MOORHEAD, MINN. (KFGO) – Moorhead city leaders are a step closer to selling city hall and the surrounding property it owns at the Moorhead Center Mall to Roers Development. City officials first announced they were exploring the possibility of such a sale in May.
Monday, the city council voted to enter a pre-development deal and option with Roers to buy the property. City Manager Christina Volkers says the project is part of Moorhead’s plan to redevelop the downtown, much of which was demolished during urban renewal decades ago. She says this is a “key part” of revitalizing downtown and there is lots of interest in getting that done.
Chief Executive Jim Roers says the redevelopment will bring new life to downtown. He told council members his development company has no intention of a take-over of properties in the mall now owned privately. He said, “We intend to partner with every one of you.” Roers added that this project is so large it will take more than one company to pull this off and get it done right.”
Moorhead City Attorney John Shockley says the project has “unique challenges” and is a “unique opportunity.”
Business owners own or lease their space in the mall while the city owns the hallways, parking lots and parking ramp.