Fargo leader wants downtown city-owned sites considered for new convention center

Fargo may soon see a major shift in its downtown landscape. Commissioner John Strand is proposing that the city’s new convention center be built on one of several prime city-owned properties, including the vacant Mid America Steel site or a cluster of underused buildings near Third Avenue North. With a $40-$45 million price tag and hopes of attracting large events that often bypass Fargo, the project could reshape the city’s core. If approved, these sites will be part of an ongoing request-for-proposal process, inviting bids to bring this vision to life.

The “Keeping Up With the Jones” phenomena applies to cities, too. Except, the consequences are different when one place fails to keep pace with the places around it — the actual Jones family moves to the nicer, more economically successful place, and the old street they lived on loses a neighbor and community member.

Melissa Van Der Stad

InForum

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