Over $3 million in building permits issued
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HURON – Not since 2005 has Huron seen such a resurgence in local economic development as it did in 2017.
With well over $3 million in building permits issued, the city enjoyed a year in which new housing and commercial enterprises sprouted up in two areas of town.
Huron’s industrial parks also saw increased activity with new and expanded industrial facilities and the start of a long-awaited public works building.
As 2018 dawns, expectations are running high that the previous year was no fluke, and that more development will come Huron’s way.
Here, in no particular order, are 10 of the biggest stories of 2017:
Construction, Construction
• Visitors arriving at city limits at the southern entrance to town have been marveling at all of the construction going on between Coborn’s and the First United Methodist Church.
In March 2015, after the property was deeded to the city by Beadle County for nonpayment of taxes, 36 of the residential lots were auctioned.
Known as the Southtown Addition, it is home to single- and multi-family homes, already built or under construction. Three businesses, including Dakotaland Federal Credit Union's administrative offices and drive-up bank, and a new Ground Round Grill and Bar, are already under construction, while ELO Prof. LLC accounting office announced plans in December to build new offices, which it will share with Huron Title Company.
City commissioners are planning a second auction in 2018 to hopefully interest more parties in developing projects in Southtown.
• One of the major projects under construction in Southtown is known as WheatGrass Village.
Owned by Eagle Construction of Sioux Falls, it includes a three-story, 69-unit apartment building and two six-unit town homes on 10 acres. Apartments will be available at non-subsidized, market rate rents.
The City Commission approved rezoning the property to multi-family, but that approval was referred to a public vote, which took place in May. Construction began a short time after voters approved the referendum to rezone the property. The apartment building is constructed and enclosed, as are one of the townhouses and one of two planned enclosed garages for the facility. Construction of the other garage and townhouse are mid-stream.
Initial work also began in the fall to develop 24th Street Southeast that will run along the south side of WheatGrass Village.
• A second apartment complex under construction in Southtown is called Jefferson Village, a 40-unit, senior-living apartment complex located at 21st Street and Idaho Avenue Southeast.
While work began late in the year, workers with BlackWing Elite Builders of Sioux Falls will continue the project throughout the winter.
Apartment units in the three-story complex will be offered to qualifying tenants who earn up to 60 percent of the area’s median income.
Photo courtesy of Eagle Construction
This overhead photo of Wheatgrass Village, taken from the northeast side of the project, shows progress on the construction earlier this month. Work on the Dakotaland Federal Credit Union offices and Ground Round Grill and Bar are in the upper right corner of the photo, while on the left side, some of the recently constructed two-level twin homes can be seen. Work on these and other housing and business construction projects will continue into 2018.
Photo by Mike Carroll/Plainsman
The country duo Big and Rich entertained a huge crowd at the South Dakota State Fair Grandstand Friday night, along with Cowboy Troy.
Photo by Angelina Della Rocco/plainsman
Jim Jacobsen, the Vice President of Academic Affairs for Southeast Technical Institute, shares information on the new hybrid nursing program that was announced Tuesday. Seating behind Jacobsen and also speaking at the announcement are, from left: Paul Rann, the executive direcor of the Huron Regional Medical Center’s Foundation, David Dick, HRMC Preisent and CEO, Laurie Solem, adminstrator for SunQuest Healthcare, Kristin Possehl, Nursing Program Director for SE Tech and the president of the S.D. Board of Nursing, and Brooke Sydow, the HRMC Foundation’s Program Director.