Every time I drive through the southwestern part of ever-expanding Fargo, I think of Minneapolis MN. Minneapolis used to stand by itself with a big interesting downtown area but somewhere along the line, quite a few year years ago, develelopers began to build housing outward from the city limits followed by strip malls and other businesses which led to more housing developments and thus, more strip malls. You can drive south out of Minneapolis proper and follow that development, strip mall by strip mall, and housing area by housing area. Schools, golf courses, parks, more streets and avenues also must be constructed. Growth in the Minnepolis area has been rampant and aggressive, ever moving farther and farther south, north, and west. The river (Mississippi) stops the growth to the east. Now it is happening just like that in Fargo, North Dakota and I am not very certain that it is all that pleasing. Just like the development around Minneapolis, some of the most fertile and productive farmland in the world is being paved under by the relentless developments of housing, strip malls, shopping centers,and all the accoutrements of a very large metropolitan area. I know, I know…..you cannot stop progress and I am not about to try stopping it, as if I could! I just don’t like it. I do not like the way small town businesses have been killed off as relentlessly as the development has gone wild. Now in today’s FORUM there is a question in the "talk about it" section of the paper: "What do you think of another Wal-Mart going in, in south Fargo?" It is pretty interesting to read the commentary on this question. I am old enough to remember when you had to drive for several miles in open fields to get from Fargo to West Fargo!!! That is long-gone. I even remember the brick paving on old downtown Broadway and the 4-5 "Five and Dime" stores that were so dear to my heart. I remember when the NDSU campus ended at the "Fieldhouse" where only open fields to the north were visible!!! Progress and growth bring development and Fargo is the fastest-growing area in North Dakota as more and more rural people choose to retire here and more and more people seek work in the city. Minneapoli-zation is the enevitable result but I still do not like it and I wish the farmland were not being destroyed in the process.
Well said, I don’t like it either.
I completely agree with Buffalo Gal,
I was back in West Fargo (my home town) this last November. Twice I almost drove past the turn to go to my parents house off of 13th Avenue (13th Avenue and 9th Street East). I almost missed it because of all the business lights that have overwhelmed 13th Avenue. One thing that I would add that it seems a person can now eat at a different chain restaurant everyday for an entire month. Way to go Fargo, keep supporting big box retailers and chain restaurants. Soon Fargo will look identical to any other Minneapolis suberb.
Speaking of that I have heard that St. Cloud is included as part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area for statistical purposes. Maybe Fargo residents will be lucky enough to be included in that demographic in another 15-20 years.
Thanks to the two comment-ers so far; I am in total agreement with both of them. Jeff talked about the “big box” businesses that are taking over the Fargo metro area….it is true and I well remember a letter to the editor from an astute member of the community when the Big Doughnut chin store came in; he urged community members to suport local business in a most convincing way and I have been doing that ever since reading his letter a few years ago.
It’s inevitable. More and more people are realizing what a great place Fargo is to live. With unemployment at something like 1.2% (one of the nation’s lowest), the crime rate as low as it is, and decent median income relative to the median price in housing, who wouldn’t want to live in Fargo? It’s a no brainer! People want things cheap and they want convenience, if a small business can’t apply this to their business model I guess it’s time to pack up shop and leave town. If your so concerned about protecting small town businesses, I think you should be driving to the Kindred’s, Leonard’s and Gardner’s of this world to do your shopping.
One more thought just occured to me. I think the FM area could use some more apartment buildings. The last time I was in town I remember thinking, “where could a guy find an empty apartment to live in if he didn’t want to buy a brand new house.”