When walking through the newly constructed hallways at The Landing, one can feel a great sense of optimism for the future. The new addition of the three-level apartment building to Bowman’s cityscape is a large step to tout the area’s growth.
By BRYCE MARTIN | Pioneer Editor | [email protected]
When walking through the newly constructed hallways at The Landing, one can feel a great sense of optimism for the future. The new addition of the three-level apartment building to Bowman’s cityscape is a large step to tout the area’s growth.
The 26-apartment building was a project that began years ago by several entities trying to establish more housing in the city of Bowman. Over time, the project attracted support from local agencies and quickly became a towering symbol of Bowman’s economic growth.
It also expressed that local agencies were indeed looking to the future of local development.
On a warm, windy July 8, state legislators, local representatives, people responsible for making the project a reality and the handful of gracious tenants gathered to finally celebrate the opening of The Landing, located on 3rd Avenue on the east side of the city.
In his third trip to Bowman over the last two months, N.D. Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley offered a warm welcome to the parties that were instrumental in the establishment of the “greatly needed project.”
“You’re looking at a great project here,” Wrigley told the Pioneer prior to his speech at the event. “It is going to mean a safe, terrific place to live for all the residents that are able to be there. (But) it also takes some pressure off the local housing market, which I think is going to continue to intensify in Bowman.”
Those concerns of prosperity, as Wrigley called them, are amplifying in Bowman as effects of the Bakken oil boom continually make their way to southwest North Dakota.
Influential to the funding of the project was the state’s Housing Incentive Fund, which allocated taxpayer dollars, along with matching funds from the private sector, to create a healthy monetary sum for the creation of housing initiatives such as The Landing.
“Depending on what radio station you’re listening to, some days you’ll hear that housing is something that we should hang our head about,” Wrigley said, acknowledging that the problem is being addressed. “People in North Dakota should be incredibly proud of the leadership of our communities all across the state addressing the issue of housing.”
Nearly $49 million was allocated since the fund’s inception during the 2011 legislative session. It has leveraged more than $240 million in construction financing that supported the development of over 1,500 new rental units across the state. More than $2.4 million from that fund went directly to create The Landing.
Because of the success of the funding program, Wrigley indicated there are discussions on continuing the fund once the next legislative session convenes later this year.
“This shows a lot of things, among them though that the taxpayers of North Dakota have been very generous about engaging and addressing one of the chief challenges of our prosperity, which is housing,” he said.
Addressing the crowd, Wrigley said a project such as The Landing made people feel positive. He noted that the crowd, especially the building’s tenants, was in a great mood because they know what it means to have a place to call home.
“It’s a great project for Bowman and for the area,” he said, looking up at the green, paneled exterior of The Landing.
The Landing also was made possible by a partnership with Lutheran Social Services, the owner of the building, and Dakota Western Bank, who contributed $1.2 million in permanent financing.
An aspect special to the design of The Landing was the incorporation of eight first-floor units specifically tailored to the needs of Bowman County individuals from ABLE, Inc., a nonprofit agency that serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“We need to give them different housing opportunities,” said Jolene Kline, executive director for the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency. “Get them out of a group setting; give them individual apartments. Give them the same things as everybody else in the community – the ability to call an apartment home.”
The eight ABLE, Inc. tenants relocated from their previous group setting to reside in separate apartments at The Landing. The Little Missouri ABLE Group Home in Bowman opened in 1985 and, as its eight tenants moved to The Landing, St. Charles Catholic Church purchased the home to renovate for additional space for their activities.
“I slept good,” said George Armbrust, an employee at ABLE, Inc., who showed a deep appreciation for his new apartment.
Carolynne Jones, director of satellite services for ABLE of Bowman and Hettinger, expressed her exuberance for the completed project, which she said is a positive change from the tenants’ previous group home setting.
“It means everything to me. Seeing firsthand people’s dreams come true, that means the world. People are better for it,” Jones said.
In addition to the apartments reserved for those from ABLE, Inc., no income restrictions apply to 16 of the 26 total apartments, meaning those residents would pay market value.
A lot of work went into constructing the building, though it ended weeks ahead of schedule. Inside, the market value apartments boast modern fixtures and style. They feature wood-like flooring, modern appliances, large windows, substantial storage and living space and offer a cozy, at-home feel. An elevator provides access to all three floors and each floor has its own laundry facility, complete with state-of-the-art washers and dryers.
