Developer hoping to build more apartments, new Senior Center in downtown Watertown (Audio)

March 9, 2020
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.—A Fargo developer is working on plans that will transform the look of downtown Watertown for decades to come.

Jesse Craig, President of Craig Development LLC, is already building 39 new apartment units and 7,000 square feet of retail space on the former Harbor Bar property. It’s a project known as, “The Lofts.”

He’s also building new apartments where the soon-to-be demolished Palace Apartments are located. He’s calling that project, “The Ruins.”

But he’s not stopping there.

In an interview with KWAT News, Craig says he’s got more ideas in the pipeline that he hopes to get started on this summer.

Highlighting those plans would be the construction of a new 11,000 square foot Senior Center, and 72 adjacent apartment units for seniors just north of the Watertown Civic Auditorium. It’s a project he’s calling “Generations on First”…….

Craig says it might require moving the Senior Center to a temporary location for up to a year…

Craig says if his plans come together, the current Senior Center would be torn down…

Craig also has plans to build a 36-unit apartment building called “Parkside Place” where the County Fair Banquet Hall is now located, and adjacent to where a new downtown park is planned.

If it all comes together, Craig says downtown Watertown will be transformed…

Craig says if he gets the necessary approval from the city, he’d like to begin construction on the new Senior Center this summer, and have it open by August 2021.