July 23, 2025

This Site Spotlight is sponsored by Bender Commercial Real Estate Services.

Choosing to sell land that has been in the family for generations is far from easy.

In the case of Kathy Becker and her extended Oppold family, it was hundreds of acres of farmland in Lincoln County purchased by her grandfather in 1900.

“This land became the foundation of our family’s legacy,” she said.

Three of John Oppold’s  sons — William, Leo and Becker’s father, Bernard — built their homes there and raised their families on the soil. Bernard, born in 1913, farmed and managed the land he loved, for decades, passing away in 1996.

The land has deep emotional roots, but managing it through an LLC shared among siblings was complex, Becker said.

“With the land sitting on the edge of Sioux Falls, we also saw how much the area was growing and changing. In the end, it felt like the right time — both emotionally and practically — to let the land go and allow it to be part of the next chapter of the community’s development.”

After one of the family members reached out to Michael Bender, the family chose to list 300 acres on the southeast corner of the roundabout at Louise Avenue and Highway 106 with Bender Commercial Real Estate Services.

“They have a strong reputation in the community — not just for their expertise but for the way they treat people,” Becker said.

“From the beginning, their open-door policy made us feel comfortable asking questions, no matter how big or small. We always felt heard and respected, and we trusted their answers. They’re not only incredibly knowledgeable but also genuinely personable, which made the entire process feel more manageable and less overwhelming.”

The family hoped to find a buyer who understood the significance of the land and would honor the family’s history, Becker said.

“It was important to us that the transition wasn’t just a sale but a continuation of our family’s legacy,” she said. “We wanted a partner who would be mindful of the land’s potential and respectful of its past, and we’re grateful that’s exactly what we found.”

Ultimately, Rob Kurtenbach, one of the listing agents, connected the family with Kelly Construction. He knew CEO Kyle Kelly had been looking for his next development site and liked the area.

“It’s not often in our business that you recommend getting the buyer and seller in the room together. But this situation was different,” Kurtenbach said.

“Kyle is someone who develops and builds an excellent product. But he’s also someone that cares about honoring the legacy of the family. Kyle is a farm kid himself and can appreciate the hard work that a family has put into the land for several generations.”

Kelly immediately was interested in the opportunity.

“As they say in real estate, the three most important factors are location, location and location, and this property has it! It’s sandwiched between three Harrisburg schools and across from Bakker Crossing Golf Course and neighborhood,” Kelly said. “The land is located just south of where South Veterans Parkway will intersect Louise Avenue, making both I-29 and navigating to the east and north side of town a breeze.”

From the beginning, “Kyle and his team stood out because they genuinely listened and understood the emotional weight of this decision for our family,” Becker said, adding that he even wrote a personal letter expressing his understanding of the land’s legacy.

Kurtenbach brought the two together both in Bender’s office and at the family dining room table on the original farm site.

“I was able to meet with the entire family several times. It was great not just to get to know them and their story but also to have an open and direct dialog with them as we moved through the purchase process,” Kelly said.

“That almost never happens, especially in transactions of this size.”

The development, called Allura, will honor the land’s legacy by naming many of the future streets after family members.

The buyer and seller even attended the development’s recent groundbreaking together.

“It meant a lot to be included in that moment — it showed a real respect for our family’s connection to the land,” Becker said.

“It was bittersweet, of course — this land has been a part of our family for generations — but it was also a celebration. A celebration of what has been and of what’s to come.”

A land sale like this “takes a lot of skill to not only put the deal together but to keep the deal together,” Kelly added.

“Rob was an absolute pro. Even when things got tense, he remained calm and gave expert advice. I wouldn’t have wanted to navigate this deal with anyone else. He represented the sellers as well, and I believe they would say the same thing. That takes a special real estate broker to keep both sides of a transaction happy and focused on a positive outcome.”

Kurtenbach now will be marketing Allura’s residential lots, and the first phase of them should go on the market this fall. The plan is to open up 47 lots, which are a combination of daylight, garden level and flat lots, ranging from one-quarter of an acre to a full acre.

“This will be a highly sought-after neighborhood, both for individuals looking for their future dream home location as well as builders who have been waiting for a south-side development to come to the market for several years,” he said. “There just aren’t any lots to build on in south Sioux Falls. We are expecting phase one lots to go very quickly.”

In the first few weeks since the development was announced, a list of 100 builders and individuals grew.

Throughout the process, the family remained “extremely grateful” for the partnership that was built with Bender and Kelly Construction, Becker added.

“Their guidance, respect and collaboration throughout this process have meant so much to our family. It’s reassuring to know that the future of this land is in such capable and thoughtful hands,” Becker said. “We truly believe this next chapter will honor our family’s legacy and make the Oppold family proud for generations to come.”

To be among the first to view the site plan, receive updates and gain early access to lot availability in this legacy community, visit alluralots.com and join the VIP list today.