From Valleynewslive · · 1m 50s
Fargo adopts affordable housing pilot and tax incentive
Fargo City Commission approves inclusionary housing mandate and 10-year tax exemption for $61.6m mixed-use project.
In brief
Fargo City Commission approves inclusionary housing mandate and 10-year tax exemption for $61.6m mixed-use project. Fargo City Commission adopted a commercial redevelopment pilot with 5% affordable housing requirement and approved a 10-year tax exemption for a $61.6 million mixed-use project. Originally reported by…
Commission adopts housing pilot policy
Fargo City Commission approved a commercial redevelopment pilot with 5% affordable housing requirement for projects in designated areas.
“There’s a lot of conversation out there in the public about, they see these incentives as giveaways to developers. What does the public get out of that?”
Mayor sets geographic boundaries
Mayor Josh Boschee established boundaries between 32nd Avenue North and Interstate 94 west to the Red River for the pilot policy.
“And this is, I think, our opportunity to start having that conversation that we want to incentivize growth in key areas within fill”
Affordable housing threshold defined
Projects must reserve 5% of units for households earning at or below 80% of area median income ($64,000 to $69,000 annually).
“for folks to understand, for our community, is $64,000 to $69,000 a year”
Density requirement implemented
Projects must double the density of any previously existing housing on the site.
“The amendments also require projects to double the density of any previously existing housing on the site”
Cove Living secures tax exemption
Cove Living LLC received 10-year property tax exemption for $61.6 million mixed-use project at 45th Street South.
“The portion on the top that’s more kind of buff-colored and brick-colored, that’s the footprint of the new apartment building”
Project details revealed
Project includes 229 apartment units and 15,000 square feet of commercial space replacing 14-acre parking lot.
“That’s the request that we’re making here, and that is the project that cannot go forward until we know whether or not we’re able to obtain the pilot”
Affordable units calculated
Project will provide 11 affordable workforce units meeting the 5% threshold.
“The inclusionary housing component has tipped me to supporting this absolutely”
Commission approves exemption
Commission approved 10-year tax exemption 4-1 with Commissioner Michelle Turnberg dissenting.
“Yes, there’s reservations about incentives and proposals that reduce maybe the revenues the city might make”
Tax exemption faces review
Exemption requires separate public hearings and approval from Cass County and West Fargo School District.
“The exemption still faces separate public hearings and action by cass county and the west fargo school district”
Capital improvement plans approved
City approved 2027 Engineering Capital Improvement Plan with traffic calming on 64th Avenue and federal contracts.
“If we chose to eliminate special assessments, that’s a funding shortfall that we’d have”
Assistant city administrator appointed
Erika Anderson appointed as Assistant City Administrator with start date November 30, 2026.
“If I’m approved tonight, I really look forward to potentially joining the team of Fargo”
Procedural tensions emerge
Commissioner Chad Peterson pulled fire department staffing item from consent agenda causing debate.
“I’m just uncomfortable pulling things when we show up at a meeting off of consent”
The takeaway
Fargo City Commission adopted a commercial redevelopment pilot with 5% affordable housing requirement and approved a 10-year tax exemption for a $61.6 million mixed-use project.
