BELFIELD - Crews will break ground this spring on the first phase of the biggest development Belfield has ever seen.
Just north across Interstate 94, American Landmark Group is planning a multi-use development that its partners say could jumpstart development farther north of the Stark County town along Highway 85.
"We're platted, we're ready to go," said Mitch Beckstead, managing partner of Salt Lake City-based ALG.
This spring and summer, the company will complete underground utilities work - a challenge in this location, with the water boring under the interstate from a new water tower in Belfield and natural gas coming from three miles to the north. The plans for the new water tower took this project into account, project director Hal Hayman said.
Once ALG gets over the utilities hump, Beckstead and Hayman predict more development will follow and hook in.
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"It's a case of getting the ball rolling," Hayman said.
ALG is in talks with two companies, one of which will end up operating a travel plaza as the gateway to the development, which, along with one hotel and possibly some retail locations like auto repair shops, will be up and running as a result of this coming building season.
Beckstead said North Dakota Department of Transportation data indicates 15,000 cars go by the location on Highway 85 each day. Currently, three gas stations sit at this major elbow of the oilfield, where the interstate meets Highway 85, which takes traffic to Watford City and Williston. The road also leads south to the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Future phases - the project will take three construction seasons - will bring Belfield sit-down restaurants, fast food establishments and its first supermarket.
Belfield Mayor Leo Schneider said he's worried about which businesses will commit to the project with the oil price slowdown, but said he's hopeful for a supermarket.
He said surge funding from the state Legislature will also mean a lot of street projects this construction season in Belfield. Long term, Schneider said the town needs permanent housing, not mobile homes, to attract families.
The ALG development includes two spaces for hotels, which could be either extended-stay for workers or higher-end hotels for oil executives visiting on a short-term basis, Beckstead said. He said the hotel space has been the most sought-after of the project, with at least a half-dozen hospitality companies reaching out.
City officials said the supermarket was a top priority when ALG representatives asked what the town needed.
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The Belfield Crossing market will be 40,000 to 50,000 square feet.
"We'd like to do that for the town," Beckstead said.
