16-05-2025
Ray Richards neighbors want UND to pursue other options; UND says this is best way to cover course's deficit
May 15—GRAND FORKS — Rather than move forward with development plans at Ray Richards Golf Course, residents who live nearby told UND representatives that the university should pursue other options.
The discussion came during a neighborhood meeting Thursday evening at UND.
The university is proposing to construct 300 rental units, a year-round driving range and other entertainment, and a home for UND's golf team on the east and southeast sides of the course. Residents and UND representatives
met in late April
about the proposal and many of the same points were rehashed Thursday.
The residents at Thursday's meeting were largely against the proposal.
"I am appalled that you would do this to these people who are saying simply stop and look at what you're doing to us," neighborhood resident Sherry Houdek told UND representatives. "I don't think you are at all looking at what is aligned in any of your plans that you tout as being a very important mission and vision."
Others added that UND and the city should have done more to alert a higher number of nearby residents about Thursday's meeting, especially given that the area is home to Altru's new hospital and Century Elementary School. UND and the city were only required to alert residents within 800 feet of the proposed site.
"I know there must be a code of how far that you have to advise people of this type of rezoning, but I think it's totally inadequate," Mona Leake said. "I just don't see how this is going to benefit our neighborhoods."
Elected representatives of the area also have their concerns about the project and have heard the concerns of the neighborhood.
"I hear all these comments and I want to compliment every one of you on the decorum (you display)," said state Rep. Eric Murphy, a Republican from District 43, which encompasses the area. "This is an upsetting thing. I don't particularly care for it, but I want to hear from you."
City Council member Ken Vein, who
voted against the project's tax incentive pre-application,
said he still has questions but has appreciated UND coming forth with ideas.
"I have two issues. One is the loss of the golf course, which I would never want to see happen, but also the detrimental impacts of what's maybe being proposed," Vein said. "There are a lot of things that have to happen, but I do see the Ray Richards Golf Course as a public asset of significance and once it's gone, it's gone forever."
If development of some sort doesn't move forward, selling the golf course could be an option. According to UND President Andy Armacost, the course is losing around $400,000 to $600,000 a year. The course was closed from 2016 to 2020 due to state budget cuts and needed improvements and will be closed again for two years when the nearby 42nd Street underpass is constructed.
Two previous proposals for which UND sought bids never attracted bidders. One was in 2015 for a restaurant and clubhouse to generate additional revenue and, shortly after, another for private management of the course. This latest proposal for apartments and a driving range only had one qualified bidder.
"We're trying to find a way to make a great project that benefits the entire city of Grand Forks, but also mitigating the concerns that you have," Armacost said. "We have been trusted to run a golf course by the Ray Richards family. We can't do that without additional sources of revenue."
For the developed portions, UND would still own the land, but lease it to the developer for the apartments and receive payments. That amount would hopefully be enough to mitigate the course's deficit, according to Armacost.
The land on the west side of the course can't be used for development because additional access off 42nd Street wouldn't be allowed after the underpass construction. Other issues include the limited funds to rehabilitate the course as part of the underpass project and because of the stormwater drainage needs of the neighborhood.
Residents said that they would prefer townhomes or owner-occupied housing, like what exists to the south. However, the city has a demand for apartments with a vacancy rate of less than 3%, which, if it continues to remain that low, will drive up rents citywide, Grand Forks Director of Community Development and Planning Ryan Brooks said.
"In the last two years, we have not handed out any new permits (for apartments)," Brooks said. "There is a concern about where our apartments are at in terms of future livability and what the rents are going to be."
At present, the land surrounding the golf course is a mix of apartments and townhouses. The land is zoned in the University District, which is a wide zoning designation ranging from Ray Richards to the heart of UND's campus. A rezoning would be needed for the commercial aspects of the project.
The project still has a long way to go and needs numerous approvals from Grand Forks city staff, planning and zoning commissioners and City Council before UND could even begin on the site. UND has said the goal would be
to have construction occur while the course is closed for 42nd Street construction.
