Roers Construction files permit application for Roosevelt Townhome project

(Fargo, ND) -- After weeks of arguing and even a contract put in default by the City of Fargo, it appears Roers Construction is ready to continue work in the Roosevelt Neighborhood.

Jim Roers, President of Roers Construction and Development, has announced that the business has filed an application for the building permit to construct seven townhomes on the block near the Newman Center Church and the View Apartment building. 

“As we’ve promised the Roosevelt neighborhood from the beginning, we are committed to providing affordable living solutions as a part of this project that will welcome new families into the neighborhood," said Roers in a statement released to WDAY Radio. "Working through supply chain issues, construction delays, and cost increases that came about due to COVID, we have found a solution to ensure that these units remain reasonably priced for families and that we are able to construct them in an expeditious manner."

Roers said that his crews are prepared to break ground as soon as the building permit is approved and anticipates the townhomes will be ready for occupancy by the end of 2022.  The project represents the final phase of a multi-year project on the north Fargo site. The townhomes represent the last $2,000,000 of the $50,000,000 total project budget. 

When it was originally approved by the City, it was estimated that the project would provide $9,000,000 of taxable value for the City, but even without the completed townhomes the project has already increased the taxable value to $10,700,000.  This value increase on this block will serve to reduce property tax burdens for citizens throughout the city. 

“This is the kind of solution-oriented approach I will take as mayor," said Shannon Roers-Jones, mayoral candidate for Fargo and general counsel for Roers Construction and Development. "The issues we face are too important to leave to the impulses of those who only want to create a public spectacle to score political points.  Fargo demands and deserves a leader who instead focuses on results through mature, disciplined problem solving.” 

The Fargo City Commission just last week put the project in default after what commissioners called a "lack of communication" between Roers and the city over the project, which was reportedly originally supposed to be finished by December of 2021.