This paid piece is sponsored by Pendar Properties.

John Niederauer and his wife, Chris, had a long talk in 2021 that ended in an agreement: One year.

“She gave it one year to live down here,” said Niederauer, who moved with his wife from Miller, S.D. to downtown Sioux Falls, living first at the Carpenter building and most recently at Railyard Flats.

As it turned out, leaving behind a century-old home and large yard for downtown views of the Big Sioux River was something “we really liked,” he said.

“We’re right on the bike path, we can walk to the Washington Pavilion and the Levitt for shows, and restaurants. And now that it’s been almost two years, we decided we might as well make an investment.”

They’re among several new condominium owners at Cherapa Place, where The Bancorp building will welcome its first condo owners later this year. There’s only one available condo remaining.

“It is a really special product, with only 11 condos on top of this structure,” said Anne Haber, co-owner of developer Pendar Properties. “Condo buildings are rare in Sioux Falls, especially downtown, and I think the location has been appealing combined with the exclusive feel. There’s not a bad view in the entire building.”

The Niederauers agree.

“We like sunsets, so the place we’re buying faces the west, and being around the water with ducks and geese flying by is great,” he said. “There’s a lot more entertainment down here than we anticipated and more people are going to it. We’re excited to have a fireplace and fire pit and be able to sit up there and look at the river, with a view right next to the Arc of Dreams and the sunset against the Orpheum.”

Like other condo others, the Niederauers have worked in close collaboration with their designers of choice, Twetten’s Interior Design, and the building’s contractor, Journey Group.

“We’ve had a lot of help and just need to give a yes or no as they come up with most of the ideas and incorporate it,” Niederauer said.

“We’ve got a big, long deck with a lot of seating and the outside wall is 10-foot glass with a set of doors you can walk through from the living room out to the patio.”

Other condo owners also are making their spaces highly custom, Haber said.

“We’ve seen floor-to-ceiling windows, wrap-around patios, heaters on patios, even personal turf on the patio for doors and we’ve gone so far as to put in a doggy dog,” she said. “With the interiors, some people are putting in saunas, so really all the things you would find in a luxury home you can have here downtown.”

All Cherapa condo owners have access to a private entertaining space on the ninth floor with an indoor-outdoor fireplace and personal wine fridges and cupboards.

“They also have access to the third floor interconnect for meeting and entertaining, as well as convenient underground parking, storage options and the extensive courtyard,” Haber said.

The one remaining condo is about 1,700 square feet on the ninth floor, facing west.

“Once you purchase the shell, it’s yours to customize in any way you’d like,” Haber said.

The next phase of residential opportunity at Cherapa Place involves pre-leasing to customize a future apartment.

The development is pre-leasing its fourth building, The Dakota, where residents can begin selecting their future lofts.

“With certain units, those who pre-lease at this stage will be able to select finishes and upgrades in many cases,” Haber said.

“Those could include choosing your style of quartz, bathroom upgrades and opting for extra assistance with your technology or even planters and gardening help on the patio.”

For many residents, “this allows you to still have options and to secure a longer-term lease, without the investment and more intensive decision-making that comes with a condo,” she continued.

The Dakota is scheduled to open in mid-2024, including 109 apartments.

Residents who also are looking for downtown loft living without the need for customization can reserve apartments at Cherapa’s companion building, the Clark, which will offer 124 apartments and open in April 2024.

“Both of these buildings are beautiful,” Haber said. “The Canadian mass timber is stunning and creates such a warm environment like no place else.”

The Dakota’s first floor also will include an expansive fitness center unlike any in Sioux Falls, she added.

“It’s going to be amazing and include outdoor fitness space, with everything from yoga to virtual classes,” she said. “It will serve the entire Cherapa complex, and we’re excited to share more about it.”

To learn more about residential opportunities at Cherapa Place, email [email protected] or click here.