Sioux Falls is growing. As a matter of fact, Sioux Falls is booming! New businesses are under construction in nearly every corner of the city. From the businesses being built on Louise Avenue to the massive building projects at 26th and Marion Road and 85th and Minnesota, businesses are taking advantage of our expanding city.

I recently drove by the 26th and Marion Road area because I had heard about the new Avera Medical Group Family Health Center that was going to open soon and wanted to see it. It is huge! It has the state's first free-standing emergency department, urgent care, clinic offices, a laboratory, radiology, behavioral health services and more. Services will be offered 24 hours a day. It is set to open in October 2016. According to the building permit, it cost over $15 million to build.

Also in this area is the new CarsforSale.com building. According to its building permit, it has a price tag of $14 million.  Their office is currently located on South Carolyn Avenue. The new corporate headquarters will be right along the banks of Lake Lorraine with a spectacular view for the employees.

If you want to retire in style, Grand Living at Lake Lorraine offers independent living, assisted living and memory care. Reservations are now being taken. It's expected to open in Spring 2017.  The building permit was granted for $22 million.

Around this time next year, Sioux Falls Ford will have a new home between Hy-Vee and Lowes on 26th Street. The car dealership is building a new $12 million store. Which means - drum roll, please - this will leave a HUGE hole on 41st Street in front of the Empire Mall.  So, what will happen to that old space? My guess is, either a strip mall or two will be built or a strip mall along with a retail store or new national restaurant(s) will fill the future vacant lot. A lot of these national brands want 41st Street exposure. Don't be surprised if some of your favorite chain restaurants or stores come to town within a year or two.

There are a couple of other buildings currently under construction near 26th and Marion. A new strip mall is being built just south of Sioux Falls Lighthouse and a free standing building is up just south of the new strip mall. That building will be home to Prairie Creek Pet Hospital which is moving from its current location at 929 S. Marion Road. No tenants have been announced for the new strip mall.

Sixty-four million dollars is just the tip of the iceberg. According to the VanBuskirk Companies website, the real estate developer representing the Lake Lorraine area, 173,000 square feet of leases are pending on small retail businesses.  Many of the businesses will all be able to be seen from Interstate 29. Expect an announcement of some of those retailers later this year. Most of the stores are what's called "junior box stores"

The actual lake the development is named after is 30 acres with a paved bike trail around it that will connect with the city's bike trail. The development will have a small main street experience with paths, trees and places to sit outside.

The main reason we're just now starting to see movement in the Lake Lorraine area is because it was in the flood plain according to federal flood restrictions. It's set to be removed from the flood plain early next year.

All I can say is that this development sounds awesome!  I can't wait to hear what stores and restaurants will fill the spaces and as soon as we hear, we'll post it.


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