Future of Simonson Lumber yard is coming into focus

Sitting on his stoop and gazing across his north Grand Forks yard, Cody Ewing finished his cigarette and waxed philosophical about the future of land across the street at 820 N. Third St., where developers hope to build a 70-unit apartment complex. Right now, that land is owned and occupied by Simonson Lumber and Hardware, which has since moved its operations elsewhere, though its warehouse on the other side of Ninth Avenue North is still active. Plans are in the works to turn the plot into an apartment complex, and Ewing said he hopes the new building doesn’t turn out as a “copy-paste” of just another apartment building. “Personally, for the town, it would be nice to have a little variety in architectural diversity,” he said, mentioning in particular that he likes the look of the Boden, a student apartment complex recently constructed on DeMers Avenue just south of UND. Ewing’s thoughts go to the heart of a debate that has unfolded over the past several months in Grand Forks, ever since plans for a new set of apartments came to light in January, after efforts to build townhomes on the property were scrapped. The site for the development is nestled in the Near North Neighborhood, a residential swath of the city bordered by University Avenue, Gateway Drive, North Washington Street and North Third Street. City leaders have hoped to revitalize the area for some time, though some are cautious about this project. “This could be the catalyst, or, if it's done wrong, it could be the millstone on future developments," City Council member Bret Weber said in March, amid concerns the complex might become an eyesore, a traffic magnet or otherwise disrupt the nature of the neighborhood.
Over the course of several months, a group of residents worked to make sure the apartments improve the neighborhood, negotiating with developers to bring the structure’s architecture in line with what they feel is the neighborhood’s aesthetic. A memo from the Near North Neighborhood Association, on file with the city, indicates those discussions recently were settled with an approval of an apartment plan discussed with members at an April 12 meeting. The plan includes “a flat roof, whose front is 50 feet off the curb line,” according to the memo. “The siding will be textured and varied, there will be mature trees, improved first-story walkouts, occasional neighborhood use of apartment meeting room, (and) a fence rather than shrubs across the front.” Eliot Glassheim, who lives near the project and represented the neighborhood on the City Council for 30 years, drafted the memo. He described it as a compromise, one that would work toward preserving the “residential” nature of the neighborhood, even if the new building doesn’t turn out to be two-story townhomes. “I don’t think anyone was real happy, but we didn’t want to stand in the way of building it, and we got a few concessions that made it a little more attractive,” he said, noting in particular the flat roof and the distance between the street and the building itself. Next steps Others have weighed in either praising or raising concerns for the project, from its effect on the skyline to the traffic and busy atmosphere the new development could bring. Not everyone is so passionate about the future of the site, though. Tracy Thorsell, Ewing’s neighbor, is ambivalent, describing nearly any change is a positive one for both himself and his wife. “I don’t care one way or another too much, but I figure anything will help the resale value of this place,” he said of his home, which is also directly across the street from the former Simonson location, the building along the street sitting empty and dark Monday afternoon.   Plans for the site are headed to the Planning and Zoning Commission at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall. Should it get the commission’s recommendation, it then will head to the City Council for final approval. Planning and Community Development Director Brad Gengler said although he couldn't predict the result of Wednesday’s vote, the support of the Near North Neighborhood Association should be helpful for approval. Kevin Ritterman, president of Dakota Commercial and Development Co., the project developer, said he couldn’t yet estimate the cost of the project but said he hopes to break ground in the next two months, with tenants moving in at least by the summer of 2017. He added he hopes to present exterior design ideas from JLG Architects to Near North Neighborhood Association members before Wednesday’s meeting. Kimberly Simonson, executive vice president of Simonson Lumber and Hardware, said she’s not sure to what extent the company will continue to participate in the project after land is sold but said it will stay “involved” -- whether that’s as a consultant on the site’s future or as an investor-partner, she said, isn’t clear. She did add she’s happy the Near North Neighborhood Association offered approval to the site. “There’s demolition, there’s construction costs, there’s a lot to be considered,” she said. “But we weren’t going to pursue that until we had the support of the (NNNA).” Sitting on his stoop and gazing across his north Grand Forks yard, Cody Ewing finished his cigarette and waxed philosophical about the future of land across the street at 820 N. Third St., where developers hope to build a 70-unit apartment complex.Right now, that land is owned and occupied by Simonson Lumber and Hardware, which has since moved its operations elsewhere, though its warehouse on the other side of Ninth Avenue North is still active. Plans are in the works to turn the plot into an apartment complex, and Ewing said he hopes the new building doesn’t turn out as a “copy-paste” of just another apartment building.“Personally, for the town, it would be nice to have a little variety in architectural diversity,” he said, mentioning in particular that he likes the look of the Boden, a student apartment complex recently constructed on DeMers Avenue just south of UND. Ewing’s thoughts go to the heart of a debate that has unfolded over the past several months in Grand Forks, ever since plans for a new set of apartments came to light in January, after efforts to build townhomes on the property were scrapped. The site for the development is nestled in the Near North Neighborhood, a residential swath of the city bordered by University Avenue, Gateway Drive, North Washington Street and North Third Street. City leaders have hoped to revitalize the area for some time, though some are cautious about this project. “This could be the catalyst, or, if it's done wrong, it could be the millstone on future developments," City Council member Bret Weber said in March, amid concerns the complex might become an eyesore, a traffic magnet or otherwise disrupt the nature of the neighborhood.
Over the course of several months, a group of residents worked to make sure the apartments improve the neighborhood, negotiating with developers to bring the structure’s architecture in line with what they feel is the neighborhood’s aesthetic. A memo from the Near North Neighborhood Association, on file with the city, indicates those discussions recently were settled with an approval of an apartment plan discussed with members at an April 12 meeting. The plan includes “a flat roof, whose front is 50 feet off the curb line,” according to the memo. “The siding will be textured and varied, there will be mature trees, improved first-story walkouts, occasional neighborhood use of apartment meeting room, (and) a fence rather than shrubs across the front.” Eliot Glassheim, who lives near the project and represented the neighborhood on the City Council for 30 years, drafted the memo. He described it as a compromise, one that would work toward preserving the “residential” nature of the neighborhood, even if the new building doesn’t turn out to be two-story townhomes.“I don’t think anyone was real happy, but we didn’t want to stand in the way of building it, and we got a few concessions that made it a little more attractive,” he said, noting in particular the flat roof and the distance between the street and the building itself.Next stepsOthers have weighed in either praising or raising concerns for the project, from its effect on the skyline to the traffic and busy atmosphere the new development could bring. Not everyone is so passionate about the future of the site, though. Tracy Thorsell, Ewing’s neighbor, is ambivalent, describing nearly any change is a positive one for both himself and his wife.“I don’t care one way or another too much, but I figure anything will help the resale value of this place,” he said of his home, which is also directly across the street from the former Simonson location, the building along the street sitting empty and dark Monday afternoon.  Plans for the site are headed to the Planning and Zoning Commission at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at City Hall. Should it get the commission’s recommendation, it then will head to the City Council for final approval. Planning and Community Development Director Brad Gengler said although he couldn't predict the result of Wednesday’s vote, the support of the Near North Neighborhood Association should be helpful for approval.Kevin Ritterman, president of Dakota Commercial and Development Co., the project developer, said he couldn’t yet estimate the cost of the project but said he hopes to break ground in the next two months, with tenants moving in at least by the summer of 2017. He added he hopes to present exterior design ideas from JLG Architects to Near North Neighborhood Association members before Wednesday’s meeting.Kimberly Simonson, executive vice president of Simonson Lumber and Hardware, said she’s not sure to what extent the company will continue to participate in the project after land is sold but said it will stay “involved” -- whether that’s as a consultant on the site’s future or as an investor-partner, she said, isn’t clear.She did add she’s happy the Near North Neighborhood Association offered approval to the site. “There’s demolition, there’s construction costs, there’s a lot to be considered,” she said. “But we weren’t going to pursue that until we had the support of the (NNNA).”