Oppidan Apartment Complex | Video

Chris Williams | 8/17/2012

After taking a tour of oil country, developers at Oppidan noticed that Williston was missing one thing.

"We got our start in Williston, when we met with the economic development folks. There was a glaring need, there was just a lot of action going on here, lot of business going on. What we heard over and over is there is a lack of housing," said Project Developer Jay Moore.

That jump-started Oppidan to switch from their normal commercial building to residential building.

"That was the wake up call for us to try and get some land right away. We saw this opportunity here on university commons. We acquired two lots this spring the first building is going on right now, and it`s scheduled to be completed in October," Moore added.

Their transition into residential development has been rather smooth.

"The residential development isn`t that much different than commercial. It`s a function of acquiring land, and getting all your entitlement work done, hire an architect, and design a good product," added Moore.

The owners of this complex will be in Minnesota, but someone will be on site to handle questions from tenants.

"As far as having plumbers available, lawn care, snow removal, stuff like that on a hands in basis. Is generally handled by the onsite property manager," said Property Manager Gerard Feist.

The manager will live inside the building, and will be able to answer any questions residents might have. There will also be a special way for visitors and residents to get inside the building.

"You have to have a key to get in, if you wanted to come over and see someone that lived here, there`s a key pad where you`d buzz in. For example, number 204 and you hit the buzzer, and there`s an intercom system in there," said Feist.

University Commons is available for anyone who is looking for a place to live.

"We`re getting at a point now where we can take the general public, offer them a place to live, so we`re not turning the general public down all the time," added Moore.

Apartment developers say the first building will be ready by mid October.

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