A center that could house existing Crossroads Mall tenants could be built on the new Corridor Plaza development site, according to Fort Dodge City Manager David Fierke.

“That’s under consideration and could be under construction next year,” said Fierke during a Greater Fort Dodge Webinar hosted by the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance on Wednesday. About 50 people registered to attend the meeting virtually.

The new owners of the mall are proceeding with the demolition of anchor stores as anticipated. The former Sears and JC Penney stores are already gone. At the same time, work is being done on the UnityPoint Health — Clinic Express clinic and Discount Tire Company, both of which are located in the development.

Meanwhile, company representatives from each of Dunham’s, Rue21 and Carolyn’s Hallmark Shop, have announced that they will be permanently closing. Each of those stores have been tenants at Crossroads Mall for several years.

Following the closure announcements of those businesses, there was a public outcry through social media and letters to the editor.

Fierke emphasized that the city doesn’t have any involvement in those types of decisions.

“The city doesn’t get involved in negotiating leases,” Fierke said. “We hear about a Dunham’s that is closing. We heard about it the same time everyone else did. We heard they were working on a space. Dunham’s decision is theirs. We don’t get involved in the rent. The city will help them but it’s a transaction between landlord and tenant, we are really not part of that.”

And while Fierke had nothing to announce in terms of other potential occupants of the new mall, he said there’s been ” a lot of contact being made with national retailers.”

As part of the mall development, a new road is being designed. Fierke reported that construction on that road will begin this spring.

Housing

Dennis Plautz, president and CEO of the Growth Alliance, said housing has long been identified as a need for the Fort Dodge area.

“Back in the 1990s and then again in early 2000s we did studies and surveys to improve our ability to get a workforce here,” Plautz said. “One of the things that stood out was lack of housing alternatives and lack of quality housing.”

And just within the past few years, the number of new housing developments has significantly increased, he said.

According to Plautz, in 2017, Fort Dodge had five new housing starts.

“Today, since 2017 we have built 144 units and 130 being built right now,” he said.

Plautz said 274 are being built or have been built compared to five in 2017.

“I think what’s been done has been very successful,” he said.

Plautz used Williams Bend, Gypsum Creek Crossing, District 29 and the rehabilitation of the Phillips Middle School as examples of significant housing projects.

Williams Bend is a mix of dozens of single-family homes and duplexes. Gypsum Creek Crossing features 70 duplexes and a four-acre park.

Phillips Middle School was remodeled into dozens of apartments.

District 29 is a 93-unit apartment complex is being built on a 10.3-acre parcel of land near Fort Dodge Middle School at the intersection of North 29th Street and Sixth Avenue North/Dodger Drive.

In terms of any development in the county, Plautz cited the Iowa Crossroads of Global Innovation as one that has an extreme impact on the area.

The Iowa Crossroads of Global Innovation is the industrial park where Cargill, CJ Bio America and Valero Renewables are located.

“There’s been constant evolution,” Plautz said. “The three companies that made their initial investments. It was $750 million investment. And they have invested a couple hundred million more. Each of the companies have added jobs beyond what they started out with. It’s a constant evolution.”

He anticipates further development in that area.

“Agreements in place and yet to come in regard to land purchases out there,” he said.

Plautz said that industrial park is among the places that will shape Fort Dodge’s future “more than anything.”

Quality of life

Mark Campbell, chairman of the Webster County Board of Supervisors, said the county continues to expand trails.

“About a year ago, supervisors joined a meeting with Webster County Conservation,” Campbell said. “They have been planning quality of life initiatives. Thanks to great partners like MIDAS and the city, we are starting to pave a full trail around Kennedy Lake.”

Campbell said there is also a preliminary design to get a trail to Badger and connect it with the Three Rivers Trail in Humboldt.

He said the hope is to have that work done in the next few years.

Campbell also provided an update on the Webster County Courthouse clock tower.

“The restoration is moving along nicely,” he said. “You can look up and see the new skylight in. A lot of the copper has been installed. They are doing quite a bit on the clock tower itself. The craftsmanship and project itself has been an amazing undertaking.”

Campbell said there’s no timeline for when the project will be completely finished.