HOUSING DEVELOPMENT COMING TO FREEMAN THIS YEAR
Sand Pike, LLC has announced that development is underway for a DakotaPlex housing project to meet the demand for affordable housing in the Freeman area.
Land for the development is located in the vacant space immediately south of the Freeman Community Center on Wipf Street. Site work will begin in spring, with completion of the first units in the fall of 2021.
Freeman native Gayle Preheim and his wife, Jana, launched Sand Pike, LLC, the company that is facilitating the DakotaPlex project in Freeman. Over the past 18 months, their goal has been to find a way to create affordable housing opportunities in Freeman. When the Wipf Street property became available, they purchased the property with that intent.
The Preheims were contacted by Carol Eisenbeis, development and marketing coordinator for the city of Freeman. Eisenbeis made them aware of DakotaPlex, a housing opportunity made available through the South Dakota Housing Development Authority.
DakotaPlex housing units are constructed by inmates at Durfee State Prison in Springfield and are modeled, in part, after an affordable “Governor’s House” program established in 1996 under the leadership of then-Governor Bill Janklow. A DakotaPlex pilot project was successfully completed in Tyndall late in 2019.
The pre-built units arrive complete with appliances, flooring, and mechanical features. Purchasing these items in bulk provides for considerable cost savings, while the off-site construction shortens the time required for completion. Involving inmates in the construction process also helps to equip those individuals with a valuable skillset they will be able to utilize upon their release.
In addition to being cost-effective, Eisenbeis found the units to be particularly appealing due to the flexibility of their design. One-, two-, and three-bedroom homes are able to be configured as duplex, triplex or quad units. The attached garages are an added plus and can be arranged among the units in various ways.
The Preheims have planned for the first DakotaPlex units to be placed in the southeast corner of the property at Fourth and Relanto. Configured as duplex units, each will feature three bedrooms, two full baths, and an oversized, attached garage. The garages will provide enough room for storage and a small workspace, in addition to a car or truck.
The units are efficient and have an integrated heat pump/air conditioner, open kitchen and concrete drive to the street.
The Wipf Street property, with its mature, stately trees, offers a park-like feel. And its location places it within easy walking distance of the swimming pool, baseball and softball complex, park, picnic area, tennis courts, community center, fitness facility, convenience stores, and multiple employers. In total, the Wipf property could accommodate up to 12 individual units, each with its own attached garage.
The Preheims and Eisenbeis believe that the appealing and convenient setting, along with the high quality and affordability of the units, will provide an excellent opportunity to help meet the demand of the growing number of people who would like to make Freeman their home.
The property will be professionally managed by Christa Helma of Priority Real Estate in Freeman. Sand Pike, however, is currently accepting and will be processing the applications for residents of the first two units. The units are expected to be available for occupancy early in the fourth quarter of 2021.
To inquire or express your interest, email SandPikeLLC@gmail.com.
