New Apartments Approved | Video

Joel Porter | 11/28/2012

Developers will soon build four new apartment complexes in northwest Bismarck. Last night, city commissioners approved a plan for 288 units on the site once owned by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. The buildings would be two or three stories, and have underground parking.

Nearby homeowners objected to the proposal, arguing that the project would lower their home values and said the neighborhood can`t handle the additional traffic.

"When you have a three story apartment building next to these very nice residential homes, it decreases your value. If somebody`s going to want to come and look at your home to buy it, they`re going to turn and look at a different part of the city. Pure and simple," said Corrine Vatsndal-Geck, who lives near the site.

"Washington street is going to be tremendously busy. This is the tip of the iceberg. But I think they`ve done a good good job of taking into account the neighbors concerns and it will be a quality development," said lot owner Attas Boutrous.

Commissioners approved the project on the condition that a traffic study must first be completed and developers would have to present a site plan of the new apartments before construction could begin.

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