Development plans taking off
By Jerry W. Kram
The New Town City Council heard about plans for projects that are taking shape in New Town at its most recent regular meeting.
Brett Erdmann reported on the progress of the two hotels his firm, New Leaf Development, is building just east of the Alco store. Erdman said the Little Missouri Inn is on track to be completed on schedule by the first of June. The 91 room hotel will serve guests staying five days or less. Among the amenities for guests will be a swimming pool and weight room.
Erdamann said the most of the structural work on the building was finished. Workers are sheetrocking the second and third floors and work on the plumbing and electrical systems are being finished. The windows for the building are expected this week. He said he was pleasantly surprised at how smoothly construction was proceeding.
Erdmann said the largest outstanding issue with the project was to work out an agreement with the North Dakota Department of Transportation to build an access point to the property from North Dakota Highway 23. The other access to the hotels will be off of College Drive just to the north of the Alco property.
Erdmann said that the framing material for the second hotel, which will be called the Teddy Inn and Suites, has arrived. Construction on the 103 room extended stay motel will begin shortly. Erdmann said that barring weather delays, the framing of the four story building should be done in about five weeks, and finished by September.
Erdmann said that building the hotels will open up much of the east side of New Town for development. He has been contacted by a number of investors with projects in Watford City and Williston looking for the next boom market.
"I will tell you that there are a lot of guys chomping at the bit waiting to get into New Town," Erdmann said. "We have been kind of the pioneers in New Town. There are a lot of people who are going to be willing to develop the land out there."
