In a community where numerous building projects have virtually exploded in the past year, one of the largest developments continues under construction in southwest Minot.
The Southgate Crossing project covers 50 acres and encompasses apartments, hotels, retail shopping and commercial buildings. The Southgate project is located along 31st Avenue Southwest, just north of the recently completed LaQuinta Inn and Baymont Hotel and Suites.
The developer of Southgate Crossing is Roers Development of Fargo. Jim Roers, president, is also a North Dakota state senator from District 46. A Roers West office opened in the fall of 2010. In June of this year Roers Development announced it would be constructing the West Ridge Center in Dickinson on 500 acres on that city's northwest edge.
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One of Minot’s major construction projects is Southwest Crossing, located on the west side of 31st Avenue Southwest, immediately north of the LaQuinta Inn. The development shares some similarities with the West Ridge Center project in Dickinson.
Confirmed businesses for Dickinson's West Ridge included Cash Wise Foods, Cash Wise Liquors, Menards, AT&T, Dollar Tree, Petco, Gate City Bank, Shoe Carnival, Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, Homstay Suites Extended Stay, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Value Place. Completion is expected as early as spring 2013.
Groundbreaking for Minot's $109-million Southgate Crossing project was held in late August. Southgate is to include some of the same businesses as those involved in the Dickinson project. Both projects are designed primarily to meet increased demand as a result of development of the Bakken Oil Formation in western North Dakota.
According to a spokesperson, businesses already committed to Southgate include Cash Wise Foods, Cash Wise Liquors, Express Gas, Petco, Shoe Carnival, Great Clips and Gordmans. In addition, Southgate will feature a 128-room Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, a 70-room Extended Stay Hotel and 363 apartment units.
Additional retail buildings are slated for construction at Southgate. Tenants for those buildings have not yet been confirmed.
"There's a lot of interest, I can say that," said Larry Nygard, Roers vice-president. "We still have a few spots, some vacant retail space and some room to expand."
Preparation work for the Southgate site has been extensive. Most of the work to date has been at ground level including sewer, water and electrical. That, says Nygard, is expected to change in the next few days as winter approaches.
"They are finishing a lot of work that was needed to get that site done," said Nygard. "Now they'll start on the verticle construction to get the shopping area done. There are plans for some of the retail to open in early spring or summer."
The entire completion of Southgate Crossing as currently planned is expected in August 2013.