July 21, 2022

This paid piece is sponsored by Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

Here’s one sure sign of a community on the rise: new housing being built.

And in Hartford, you don’t have to look far to find it.

The new development Maple Pass is under construction just north of Highway 38 across from the West Central schools.

The 178-unit project is the first multifamily complex in the community for Sioux Falls-based Talon LLC, built by Eagle Construction.

Maple Pass will be home to two 69-unit, three-story apartment buildings and eight five-unit town home buildings. The first apartment building and four town homes are starting construction this summer.

“We’re doing dirt work and getting through logistics and working on final drawings, but everything is on track,” said Gretchen Miller, director of marketing and real estate.

“There is absolutely a need for more housing in Hartford as the Sioux Falls metro area is growing, and with the development of Foundation Park, the proximity of it and all the jobs coming in, we really need to go west of town and go into a city like Hartford.”

Maple Pass will offer residents a playground, fenced dog park and patio area in the center of the complex. Apartments will range from studios through three-bedrooms, while town homes will be two or three bedrooms. Apartment amenities include in-unit laundry, stainless steel appliances and a community area on the main floor.

The overall development includes a segment closest to the highway that will be developed commercially, Miller said.

The first apartment units are scheduled to open next summer.

“It’s such a great community, we really wanted to be part of it and hope to do more,” she said.

Sioux Falls-based Assam Cos. has had a similar experience in the community, Sam Assam said. He broke ground on 80 town home-style units in the Turtle Creek subdivision this spring that are scheduled to be ready by the end of the year.

The area also opened up its second phase of residential lots.

“Lot sales have been good. There are quite a few rooftops coming up,” Assam said. “To me, it’s a sleeper community. When you see what’s going on in Foundation Park and the positions opening up there, I think Hartford is ready to explode. They have a forward-thinking council, and they want development and growth, and they want to see things happen in their community.”

That’s definitely the case, agreed Amy Farr, Hartford’s chamber and economic development director.

“There’s just a lot going on: housing, industrial development, retail and a lot of interest in other opportunities for future development.”

A new Get-n-Go is scheduled to break ground in mid-August as is a new Dairy Queen nearby. The area’s first medical cannabis dispensary is planning to open later this month.

 

There are new owners for the former Backdoor Garden, now Doc Nik’s Flowers and Gifts.

And there are new owners of The Goat Bar & Grill. Bob and Lori Gilliland took it over in May after moving to Hartford nearly two years ago.

“We bought an acreage to flip and decided we liked it, so we sold our home in Sioux Falls and moved here,” Lori Gilliland said. “We had always talked about how we wanted our children to go to a smaller school, and they absolutely love West Central.”

They became regulars at The Goat and decided to take it over when the previous owners were ready to move. They had sold their former business – Childcare Centers – in late 2019 and technically retired, “but we decided a new challenge would be fun,” she said.

“We have received a tremendous amount of support from the community. Hartford is rapidly growing, and we are excited to be a part of it and grow right alongside it.”

They plan to restructure some on the business side and address customer service with a renovation and some new menu items. The Goat’s menu includes appetizers, salads, wraps, sandwiches, burgers, fish and chicken baskets, and skillets.

“Our primary focus will be to continue to provide great food with better service so Hartford and surrounding communities have a clean, fun place to celebrate after sporting events, as well as just a night out for supper as a family,” Gilliland said.

The new owners also are focused on growing their team.

“We have always said that a business is only as good as its employees,” she said. “We hope to build the best team possible and find employees with our same high expectations.”

As more people have the option for hybrid work, Hartford “feels like a bigger daytime population,” Farr said. “I think we’re sitting pretty well for housing, especially with the new opportunities coming. But daily, there are two or three people saying they’re moving to Hartford and asking what they need to know.”

Many businesses are hiring, she added.

“A lot of people are moving here to work at places like Central States Manufacturing or the school district, or because they like the school. And other businesses are hiring – Sunshine, Ace, Hartford Building Center, so there are a variety of employment opportunities.”

Plus, there soon will be more. Black Tie Components recently announced plans for a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in an industrial park on the north end of the city. It will produce wood floor and roof trusses and prefabricated wall panels, initially employing up to 33 people next year and ramping up to 70 within three years.

“And to the north, a truck company is taking 5 acres, hoping to break ground in August,” Farr added.

The community also is investing in infrastructure, with plans for a new wastewater treatment facility, and now is served by Midco.

“And we’re working on an extension of the bike trail, plus a dog park is under construction, which will be a huge amenity that’s been needed,” Farr said.

“And there are different opportunities going on between sports and recreation for kids to participate. I think in general, people just like having a slower pace. Especially if you work all day in Sioux Falls, coming home in Hartford gives you a sense of calm and opportunity to breathe, and it dials in on family.”

Hartford is doing a lot of things right, said Jesse Fonkert, president and CEO of Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

“The community is experiencing the result of years of investment, collaboration and vision, and they’re just getting started,” he said. “Hartford is uniquely positioned around significant employment, plus increasingly has the schools, housing and quality-of-life amenities residents are looking for. It all adds up to big opportunity that Hartford is well on its way to capturing.”