Urban farmstead's last acres slated for apartments

The last remaining piece of a century-old farmstead in northeast Sioux Falls might soon be transformed into dozens of multi-story apartments.

For 115 years, the Lacey Estate at the corner of 6th Street and Bahnson Avenue, or at least a portion of it, has survived urban sprawl amid new roads, homes and schools. Time seemingly stood still on the six-acre parcel where Lois and Kelly Brown still keep a few horses in a barn just feet from their wood and stone home.

It was only a matter of time before time caught up, and three years ago the Browns, who declined to comment for this story, put what’s left of the land — first acquired in 1901 by Lois’ great grandmother, Margaret McDonald Lacey — up for sale.

The Browns and Lloyd Companies, which has a purchase agreement in place to buy the land, will ask the city’s planning board this week to rezone the ag land to multi-housing residential so an apartment complex with six buildings and as many as 143 units can be built.

“We’re trying to look at the site overall and see how best to make it a development,” said Erica Beck, vice president of development for Lloyd Companies.

City planning office staff are recommending approval and say the Browns’ property is an ideal fit for a multi-housing development, considering amenities like schools, libraries and parks already exist in the area.

Neighbors who’ve long grown used to the quiet farm and its urban horses aren’t happy about it, though. Teresa Sefer wonders if the existing amenities can handle hundreds more living in the neighborhood and higher traffic demands. Sefer said she had hoped for the property to become a park or even single-family homes.

“We don’t want to look at black top,” Sefer said.

The park concept isn’t a novel one. When the property was first listed for sale, Lois Brown told Argus Leader Media she hoped the city would buy it and use the land for green space or another public use. Jeff Schmitt, chief zoning official for the city, said this week that wasn’t ever going to happen, especially considering the $1.4 million asking price.

“That’s an awfully expensive park,” Schmitt said.

If the planning board Wednesday signs off on the rezone and the city council follows suit, it won’t be the first time the Lacey Estate, or at least parts of it, was repurposed. Anne Sullivan Elementary, Kenny Anderson Park and Washington High School, for example, were all built on land once a part of the Lacey Estate.

“This is just the last few acres of the Lacey homestead,” said Ryan Tysdal, the Lloyd realtor working with the Browns.

Lloyd Companies hopes to break ground on the project next spring, with buildings closest to Sixth Street going up first, Beck said.