A completed townhome in phase two of the Park South project is ready for occupancy.

The Park South townhomes in southeast Minot are opening their doors to new tenants with the recent completion of construction.

EPIC Companies, working with the nonprofit Essential Living, built 22 townhome units next to the Park South Apartments at 234 14th Ave. SE. Both the first-phase renovation of the apartment building and the second-phase construction of the townhomes were aided by Minot’s National Disaster Resilience program as part of an effort to retain and create affordable housing. The program provided $4.8 million for the townhomes.

Blake Nybakken, chief operating officer for EPIC, Fargo, said the first five tenants are ready to move in. Units remain for individuals and families who meet the income guidelines. To qualify, family income levels must be below $53,800 for a single person, $61,450 for two people, $69,150 for three people, $76,800 for four people and $82,950 for five people.

Applications are available at First Minot Management.

The one- and two-bedroom units come with appliances and all have two-stall attached garages and patios. All the living is on one level.

There is a privacy fence along the backyards on the west, opening up on the south to the softball complex. New playground equipment was installed on the southwest corner of the apartment building. Nybakken said plans are to eventually add a grilling station.

Land exists at the site for additional construction, although there are no current plans for another phase. Nybakken said there is room for about 10 additional units if a decision is ever made to add more townhomes.

Getting this second phase of Park South completed wasn’t without challenges.

Paperwork delays had pushed the project into the next construction season, and like many projects constructed since the pandemic, Nybakken said, costs rose, resulting in the need to bring in additional private funding.

“We’re still happy with where we are at, and it will be a good addition,” Nybakken said.

Nybakken said 22 new units in Minot’s affordable housing market will make a difference, although the waiting list for housing is long. EPIC developed Blu on Broadway as an affordable housing project with 42 units, and it has remained basically full, he said.

“We’ve had very high occupancy here at the first phase of Park South, so I would anticipate that this would stabilize fairly quickly. I think there’s certainly a demand, and I would assume we would be full before too long,” he said.

“We’re excited for it to come online. It’s been quite a lengthy process,” he added. “It’s been a bit of a journey on this one, but we’re excited to have the units finally opening up and coming online.”

A ribbon cutting ceremony is being planned for early October.