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Fargo Public Schools board to participate in pilot supporting 65‑unit voucher‑based affordable housing project
Summary
After a presentation by Fargo Housing Redevelopment Authority, the board unanimously voted to notify the city it will participate in the authority’s tax‑incentive pilot for a proposed 65‑unit, 100% voucher‑based affordable housing development.
The Fargo Public Schools Board voted 8–0 to notify the city that the district intends to participate in a Fargo Housing Redevelopment Authority pilot incentive tied to a proposed 65‑unit affordable housing project.
Jim Gilmore (city) and Chris Brungar, CEO of the Fargo Housing Redevelopment Organization, presented the proposal for the redevelopment of a three‑acre site (referred to in the presentation as the 144 redevelopment). Brungar described the project as a 65‑unit building with 32 one‑bedroom, 22 two‑bedroom and 13 three‑bedroom units. Financing described in the presentation includes 9% low‑income housing tax credits and an approximately $1,000,000 housing incentive fund provided by the state.
Brungar said the building is planned to be 100% voucher‑based: "This project's gonna be 100% vouchered," he said, and explained that voucher households pay rent scaled to income (zero rent at no income, then a graduated 30% of adjusted gross income for others). He also described the typical syndication structure for 9% tax credit projects — a limited partner buys the credits and holds primary ownership interest for about 15 years before ownership reverts to Fargo Housing; by statute the property is tax‑exempt during that period, Brungar said.
Board members asked practical questions about the site, transit access and school boundary impacts. Robin Nelson noted the project site sits across from her Boys & Girls Club facility and urged the district to assess boundary implications for student assignment. Brungar said Fargo Transit has an existing route with a stop on 25th Avenue adjacent to the site.
Several trustees said the district’s recently adopted tax‑incentive policy was designed to make support for low‑income housing straightforward. Greg said the policy intentionally limits the need for a deep financial dive for each project when it meets the policy’s priorities; he moved that the board notify the city of the district’s intention to participate in the pilot and Jason seconded. The motion passed 8–0.
What’s next: The district will notify the city of its intent to participate in the pilot; project financing and permitting remain subject to further review and external approvals.
