Innerspaces

Life in the Historic Ford

An old automotive manufacturing plant converted into high end condos — with exposed brick, hardwood floors, massive arched windows and an art collection to die for! You’re probably thinking Soho in New York or maybe even the Twin Cities. No, actually it’s right here in downtown Fargo.

And this is just one of many. According to Dave Anderson of the Downtown Community Partnership, there are about 100 owner occupied condominiums in downtown Fargo with 15 to 20 more in the planning stages.

Former city commissioner Arlette Preston says she started to think about living in downtown Fargo several years ago. Then a Fargo City commissioner, she was visiting Sioux Falls, South Dakota, exploring options for Fargo’s downtown. Preston was touring a condominium there and knew that was the type of living space she wanted down the road. “I absolutely fell in love with it and that was in 1994,” Preston said.

For Preston and her husband Richard, the move to downtown was all about downsizing. “After our daughter graduated from high school, we only used about half of our house,” she said.

The Prestons live in the Ford Building in the 500 block of Broadway. According to information from the Institute for Regional Studies at North Dakota State University, the Ford building was built in 1915 and housed a Ford automotive manufacturing plant. It was built along the railroad tracks in order to easily receive parts and ship products. The first floor consisted of show rooms and a stock area. The second floor housed business offices and a shop. And the third floor in which the Prestons live was the assembly plant.

This 1,700 square foot, one bedroom, one and a half bath condo is a perfect combination of old and new. From the concrete and granite service-island and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen to the original brick and windows in the living room, the scheme comes together for a modern yet comfortable, homey feel. Adorning it all is one of the most impressive collections of local art to boot. Included are names like: Walter Piehl, Brad Bachmeier, Bob Kurkowski and Star Wallowing Bull to name a few. And to top it off, the view of downtown Fargo is breathtaking.

What’s the Buzz About 300 Broadway?

With an ever growing concern about our environment, people are turning to “green living spaces.” And living in downtown Fargo is one way to accommodate that lifestyle.

One such development is located at 300 Broadway. What was once a parking lot located between two historic downtown buildings — the Fargo Theatre and the White Banner uniform shop — is now the home to high-end condominiums.

Kathryn Helgass, marketing director for The Kilbourne group, says there are basically two types of people who are looking to move into these particular downtown condos: retirees who are looking to downsize and young professionals with no children. According to Helgass, many of those who are looking for condos are also looking for a green living space and downtown fits the bill.

“You can walk to work and are within walking distance of food and entertainment,” Helgass said.

Doug Burgum, the chairman and founder of the Kilbourne group and the driving force behind the project at 300 Broadway, says green living spaces and smart city growth are motivating factors for these condos. The Kilbourne group made a $63,000 donation to the Fargo Theatre to replace the mechanical system that used to sit in the parking lot (now home to this project) for a more fuel efficient rooftop system which Burgum says will drastically reduce energy costs for the theatre. And 90-year-old hardwood floors were reclaimed from the Lofts on Roberts building to be used within the condos. According to Burgum, “fill in” projects like this make sense.

“Urban sprawl has many high, hidden costs on taxpayers, including taxpayer funded infrastructure (sewer, water) and services (fire, police) thinly spread over wide areas. Broadway seemed like a very sensible place to focus as downtown Fargo is the cultural heart and center of our Metro area,” he said.

Burgum added that the project needed to be sensitive to the historic buildings in downtown, to blend in with its neighbors and to provide parking for the residents. He says the design of the building has achieved these goals and more. Also included in this project is the “Off Broadway” theater — a second screen and public rental space for the Historic Fargo Theatre with both a back alley entrance and public entrance right off Broadway that goes through to the Lofts on Roberts building.

The condos feature high-grade, energy efficient construction, granite kitchen counter tops, underground heated parking and porches on Broadway. Each condo comes with at least one walk-in closet, nine foot ceilings, stackable washer and dryer, solid core doors and tiled showers and tubs. For those who live on the fourth floor, there is space available for a rooftop garden and the opportunity for two levels of living space. Buyers can also choose to have Energy Star appliances, a rolling bedroom wood “barn” door and whirlpool tubs are available on the second floor units.

Currently, the condominiums are unfinished and buyers can choose a pre-existing floor plan or they can create their own. They can even buy one and half units or two to customize their home. The project is part of Fargo’s Renaissance Zone, so buyers are also eligible for property tax savings for up to five years.

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