatre which is going to be 300 Broadway. (Burgum's new development) Glad to see construction has started on that development. It should really add to the downtown core when it's finished. I might even have to get an apartment there, since it seems to me that they'll be pretty nice...

[MoreFM]

Hilton hotel, water park to open in Fargo
Tracy Frank, The Forum
Published Monday, November 26, 2007

A Hilton hotel, complete with a convention center, indoor water park, spa, fitness center and two restaurants, is being built in Fargo.

The Hilton Garden Inn Hotel will be located on 9.3 acres at 4351 17th Ave. S..

Concierge, Inc. of Fargo is developing the hotel with plans to open in the fall of 2008.

The hotel rooms offer flat-screen television sets, complimentary wired and Wi-Fi high-speed Internet access, and remote printing to the hotel’s 24-hour business center.

The convention center will accommodate all types of meetings, conferences, weddings and family events.

RELATED CONTENT
Tracy Frank Archive
The Aqualand Indoor Water Park will feature three large slides with tubing that goes outside of the building. It also includes a lazy river, game pools, a hot spa and arcade.

[F-Misthebest]

Wow That's Great!!!!!!!! How do you think that will affect the Ramada's business though?

[F-Misthebest]

New Hilton hotel to open in Fargo
Tracy Frank, The Forum
Published Tuesday, November 27, 2007

A new Hilton hotel – complete with a convention center, indoor water park, spa and fitness center – is being built in Fargo.

The Hilton Garden Inn Hotel will be on 9.3 acres at 4351 17th Ave. S.

The facility, valued at

$18 million to $20 million, will add about 200 full- and part-time jobs to the community, said Laurel Mahan of Fargo, a Concierge Inc. partner.

Concierge Hotels is a new Fargo-based group that was formed to develop the project. The group is also working on other Hilton projects in the United States, Mahan said.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9021/newhilton1zw7.jpg
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7036/newhilton2qe3.jpg
http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/9004/newhilton3hm9.jpg


The other partners, who are from Fargo, do not want to be named.

Concierge plans to break ground soon and open in fall 2008.

“We’re going to hit the ground running as soon as we can,” Mahan said.

Hilton Garden Inn caters to the business traveler, Mahan said.

The hotel will have 110 rooms that offer beds designed to provide pressure-free support, flat-screen television sets, complimentary wired and Wi-Fi high-speed Internet access and remote printing to the hotel’s 24-hour business center. An executive whirlpool and pool will also be available.

“With Microsoft and all the new companies, we just have a phenomenal amount of people coming in here,” Mahan said.

Microsoft employees logged more than 6,600 nights in Fargo-Moorhead area hotels between October 2006 and 2007, which does not include Microsoft’s customers, partners, prospects and vendors who visit the Fargo campus, said Katie Hasbargen, Microsoft Fargo senior communications manager.

“Hotels focused on the business traveler are a terrific addition to this community as the number of business travelers connected to Microsoft as well as the other organizations in town continues to increase,” Hasbargen said.

The new hotel will give the Fargo area more than 4,100 rooms, which is twice that of Grand Forks, said Cole Carley, Fargo-Moorhead Convention and Visitors Bureau president and CEO.

The F-M area added three hotels last year and will add another three in the next 12 months, Carley said, adding that the amount brought in this year from the lodging tax will be up 12 percent over last year.

“There has been kind of a mini-explosion in rooms,” he said.

More hotels are needed as events such as the spring Fargo Marathon continue to grow and with the addition of the Urban Plains hockey center, said Chris Barton, West Fargo Area Chamber of Commerce executive director.

“Families are looking at shorter trips, now, so they want those amenities, that water park, those restaurants, those full-service hotels, so that they can keep the young ones entertained,” Barton said.

The 20,000-square-foot convention center will host meetings, conferences, weddings and family events.

“We felt that the meeting facilities were essential,” said Mahan, who is also a real estate agent.

The 17,000-square-foot Aqualand Indoor Water Park will feature three large tornado slides that go outside the building. They are insulated and can be used year-round, Mahan said. The park will also include a lazy river, wave machine, pools, hot spa and arcade.

The water park will be open to the public during special events, she said.

“This water park is going to be huge,” Mahan said. “It’s going to bring people from all around the area.”

Two restaurants are also planned for the area. Concierge wants to open a Cheesecake Factory as one of them, Mahan said.

“Hilton Garden Inn is a national name, which helps with national recognition when companies and visitors are looking at our community,” said David Martin, Chamber of Commerce of Fargo Moorhead president and CEO. “We’ve continued to attract national and international attention here and visitors literally from around the world and to have great facilities to offer them, not just hotel rooms, but convention center space and now this indoor water park, too, will just give us that much more to be able to offer.”

Readers can reach Forum reporter Tracy Frank at (701) 241-5526

[SmileyBoy]

I think it's freaking AWESOME that a Cheesecake Factory may be built in Fargo. We need more development to fill up some of the empty space between Scheels and West Acres. You know what restaurant would go great next to Cheesecake factory? P.F. Chang's. Every time I've seen a Cheesecake Factory (Southdale in Edina, Arbor Lakes), there is always a P.F. Chang's right adjacent to it. Maybe the two companies have a development agreement?? I'm not sure. But if a Cheesecake Factory is coming to that site, then I bet chances are good that P.F. Chang's may be the other restaurtant.

Over 4,100 hotel rooms soon to be in F-M. That could theoretically handle convention sizes of up to 12,000 or so.

I have counted 8 new hotels in F-M that have been built between 18 months ago and 12 months from now: Candlewood Suites, Airport Hilton Homewood, Kelly Inn, Staybridge Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Expressway Suites, Settle Inn, and another one in Amber Valley being built that I can't remember the name.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9021/newhilton1zw7.jpg

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7036/newhilton2qe3.jpg

Looks a lot nicer than the one in Grand Forks, that's for sure.

[F-Misthebest]

I believe you are thinking about Settle Inn, the new hotel in Amber Valley.

[JoeJoe]

All I gotta say is that US Bank must be making some nice change off of these latest SW Fargo developments. They own the land that the Expressway's been built on, the Hilton will be built on, and there's also a strip mall going up sometime behind Expressway Suites along 43rd St.

Now we need development on the east side of 45th St between 17th and 15th Ave S. It. Is. So. Bare!

Oh and...
----------
High school to be named for Davies
Helmut Schmidt
The Forum - 11/28/2007
Fargo’s next high school will be named after late Fargo federal Judge Ronald N. Davies, whose rulings during the 1957 Little Rock, Ark., school integration crisis are hailed as key in promoting civil rights and desegregation.

The Fargo School Board voted 9-0 Tuesday to name the school after Davies.

The board also reviewed options for transitioning south-side students from one high school into two, including one plan that has South Campus II filled with three grades by 2010.

Several board members spoke in favor of naming the next high school after Davies, as did state Sen. Tim Flakoll, R-Fargo.

Board member Laura Carley said it was an opportunity to name the school after someone “who has truly changed the face of education in the United States.”

Other finalists in the naming process were Agassiz and Dakota.

The board got a first look at a tough nuts-and-bolts decision: how to eventually create two student bodies on the south side. One option offered by district staff creates two high school environments starting in fall 2009.

It expands the use of South Campus II – which houses ninth-graders at the former Agassiz Middle School – to ninth and 10th grades in 2009 and ninth, 10th and 11th grades from the Discovery Middle School area by 2010. Students from the Carl Ben Eielson Middle School area would attend South High, which becomes a four-year high school in 2009.

Seniors from both attendance areas will finish at South in 2010. In 2011, the new high school will open with four grades.

Under the second option, South Campus II will still be used for ninth-graders from the Discovery and Carl Ben attendance areas, and upperclassmen will go to South until the new school opens.

Under both options, starting next year, separate sports and activities will be started for students from each attendance area until there are teams through the varsity level for both South and Davies High by 2010.

Board member Dinah Goldenberg questioned the idea of having some students spend three more years at South Campus II, and asked for the costs to upgrade the school.

“It’s something we’re going to have to answer to our constituents” about, she said.

A consensus decision or board vote on the issue is expected in January, said President Robin Nelson. The two options are important as trial balloons, she said.

“This will be the meat of what happens in our high school,” she said.

The next high school will open in fall 2011 southeast of the intersection of 25th Street and 70th Avenue South. The cost is pegged at $44.37 million, district officials said.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Helmut Schmidt at (701) 241-5583

[SmileyBoy]

Great news about the high school. That means the F-M urban area will have 8 public and private high schools less than 4 years from now:

Fargo North
Fargo South
Fargo Davies
Fargo Shanley
Fargo Oak Grove-Park Christian
West Fargo
Moorhead
Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton

EDC conference high school members are in bold. Oak Grove is in a smaller HS class in all sports. One step closer to a Fargo-WF city HS athletics conference??

[SmileyBoy]

The Hub (formerly Playmakers) is about to open. And it will feature a scaled-down Hooters. Now Fargo-Moorhead will have 1 1/2 Hooters!!

Plus a whole bunch of other goodies...

http://www.in-forum.com/gfx/photos/full/hub02.jpg
Norman MIller and Gwen Schmitcke clean in Prime Steakhouse and Ultra Lounge, one of the seven new clubs opening tonight. The upscale eatery will convert to a jazz-style lounge after 10 p.m.

http://www.in-forum.com/gfx/photos/full/hub1.jpg
Brad Laddusaw inspects the bar area in the Forbidden Asian pub Thursday at The Hub in south Fargo. Photos by Bruce Crummy / The Forum

Center of entertainment
Dave Roepke, The Forum
Published Friday, November 30, 2007

The $2 million renovation of the nightclub complex formerly known as Playmakers is more than a facelift.

It’s more like a separation surgery.

“People will be shocked,” said Jon Taffer, president and CEO of Starmark Hospitality, which manages the facility.

After closing down earlier this month with a mock funeral for Playmakers, the vast entertainment center opens to the public tonight.

Now known as The Hub, the building will be home to seven separate bars, clubs and restaurants, Taffer said, each with its own distinct theme and decor:

- A sports bar in the center area called The Fan Club Grill and Sports Bar.

- A country bar called Cadillac Ranch in the spot that used to be the House of Rock.

- An “Asian pub” called Forbidden, on the west end of the second floor of The Venue.

- A rock-themed club called The Monkey Bar on the north side of the second floor of The Venue.

- Prime, an upscale steakhouse that at 10 p.m. switches over to a lounge with top-shelf liquors and jazz.

- A dance club called Vibe at The Venue on the main floor of the concert hall.

- A scaled-down, shrimp-and-wings-only Hooters will open in mid-January next to the Bottle Barn in the entrance hallway.

Taffer said the entire complex would be nonsmoking.

The compartmentalization addresses what Taffer – who was hired by Playmakers about a year ago as a consultant and is staying on to manage The Hub – saw as Playmakers’ greatest weakness.

“Nothing had integrity,” Taffer said during a tour of the renovated spaces Thursday afternoon. “It had a sameness mentality.”

In other words, customers didn’t know what to expect of Playmakers’ different spaces on any given night.

Taffer said he believes that is reason the complex – which opened in 1991 and has spent about $8 million on renovations since 2004 – “never made money.”

Sameness won’t be a problem with the new joints, each of which is walled off and soundproofed from the others. The genre-specific clubs will have live music once a week on set nights, said Tiffany Olson, director of marketing and public relations for The Hub.

“You will never hear rock and roll here,” Taffer said as he walked through Cadillac Ranch, adding “You’ll never hear Madonna in here,” as he showed off The Monkey Bar, a jungle-themed rock club.

All of the new rooms will be run as separate business entities, each with its own employees, general managers and budgets, Taffer said.

Patrons will pay a cover at the facility’s front door – ranging from $1 to $5, Olson said – and will be free to roam from club to club.

Some of the new clubs will have tie-ins with local radio stations. DJs from Froggy 99.9 FM will broadcast from country shows, and the sports bar is named for 740 AM The Fan.

Dan Hammer, sports director and sports-show host for Radio Fargo-Moorhead, will do his noon to 2 p.m. show at The Fan Club each Tuesday, as well as for special events –Monday’s men’s basketball game between the Bison and the Gophers, for instance.

It’s a great opportunity for the station, Hammer said.

“We can give our listeners a chance to feel like they’re a part of the program,” he said. “They have more of a sense of ownership if they can participate.”

The Venue will continue to bring in regional and national performers, but will be more selective. Most shows will be 21-and-up and all of them will be over by 10 p.m., Taffer said.

“Now the concerts will revolve around the nightclub,” he said.

Song selection in the clubs will be controlled by a central computer system, Taffer said.

“Our music formatting is tighter than a radio station,” he said. “There’s very little in this building left to chance.”

If the multiple-clubs concept takes off, Starmark – a firm formed by Taffer, former Playmakers general manager Kerry Fernholz and complex owner Lee Swanson – may try to open similar facilities in other secondary markets, Taffer said.

Olson said the clubs will be unveiled at the grand opening tonight starting at 7 with the sports bar. Another will be opened at the top of every hour through midnight.

If you go

- What: The Hub grand opening

- When: 7 tonight

- Where: 2525 9th Ave. S.

- Info: No cover; ages 21 and older.

For more information, call (701) 232-6767

[JoeJoe]

Expansion takes flight
Jon Knutson
The Forum - 12/01/2007
If you appreciate a little elbow room, you’ll like the changes at Fargo’s Hector International Airport.

The airport is wrapping up portions of a $15.5 million project designed to reduce congestion at key points inside the terminal.

The rest of the project – which is on schedule and within budget – is expected to be completed next summer, said Shawn Dobberstein, the airport’s executive director.

“It’s been challenging at times, but we’re moving along nicely,” he said.

A little background:

A 2005 study identified several “choke” points in the terminal where patron congestion was a problem, particularly when several flights arrived or departed at the same time.

The congested points were the security checkpoint for departing passengers, the second-floor area near the top of the escalators and stairway, and the baggage claims area.

The building project addressed the problem, in part, by moving the escalators and stairway farther south, providing more room on the second floor.

The project also adds about 42,400 square feet to the existing 76,000-square-foot terminal through an 18,500-square-foot two-story west addition and a 23,900-square-foot two-story north addition.

The west addition includes a first-floor baggage claim just west of the two existing baggage claims.

The third baggage claim is expected to open soon.

The west addition also offers more second-floor lounge space for departing passengers.

Another change: The airport’s second-floor administrative offices and conference room have moved into the west addition.

The space formerly occupied by the administrative offices and conference room will be filled by the federal Transportation Security Administrative offices at Hector.

TSA now occupies space in another building at Hector.

John Hursey, TSA’s Bismarck-based federal security director for North Dakota, said his organization welcomes the change, which puts TSA staffers closer to the security checkpoint.

Most of the north addition remains to be built. Work won’t be finished until summer.

The existing security checkpoint for departing passengers will move north into the north addition.

That will reduce congestion around the airport gift shop and restaurant, which are just south and to the sides of the security checkpoint.

The north addition carries some short-term pain.

It requires the airport to close temporarily one of its four boarding bridges, leaving three in operation this winter.

That means passengers on some flights will need to walk outdoors between aircraft and the gate, rather than walking through an enclosed bridge.

“It’s unfortunate, especially with the arrival of winter,” Dobberstein said.

But five boarding bridges, one more than when the project began, will operate when work is finished.

Juggling construction and the normal running of the airport has been challenging, said Terry Stroh of Fargo, the project architect.

Construction isn’t feasible when the airport is crowded with travelers from multiple flights leaving or departing at the same time, he said.

“It’s not easy convincing contractors to walk away when there’s work to do,” he said.

Fall weather, favorable to outdoor construction until just recently, has helped the project, he said.

The $15.5 million project is funded with $7.775 million in airport revenue bonds and $5.6 million in federal grants, with airport reserves covering the rest.

The existing terminal building opened in 1986 and cost $4.5 million.

Hector ridership has risen from 225,964 in 1986 to a record 305,218 in 2006.

That’s the equivalent of four riders last year for every three riders two decades ago.

Through October, Hector had 248,057 passengers in 2007. That includes 23,176 in September, the most ever for that month.

Dobberstein said airport officials are optimistic ridership will continue to increase.

“We think that with our expansion, we’re well-positioned for the future,” he said.

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

http://www.in-forum.com/gfx/photos/full/Hector1%20copy.jpg
Greg Lyons, a worker for T.F. Powers, retrofits a stairwell earlier this week as part of the Hector International Airport remodeling project. Bruce Crummy / The Forum

http://www.in-forum.com/gfx/photos/full/Hector2%20copy.jpg
A new north boarding area is being built at Hector International Airport. Photos by Bruce Crummy / The Forum

http://www.in-forum.com/gfx/photos/full/Hector3%20copy.jpg
Airline passengers wait in a new boarding lounge at the west end of the gates.

[rrskylar]

I think it's freaking AWESOME that a Cheesecake Factory may be built in Fargo. We need more development to fill up some of the empty space between Scheels and West Acres. You know what restaurant would go great next to Cheesecake factory? P.F. Chang's. Every time I've seen a Cheesecake Factory (Southdale in Edina, Arbor Lakes), there is always a P.F. Chang's right adjacent to it. Maybe the two companies have a development agreement?? I'm not sure. But if a Cheesecake Factory is coming to that site, then I bet chances are good that P.F. Chang's may be the other restaurtant.

Over 4,100 hotel rooms soon to be in F-M. That could theoretically handle convention sizes of up to 12,000 or so.

I have counted 8 new hotels in F-M that have been built between 18 months ago and 12 months from now: Candlewood Suites, Airport Hilton Homewood, Kelly Inn, Staybridge Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Expressway Suites, Settle Inn, and another one in Amber Valley being built that I can't remember the name.

http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/9021/newhilton1zw7.jpg

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7036/newhilton2qe3.jpg

Looks a lot nicer than the one in Grand Forks, that's for sure.



Great! A crappier, tackier knockoff version of the Gonad Inns in Grand Forks! What city wouldn't be proud to have piece of shit like this gracing their city!

[Doc]

What's the matter, you think every city with a Hilton Garden Inn is a "knockoff" of Grand Forks. I guess that must mean that nearly every major city in the U.S. is just imitating Grand Forks. Don't be such a putz.:whip:

[SmileyBoy]

Great! A crappier, tackier knockoff version of the Gonad Inns in Grand Forks! What city wouldn't be proud to have piece of shit like this gracing their city!

At least I can walk thru my downtown without being accosted by bums for change like a certain city I know...:sly:

[F-Misthebest]

Great! A crappier, tackier knockoff version of the Gonad Inns in Grand Forks! What city wouldn't be proud to have piece of shit like this gracing their city!

Okay, it's not crappy. Fargo is lucky to have another major development coming into town. It's definitley not a piece of shit either. You don't have to be cocky just because you live in Winnipeg. It's not that great of town to brag about.

[sodak]

Don't worry about rrskylar. He says those things to get you guys riled up so you respond. Just ignore him. We know the best thing about Winnipeg is the lower drinking age, so let him make his comments.

[SmileyBoy]

Don't worry about rrskylar. He says those things to get you guys riled up so you respond. Just ignore him. We know the best thing about Winnipeg is the lower drinking age, so let him make his comments.

Thanks, sodak. I love Winnipeg myself, but I gotta admit, that place is dirty. Has he been knocking SF too?? Sucks to be so insecure to want to knock cities of 1/4 of the size of his to make himself feel better about the crap that goes on there.

[sodak]

No, he hasn't made comments about Sioux Falls. If he does, who cares. It's not worth the time or effort that's already been given to respond.

I don't know anything about Winnipeg (other than one trip when I was 19, and I was drunk most of the time), so I don't make comments about it.

[NysOne]

Has anyone heard about a new furniture store going in West Fargo? I heard it's possibly in/by The Pioneer Center.

[NanoBison]

I do have one major concern about that new hotel. If those slides are partially outside of the building, are they going to be super insulated? Otherwise I could see the water getting cooler as you ride down. Imagine if someone got stuck on the slide because the water froze at outdoor temperatures of -40?

One another note, does anyone know when Golden Corral is going to open in town? It looks like they are pretty much finished with construction, aside from signage and other small issues...

[SmileyBoy]

8-STORY OFFICE BUILDING COMING TO WEST ACRES AREA!!!
(To be built alongside what you see below)

http://www.in-forum.com/gfx/photos/full/CapitalSquare.jpg
An artist’s rendering shows the exterior view of the planned Capital Square development in south Fargo. Special to The Forum

http://www.in-forum.com/gfx/photos/full/1207%20lexstar%20parcel%20copy.jpg

Capital Square unveiled
Craig McEwen, The Forum
Published Friday, December 07, 2007

Construction is expected to begin in March on Capital Square, an

8-acre Fargo business center being developed on the west side of 43rd Street South from 15th to 17th avenues by Lexstar Development and Construction.

The site in the West Acres Office Park directly behind Ramada Plaza Suites and Conference Center, 1635 42nd St. S., will have a two-story, 40,000-square-foot office building, an eight-story business condominium complex and a standalone restaurant, said Lexstar President and CEO Robert H. Leslie.

“The whole project is called Capital Square. We plan to start construction on this by March,” said Leslie, who built the Ramada Plaza Suites and the nearby Clarica Tower high rises the business condo will complement, he said.

Construction will first begin first on the two-story office building. It’s expected to be completed by the end of 2008, Leslie said.


“We designed this building so its appearance will be good 30 to 40 years from now,” he said.

Tenants can lease or buy space in the office building, said Kelly Parrett, Lexstar sales director and property coordinator.

The high rise will offer condominiums for purchase by a range of clients, including doctors, attorneys, dentists, and insurance and real estate firms – “every practice available,” Parrett said.

“There’s going to be four penthouse suites in it,” Leslie said. “It’s going to be solid concrete. It’s totally condominiumized. They can own their own property.”

The restaurant will be on the corner of 17th Avenue and 43rd Street.

“We want to put a really classy family restaurant in here,” Leslie said. “We’re looking by spring. We have several major chains interested.”

The adjacent commercial development area is nearly full, said Fargo City Planner Jim Gilmour.

A few parcels remain in the West Acres Office Park area near Scheels, Home Depot and the northwest corner of the I-94 and 1-29 interchange, he said.

“There certainly is starting to be less and less opportunities,” he said.

Scattered development existed in that area when he moved to Fargo 13 years ago, Gilmour said.

“It was certainly not the busy hub that it is now,” he said.

The next phase of commercial construction will involve property still available near PRACS Institute along 45th Street south of I-29, he said.

“That will be the next thing to fill in,” Gilmour said.

[SmileyBoy]

Nobody cares about the 8-story office tower??:shrug:

[sodak]

I do, at least it will look a little more in place given the other midrise building in the area.

I want to beat my head against the wall about Sioux Falls' new proposed 18 story building on the fring of the city. Build it downtown!

Anyway, nice project for Fargo. The south entrance to your city on I-29 give a good impression of a fast growing city. This project will certainly add to that perception.

[NysOne]

I do have one major concern about that new hotel. If those slides are partially outside of the building, are they going to be super insulated? Otherwise I could see the water getting cooler as you ride down. Imagine if someone got stuck on the slide because the water froze at outdoor temperatures of -40?

One another note, does anyone know when Golden Corral is going to open in town? It looks like they are pretty much finished with construction, aside from signage and other small issues...

I heard that Golden Corral is opening mid-January.

[NanoBison]

Mid-January!!! Jeeessh, I wish they would hurry up and open it. I've heard the food is pretty decent for a buffet style offering.

[NanoBison]

Nobody cares about the 8-story office tower??:shrug:

Hey Smiley, I care. I've been pretty busy with the end of semester stuff. I just successfully defended my Masters Thesis. Thank god I'm done with that!.

One thing though, the 8 story tower is supposedly going to be all condominiums right? I have three issues with that. Location, location and location. The only benefit I see of putting that tower there is that it will be by the mall area. Other than that, a person getting a condo in there will have these structures for a view :

*edit* I re-read the article... it's office/condo mix... but still...*edit*

US Bank Call Center.
Apartment Row.
Chinese Food Place.
Ramada Plaza Suites.
Multiband Tower and West Acres Business Park.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love the idea of another taller building in the metro area. It won't look totally out of place, since the Multiband Tower is already 7 storys. But it's just another case of "damnit, why didn't they build the thing downtown?"....

But yeah, I'm glad to see ANY type of development... even if I have a generally negative thought on it.

On the plus side, I was at the Vogel Law Firm downtown Fargo this afternoon. I notice that Reichtmann's Press Building is all boarded up so they are working on those top floors and converting them into condo's. The new library structure downtown is coming along nicely. Most of the main structural steel is up. I think as Spring comes around we are going to see another building boom. I noticed the old "Country Furniture ( we really want your business )" building has const. equipment in front of it, and the side look like it's going to be expanded and turned into something else. Not sure what yet....

That's what I've got right now, but then again, I'm just lucky I didn't burn out from the Masters program... time to relax a little bit.

:tup:

[Ex-Ithacan]

I do, at least it will look a little more in place given the other midrise building in the area.

I want to beat my head against the wall about Sioux Falls' new proposed 18 story building on the fring of the city. Build it downtown!

Anyway, nice project for Fargo. The south entrance to your city on I-29 give a good impression of a fast growing city. This project will certainly add to that perception.

I kinda wish the taller buildings would be kept in or near the downtown areas. Makes a greater impact for the city. But then again I'm not the one buying the land and putting up the money for the construction. :shrug:

[SmileyBoy]

I went to pay a parking ticket at city hall yesterday, and I struck up a conversation with a lady who works at the planning commission office, which is across the hall from the payments desk. Anyway, she told me that one recent study found that there are probably as many as 106,000 people living in Fargo inside the city limits. But she told me the data still needs to be refined.

Just a little story I wanted to share.:)

[JoeJoe]

That's awesome and un-surprising Smiley Boy. We all knew that Fargo was over 100k, just getting the census to admit it is like hell freezing over ;)

[F-Misthebest]

^Haha, damn straight.

[Reichert]

Again, the Census Bureau will have some egg on their face in 2010 just like they did in 2000, 1990, etc.

[F-Misthebest]

I dropped of a friend at the airport and went in and explored around a little. It's looking very nice. The windows, the stairs and escalators, extra baggage claim, new gate, it's all good.

[F-Misthebest]

Urban Plains updated their website.
www.upfargo.com

[F-Misthebest]

Minn., N.D. see growing numbers
Teri Finneman, The Forum
Published Thursday, December 27, 2007

North Dakota got exactly what it wanted for Christmas this year: news of an increasing population.

North Dakota’s population grew 0.35 percent – or 2,255 people – from July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2007, according to a report released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.

To put it into perspective, the population of Carrington, N.D., is 2,268, according to the 2000 Census.

The latest statewide increase brings North Dakota’s estimated population to 639,715, the highest since the 641,236 estimate in July 2000.

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/6537/populationestimatesqe9.jpg


North Dakota’s neighbor to the east also continues its growth trend.

Minnesota’s population grew 0.83 percent – or 43,035 people – from July 1, 2006, to July 1, 2007, according to the Census Bureau.

As a comparison, Moorhead’s population is 32,720, according to 2003 estimates by the State Demographic Center. Minnesota’s estimated population is now 5,197,621.

Minnesota State Demographer Tom Gillaspy said the growth is largely due to an increase in births. In 2006, Minnesota births were at their highest level since 1964. The state also has “fairly stable” migration, he said.

North Dakota’s strong agriculture and energy sectors contributed to the state’s growth, said Richard Rathge, director of the North Dakota State Data Center.

“I think the (population) estimate is trending very similar to what we had anticipated,” he said.

North Dakota has experienced population growth three of the past four years. Some say the state is growing more than the Census report shows.

Much of the data used by the Census Bureau to create estimates can lag by as many as two years, said Rod Backman of the North Dakota Census Committee.

Because of revisions in past estimates, the 2007 population is actually 3,848 people higher than the 2006 estimate released last year, he said.

Since 2003, North Dakota’s work force has increased by an average of 6,500 workers per year, said Kevin Iverson of Job Service North Dakota. The number of workers younger than 35 has increased by an average of 2,700 per year, he said.

North Dakota’s economy is the key reason why the state’s population is growing, Backman said.

“I think we’re going to continue to see stronger numbers based on that job growth,” he said.


Fast facts

- Nevada is the nation’s fastest-growing state, with a population increase of 2.9 percent between July 1, 2006, and July 1, 2007.

- Arizona, the fastest-growing state between 2005 and 2006, slipped to second place.

- Louisiana began to rebound from its post-Hurricane Katrina population loss. The state gained nearly 50,000 people. It lost 250,000 residents during the previous one-year period.

- Texas gained more people than any other state – almost 500,000 – from 2006 to 2007.

- California remains the most populous state, with about 37 million people.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau




Readers can reach Forum reporter Teri Finneman at (701) 241-5560

[F-Misthebest]

Moorhead project set to be done by summer
Kim Winnegge, The Forum
Published Wednesday, December 26, 2007

The developer of a downtown Moorhead redevelopment project says the construction of condos and office/retail space near the Red River is expected to wrap up by the summer.

Riverside Market and Lofts, on the northwest quadrant of Main Avenue and Fourth Street, formerly occupied by Ralph’s Corner Bar, will house nine condominium units, said Kevin Bartram, who heads up Fargo’s Sterling Development Group and MBA Architects.

No leases have been signed for condos on the north side of Main Avenue, although there is certainly a lot of interest in the area, Bartram said.

The three-story building will house three condos per floor, all featuring exposed brick and wood timbers.

“It’s really kind of neat standing inside looking out to the river,” Bartram said. “They’re surprisingly private.”

The unit price varies depending on the size of the condo, but would be in the $200,000-to-$300,000 range, he said.

There has been discussion about leaving some of the condominiums unfinished for buyers to complete to their own liking, but that hasn’t been solidified, he added.

As for the two-story, 5,000-square-foot office/retail building adjacent to the Riverside lofts, a lease has not been signed, either.

“There are potential tenants” looking to sign within the next couple of months, Bartram said, but he did not release details regarding the nature of the business.

“Discussions are under way to take up about three-fourths of that space,” he said.

An enclosed parking garage sits to the west of the complex.

The condominium complex – along with its neighbor Riverfront Condominiums to the south – is part of a multimillion-dollar facelift of Moorhead’s downtown area.

Planning in the area began in 1999. Revitalization kicked off in July 2004, and has resulted in the development of more than 100 residential units and commercial space in Moorhead’s downtown.

Moorhead development services division manager Peter Doll said city staff and elected members are very happy with the transformation of the area.

Recently, owners Juan and Annele Mondragon opened Juano’s Latin Bar on the southwest quadrant of Main and Fourth Street.

John Alexander’s, an American classics restaurant and martini bar also owned by the Mondragons, is expected to open around the beginning of the new year. The space served as home to Kirby’s Bar before it closed.



Readers can reach Forum reporter Kim Winnegge at (701) 241-5524

[F-Misthebest]

Rasmussen College will open Moorhead campus in January
Amy Dalrymple, The Forum
Published Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Moorhead’s Interstate 94 will become a higher education corridor in 2008.

Rasmussen College, formerly Aakers, will open its new Moorhead campus by Jan. 15. Classes will start in April.

Construction is finishing up on the Rasmussen School of Allied Health, which will house four two-year associate of applied science programs.

The programs are surgical technologist, medical laboratory technician, exercise science and medical office management and clinical practice, said Amy Beito, director of campus operations.

The campus will offer additional allied health courses in the future as officials determine other needs of the community, Beito said.

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/4083/rassumessencollegenh4.jpg
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/4893/rassumessencollege2bx6.jpg


The Minnesota School of Business also plans to open a campus in Moorhead in 2008 and start classes as soon as the summer.

The campus, which will offer specialized career-training programs, will be adjacent to I-94 and the 34th Street interchange.

Also along I-94, the Moorhead campus of Minnesota State Community and Technical College has about 2,500 students enrolled.

Jerry Migler, MSCTC provost, said the programs Rasmussen plans to offer will serve a different niche.

“It doesn’t seem like there will be any programs that are in direct competition with each other,” he said.

Migler said he’s not sure if the Minnesota School of Business will offer similar programs.

“We’re kind of curious, I think, like everybody else,” Migler said.

Beito said Rasmussen officials are not worried about competition from the Minnesota School of Business.

“There’s enough room in the market,” Beito said. “It just gives students one more option.”

Initially, the school will serve 40 to 60 students, Beito said.

Students will take health classes and labs from the Moorhead campus and general education courses in Fargo, Beito said.

Rasmussen officials wanted to start classes in February, but with construction taking until mid-January, the first classes were delayed until April.

Rasmussen is on quarters and also has mid-quarter start dates.

JoAnna Haas of Fargo graduated from Rasmussen College last week with a medical administrative degree with an emphasis in medical coding.

“I liked the fact that they were a smaller school with smaller classes and I had one-on-one time with each teacher,” Haas said.

Rasmussen recently became regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which means credits will likely transfer to other area schools.

The Minnesota School of Business has national accreditation and credits may not transfer.



Readers can reach Forum reporter Amy Dalrymple at (701) 241-5590

[SmileyBoy]

Dammit F-M, you beat me on the news on the ND growth!! :whip: I started a new thread in this forum about it.

[F-Misthebest]

I try lol. But that is really good news about the growing populations. I wish under fun facts they would've listed the states that lost population.

[MoreFM]

Krispy Kreme, Green Market closing
The Forum
Published Sunday, December 30, 2007

Two Fargo eateries will soon close.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts is closing as of today, a sign posted on the door at the 45th Street business says. Krispy Kreme opened there in 2002.

Downtown, the Green Market will close at the end of Monday, Stephen Long wrote in an e-mail to customers.

Long and partner Andrea Baumgartner opened the grocery store and delicatessen on NP Avenue in 2006.

Long wrote that as much as the venture has meant to them, it isn’t viable under current circumstances.

“So, with regret, we must regroup,” he wrote.

[NanoBison]

I'm not surprised Krispy Kreme is closing up shop. They basically sell fat and flour that's been deep-fried. The company itself as a whole, isn't doing very well. From it's stock high of 49.00/share (2003) it's now around ~$3.00/share.

Green Market on the other hand, while a nice concept, I kinda didn't think was going to stick around. There food was more "health food" and expensive. Yeah, it was a deli, and I heard they had wine and cheese events that were really nice. But I never saw anything in there that would attract daily business people or students for lunch and dinner hours.... Hopefully the current owners can rethink the idea and come up with something else. I also think it's a great location, but the inside could use a lot of work in terms of remodeling. But it's big enough for a decent sized restaurant with the big back room they have...