Garfield Public Private and local partners presented a convention center concept on the southwest quadrant of Interstate 29 and Interstate 94 during a Fargo selection committee meeting, emphasizing the site’s highway visibility and a plan that pairs a full‑service headquarters hotel with the convention facility.

The proposal’s lead, Ray Garfield, said the development team includes Garfield Public Private, McShane Development, DLR (architecture) and Orion companies for construction, and noted the group’s multi‑decade experience in large mixed hospitality projects. Garfield said the project would be tailored to Fargo and tied to the RFP the city issued.

The Garfield team argued the site’s traffic and visibility make it a strong candidate. Tim McShane, McShane Development, described the location as “the only site in North Dakota that has two interstate crossing[s],” and said the team’s analysis shows about 44,000,000 cars per year would pass the proposed site. The team said that visibility and interstate access would support a headquarters hotel and additional private development they estimated could generate roughly $100,000,000 of new development near the site.

Why it matters: the presenters emphasized that convention centers generally operate more sustainably when they are paired with an attached, full‑service headquarters hotel that coordinates bookings and catering. Ray Garfield summarized that principle by quoting an outside study: “Tom Mazinski ... stated 150 to 200 key headquarters hotel,” and added the team’s experience shows an attached hotel reduces duplicated back‑of‑house costs such as separate kitchens and loading docks.

Garfield’s finance and operations remarks noted that building an attached headquarters hotel increases capital complexity and typically requires some municipal subsidy or public–private finance work. Ray Garfield said his group often pursues naming rights, foundation grants and other fundraising strategies to leverage public contributions and that they prefer structures that allow favorable tax and financing treatment for the combined facilities.

Discussion points included expansion flexibility, walkability and brand selection. Committee members asked about expansion scenarios and how the team would design for future growth; Garfield said the team would plan optional expansion pads and room towers so the complex could grow by additional meeting space or hotel keys when needed. The team also said they have letters of interest from national brands, including Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt, but that they would collaborate with Fargo on final brand decisions.

No formal action or vote occurred during the presentation. The committee moved to a question period after the Garfield team finished and thanked the presenters.

Provenance: Excerpted from the Garfield presentation to the selection committee (presentation opening through Q&A).