Developers looking at adding housing in Flandreau

Developers from Pipestone, Minn, want to build twin homes in Flandreau on land that has been set aside for years.
Jeremy Whipple with Pipestone Development Company met with members of the Flandreau Development Corporation housing committee and about 25 people from the community July 10 to explain some housing options and gauge interest.
The FDC has 11 lots in Southview Heights that members would like to see homes on because they are curb and gutter ready and have been bare for several years. Initially those lots were planned for upper-end homes costing more than $300,000, but only one home has been built in the development in seven years.
“That’s not the market,” said Kelley Ramsdell, who is on the FDC committee. “They’ve had some experience with this and had some success. We’ve had these lots for quite some time and we’d like to move them.”
Whipple, who also owns Pipestone Building Materials, said the development group has built twin homes in Pipestone and has three of four pre-sold in Tracy, Minn. The homes, which can be customized, start at about $180,000 and go up from there with sizes from 1,200 to 2,400 square feet.
“It’s about raising the tax base of your community,” he said.
Dan Sutton, who also is on the FDC housing committee, said there has been interest in housing options from people who are looking to downsize, and the twin home concept at Spafford Square has gone well. Building additional properties is a way to keep people in town, he said.
“We want to see Flandreau grow and develop,” he said.

Several members of the public said as they age, they are interested in ground-level entrances and less maintenance. Some said they think they will have to move to Sioux Falls if they can’t care for their homes because there are no options in Flandreau.
“My house is for sale. We’re serious about moving. We’re going to leave Flandreau,” said Dave Halter, who added that twin homes at Spafford Square never go up for sale. “There’s a demand.
“We love Flandreau. It’s our home,” he said. But the market in Flandreau doesn’t support options at this point. “We’d love to stay here.”
Marie Ziebarth said if she gives up her home, she will need some place to rent that doesn’t have stairs. “When I get tired of keeping up that house, I’m going to have to move to Sioux Falls because there’s no place to live.”
Despite interest, the idea to develop twin homes on the property also met with some resistance.
Rick Drennen, who owns a house worth about $400,000 and built two years ago in Soutview Heights, said he might not have built if he knew twin homes would be considered. “I’ve already put a really nice house there, and I don’t want a $180,000 house next to mine.”
Steve Pulscher with Pulscher Brothers construction, said nobody approached him to sell the lots nor to buy a twin home there.
“We’re happy to build a home for someone,” he said. He also asked why the FDC needs an out-of-town developer when his company could do the same thing. “I certainly didn’t know we could do twin homes up there. I’ve been looking for lots.”
Any company can do what the Pipestone Development Company is proposing, Ramsdell and Sutton said. The FDC lots are $15,000 and $20,000 dollars each.
Whipple, who said the Pipestone developers have a Flandreau investor in their group, also said that they bid out all of the work on the twin homes, and anyone would be free to submit a bid. “We give everybody a shot at it,” he said.
Before any building could take place, the property would need to be rezoned. Getting everything in place could take at least eight weeks, Ramsdell said. She and Sutton encouraged anyone seriously interested in a twin home to talk with them to see if there is community interest in the project.
Shawn Jaacks, who also is on the housing committee, said the FDC is just trying to get started. “Getting the first few started is kind of a key for us. It’s good for a community to get some extra housing in town.”
Don Whitman, alderman in Ward 1 which represents that neighborhood, said he wants to make sure and protect that area of town from development that could hurt property values. “There were issues brought up here that I think people here want to see what the answer is.”
Drennen said he likes his homes location and was looking at building something appropriate as they age. “I just don’t want anything that is going to bring the value of the rest of the neighborhood down.”