A 42-unit affordable housing unit will be opening in north Minot this fall.

Minot Housing Authority is taking pre-applications for the one- to three-bedroom units in Fieldcrest Apartments, expected to come online in September.

The first floor of the three-story complex includes seven accessible units. All units are equipped with individual washers and dryers and kitchen appliances, one or two bathrooms and have balconies. The complex, located at 500-36th Ave. NE, includes garages and a children’s playground as well as entrance security via tenant keyfobs and an intercom system.

Pre-applications will get people on a waiting list, said property manager Lana Sem with the housing authority. Interviews have started with people who have already indicated interest.

People interested in applying can contact the Minot Housing Authority at 852-0485 or stop by the office at 108 E. Burdick Expy. between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Nine of the units are being made available to essential workers. This is a category established by the state for law enforcement and other emergency personnel and certain health-care and educational workers. People who think they may be eligible can contact the housing authority for more information. These housing slots do not fall under the general income restrictions.

Seven of the units are earmarked for voucher clients and the remainder are available for people who meet income requirements, regardless of whether they hold vouchers. Rent varies, but begins at $500 a month.

Fieldcrest is the first of four units being constructed by Beyond Shelter in Minot and Burlington with funding assistance from the city of Minot and state of North Dakota through the Community Development Block Grant program and tax credits through the Housing Incentive Fund.

Cook’s Court is a 40-unit senior housing complex for tenants aged 55 and older. It is being built just north of Kmart in south Minot. Pre-applications are expected to become available in mid-November for the units, set to open in January. The complex includes a community center, outdoor patio and attached garages.

The Willows consists of five eight-unit townhomes under construction in Burlington. The project is to be fully completed by spring. Several of the units are designated for essential workers.

Ground will be broken this fall, west of the new Ramstad Middle School, for Sunset Ridge. This project involves 74 units, to be built in two phases over two years. The first phase will include 35 units. The complex will be similar to Fieldcrest.

The total new construction will bring 196 units into the affordable housing market in the Minot area, in addition to 64 units at Washington Townhomes, built after the 2011 flood.

“This is just an opportunity for us to build our affordable housing stock back up with the loss of the units that took place in the 2011 flood,” said Mark Austin, occupancy director for the housing authority. He noted many homes and rental properties weren’t restored or were in the buyout zone. It’s difficult to determine how far the new properties will go in addressing that loss.

“On the surface, it’s going to look like a gain. But is it? We don’t know,” Austin said.