Clay County Commission

Dan Haglund

The president/CEO of Downtown Moorhead, Inc., presented a year-end progress rundown for the Clay County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday in Moorhead.
Derrick LaPoint paints a rosy picture not only for Moorhead’s current year, but for the next few years, with continued commercial and community growth.
“This has been kind of an unprecedented year for a lot of different fronts,” LaPoint said. “With our economy and the challenges that presents itself, and with inflation and interest rates. But we didn’t slow down. We saw tremendous growth again this year with our permits and the number of projects that we’re seeing in our community.”
LaPoint said the favorable weather has helped outdoor projects continue through the latest part of the year.
“Uniquely enough, because of our weather situation, usually we have a large push at the end of fall prior to winter with a lot of projects trying to get in the ground,” LaPoint said. “This year we had two. We had a large push before our first snowfall, it warmed back up and we had another rush over the last month and a half where folks were really pushing on projects. That wave is really going to boost us into 2024.”
LaPoint highlighted eight approved incentive projects within the city this year. He said the projects equate to roughtly 150,000 square feet of new or renovated commercial or industrial space. The estimated taxable value of the eight projects comes to more than $14 million.
“So we’re seeing a big, big number for our commercial growth,” LaPoint said. “I’ll say that’s a very low estimate, that’s at the time of application. I think when it’s all said and done, we’ll see well over 200,000 square feet and probably north of $20 million in taxable value.”
LaPoint also mentioned there are two businesses which recently bought land in the MCCARA Industrial Park (just off I-94 and 34th Avenue South) are both moving from North Dakota to build corporate headquarters in Clay County. One of the businesses is a housing/commercial construction company and the other does precision milling, making parts for pharmaceuticals, agriculture and aerospace.
“We are incredibly grateful for those businesses that have not only taken the time to look at the differences between the two states,” LaPoint said. “But also take advantage of the incentives and opportunities that our state is providing.”
LaPoint then highlighted the downtown Center Mall area project, with numerous businesses from the mall finding new locations before Roers Construction begins its full-on remodel. Two businesses have chosen to move across the river, three businesses decided to close for good, and ten businesses have already either relocated or have chosen to relocate within Moorhead. One of those is Moorhead Drug, which has chosen to relocate into the recently vacant Taco John’s on Center Avenue. Vic;s Lounge has also found a new home in the former Chumley’s location on Main as well.
LaPoint said the next steps for that massive project will be the interior demolition of the former Herberger’s clothing store on the west side of the mall. The exterior demolition is set to begin in the next week or two, he said. For now, the mall parking ramp will remain standing, he added, and a new developer may decide to preserve it and potentially even add another level to it.
In February and March, additional demolition will open up areas for the new library/community center project, which is slated to begin in the spring, according to LaPoint.
“The whole mall site as it currently sits right now has a taxable value of about $20 million,” LaPoint said.
A Mutchler Bartram Architects construction project on the east side of where the current mall is will be valued at more than $45 million, more than doubling the taxable value with several projects to go. Kevin Bartram, president of Mutchler Bartram, has also acquired the U.S. Bank building and the Fairmont Creamery building, both either set for remodel or are already under way.
On another note, LaPoint mentioned that every new apartment building in Moorhead is fully occupied.
“It shows that the demand is there, and quite frankly that we have more opportunities to build with our higher education partners and young professionals as well,” he said.