Fargo Cass Public Health reminds the community to use basic respiratory illness prevention measures to protect against coronavirus, which includes: washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds; cover a cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash; if a tissue is not available, cough or sneeze on your sleeve; stay home if you are sick; avoid close contact with people who are or appear to be sick; avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth; clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using regular household cleaners or wipes; and rely on credible sources for coronavirus information, such as the North Dakota Department of Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Digital permitting has come to the Inspections Department. All residential permits, such as new homes, remodeling, decks and sheds can now be submitted electronically and completed online. Citizens can submit plans and an application, get status updates via email along with the final step of paying for the permit online when completed. The electronic submittal of commercial projects should happen by 2021.
March is Youth Art Month and the library is holding its annual Design-A-Bookmark Contest for Kids, Teens and Adults through March 31; and the library’s Seed Library is up and running for those new to gardening and don’t know where to start and for those who want to try some new varieties of vegetables, herbs and flowers. The seeds are free and available while supplies last.
There were 1,021 vacant lots with infrastructure in Fargo at the end of 2019, which is 133 less than the 1,154 vacant lots at the beginning of 2019. There were 257 houses permitted on lots within these subdivisions in 2019 and subdivisions with smaller lots had a greater number of houses permitted, led by Bison Meadows with 47 and Eagle Valley with 36. There were 746 lots in the Deer Creek subdivision approved between 2010 and 2013 and houses have been built on 693 of the lots, leaving 53 vacant.
Work is progressing at a steady pace on the Mercantile Ramp and a 370-stall parking garage is currently under construction. The target opening for the parking garage is late fall of 2020. Although there have been some setbacks due to weather, the pile work is 85 percent complete. Excavation has started, and most of the dirt work should be completed by the end of March. A crane was delivered on-site to place reinforcing cages over the piles in preparation for concrete work, which will last through mid-April. In May, precast concrete walls will be put in place and the parking garage will begin to take form. Construction on the mixed-use part of the building is scheduled in mid-April.