DICKINSON, ND – Affordable Housing Developers Inc. (AHDI) and its development partner, Mountain Plains Equity Group (MPEG), marked the completion of the Dacotah Ridge Apartments redevelopment today by hosting an Open House. AHDI purchased the property from The ARC of Dickinson in 2017. Local, state and federal dollars supported the acquisition and rehab of the rental property that is occupied primarily by elderly and disabled households.
“Many of Dacotah Ridge’s tenants have very limited incomes,” said Andrea Diede, AHDI executive director. “When we discovered that part of the rehab project was going to become a demolition project, we were very concerned about securing the resources needed and relocating the tenants for an extended period. Our priority was to make the buildings safe so that these individuals could continue to call Dacotah Ridge home. Fortunately, we were able to secure additional assistance from the state and we had great local support.”
Dacotah Ridge is made up of an eight-plex that completed redevelopment in March 2018 and a 16-plex that had to be demolished due to structural issues and reconstructed. Construction wrapped on the second building in September. The original project estimate was pegged at $4.16 million. The final cost was $6.18 million.
“Our purpose is to provide a safe, quality place to live that is affordable. We were proud to team with Affordable Housing Developers and offer our sincere thanks to the organizations that helped make this project possible,” said Don Sterhan, MPEG president and CEO.
North Dakota Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA) was the project’s primary funding source, providing $411,761 in federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits that were syndicated by WNC Inc. bringing $ 3.5 million in equity to the property. The agency also provided $400,000 through the North Dakota Housing Incentive Fund.
“By affordably housing our most vulnerable state residents, we strengthen and stabilize our communities,” said Jennifer Henderson, NDHFA planning and housing development division director. “We are pleased to be able to provide the support that will allow this valuable housing resource to continue serving Dickinson for years to come.”
The North Dakota Department of Commerce Division of Community Services awarded $1,216,258 in HOME Investment Funds to the project to support construction. Stark Development Corp. provided the local match, $185,874, required to secure a FlexPACE program loan, valued at $531,070, from Bank of North Dakota. Project financing was provided by Security First Bank of North Dakota.
Located at 560 and 580 8th Street SE, Dacotah Ridge’s eight-plex has one studio and seven one-bedroom units, two units are ADA accessible. The apartments in the 16-plex are all two-bedroom, six of these units are accessible.
Tenancy at Dacotah Ridge is restricted to income-qualified households with the property’s monthly rents ranging from $581 to $617. Housing Assistance Payment contracts further reduce rents through Section 8 tenant-based assistance under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Housing Choice Voucher Program.
As part of the redevelopment, health and safety issues were mitigated, the buildings were brought up to current code, and elevators were installed. In addition, the apartments were outfitted with energy-efficient appliances, economical heating/cooling units, new bathroom fixtures and window coverings.
Individuals who would like to learn more about the apartments can contact MetroPlains Management at (701) 483-1474. Information is also available online at http://www.metroplains.com.
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