April 29, 2024

The first apartments of a major multifamily development at the Sanford Sports Complex are starting construction.

Atlas will be a multiphase development from Lloyd Cos., beginning with 64 units starting this year but ultimately evolving into a much larger community for northwest Sioux Falls.

“Our first phase is really addressing workforce housing,” said Luke Jessen, vice president of development for Lloyd. “We’re focused on best-value rents as we start the project behind Fleet Farm, and then as we work our way toward Westport, we plan to add many different unit styles and price points.”

The entire first phase could encompass 200 units, and long term, Lloyd envisions developing 400 to 600 units in the Sports Complex area, Jessen said.

“As we add future phases, we’ll add an amenity package that is focused on complementing what people are asking for,” he said.

“We think there’s going to be a wide variety of people interested in living at the Sports Complex. There are students who attend nearby schools, a lot of jobs already there and coming into the area, and the site itself already caters to a wide variety of interests, so we think it supports developing a lot of new housing options.”

Lloyd plans to break ground on Atlas this week and complete the first building about 10 months later.

The addition of residential development represents a new phase of activity for the Sanford Sports Complex, which was focused on sports venues and hospitality throughout its first decade.

“We’re really excited for the residential offerings, as well as the occupational offerings happening with (Sanford) Virtual Care and Dakota State’s project,” said Steve Young, president of the Sanford Sports Complex.

“That consistent traffic — bodies on campus — continues to help with recruitment of quick-service restaurants and further hospitality and retail offerings.”

The latest hotel option opened late last year with the 86-room Comfort Inn & Suites.

“Things are great,” said Ryder Wilson, general manager and a shareholder in the ownership group, which also owns the AmericInn in Sioux Falls at 3300 W. Russell St.

“Things are rolling, for sure. When there’s an event in town, we know it.”

The hotel has hosted guests from multiple tournaments, a recent annual meeting for Sanford Health and for the broader large events held in Sioux Falls so far this year.

“Summer is busy,” Wilson added. “There’s traveling basketball that seems to be every other weekend, and (with) soccer and softball, June and July will be very busy.”

Staffing “has been good,” he continued. “I’m proud of the team putting guest services first. We’re a new hotel, and everything is shiny and everything is clean, but they’re making sure they’re enjoying their time at breakfast, having the games on at the bar and serving guests with a smile. We’re seeing a good response to everything.”

In addition to a complimentary breakfast, the hotel offers a sports lounge with beer, wine and pizza that’s open until 1 a.m., plus a pool, hot tub, laundry and conference area.

The Sanford Sports Complex has continued to experience broad demand for its facilities, Young said.

The Sanford Sports Complex Diamonds brought 18 new fields to the area last year, attracting baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer players, from kids to collegiate athletes.

In addition to regularly scheduled tournaments, “Little League has grown exponentially and are utilizing those fields four nights a week, so every night on campus, there’s just excitement,” he said.

There is a need for continued management of indoor turf space “to try and be as efficient as possible, but we do have full capacity, especially November through May,” Young said. “We’ll continue to problem-solve for that.”

Additionally, looking forward, there continues to be more interest from other entities in bringing “other offerings and amenities to the campus,” he said.