Le Mars reports industrial-park sales, pending EDA recommendation and new housing and commercial projects
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Summary
City development staff said Southview Industrial Park has sold four lots, Burlington Junction will expand transload capacity after a rail extension, the city is seeking an EDA grant to add about 60 acres, and developers plan townhouses, hotel-support commercial lots and downtown housing conversions.
City development staff updated the Le Mars City Council on industrial and commercial projects that officials say are intended to attract employers and support lodging and retail demand.
The Community Development Director reported Southview Industrial Park, opened about 18 months ago, has sold four lots. The report said Siouxland Regional Transit System received a grant to build a facility in Le Mars and plans to purchase lots 1 and 2 in Southview before the end of the year, pending required federal due diligence.
Staff also said a recent rail extension into the industrial park prompted Burlington Junction to buy a lot and plan to double the size of its transload area, a capability the city described as useful for bringing goods by rail and transferring them to trucks for area manufacturers.
The city owns about 230 acres south of the existing park and plans to expand the industrial park by roughly 60 acres. Staff said the regional Economic Development Administration director has recommended an EDA grant to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce; if the Secretary approves the grant, staff said expansion work could begin late this year or early next year.
On commercial parcels, staff described activity at the Business 75 corridor near Walmart: T-Mobile purchased a lot and a developer completed the final building (sold but not yet occupied) that includes urgent care and other medical services. The city also purchased 35 acres across from Love's for "Crossroads Commons," where infrastructure work will create approximately 15 commercial lots aimed at food, fuel and lodging.
Staff said Red Shed Enterprises purchased about 8 acres on Holton Drive and a developer has received $1,000,000 in state housing tax credits toward a proposed 40-townhouse project; council previously approved a resolution of support and due diligence remains.
A recent hotel market study cited in the report found demand for a 70-to-80-room hotel to support lodging needs in the Business 75 area, a detail city staff said will help recruitment efforts. Downtown investment continues, staff said, with roughly 18 businesses relocating, expanding or starting in renovated buildings; the Brown Century Theater was cited as an example of expansion.
On housing, staff noted the ribbon-cutting at the Overlook Apartments (the former Erdmanville area) and reported about 30% of those new units are rented; the developer expects leasing to continue this spring. Council members asked whether upstairs downtown apartment conversions represent net new housing and whether parking will become constrained; staff said they ordered signage and pointed to multiple parking lots downtown to manage demand.
City staff requested council feedback and encouraged questions about specific projects; no formal votes were recorded during the presentation.
