Gordon Doell, a Saskatchewan land developer, platted Silver Springs with a plan to sell lots to builders, who could then market them to homeowners. Like many developments launched during the oil boom, the project stalled when the boom reached its end. However, Doell believes there’s still potential for the 400-lot property, which has infrastructure already in place.

“We’ve already got all of our input costs in. So now, it’s just a matter of finding the right people to come in and build it out,” he said. “The development is there. It’s ready to go if anybody knows how to build on schedule, on budget.”

Silver Springs started as a Greenfield master plan community development.

“Back in 2012, when we started off with the first phase called Brookside, it received immediate market acceptance. It really grew fast,” Doell said.

Homes are in various stages of construction along a street in Silver Springs Oct. 11.

A large number of lots were then sold to different builders, and a second phase called Stonebrook was built, which includes a community park and walking and biking trails. The lower-density subdivision built around natural environmental features received a Master Plan Community Development Award in 2015.

“When the oil turned off, so did the market. We just kind of put the file on the side of our desk,” Doell said.

Doell continues to work with builders who want to erect houses. Finding a developer willing and able to launch another full phase of the project has been challenging.

In early 2022, a developer looking to build out in Silver Springs came in with plans for more single-family homes, townhomes, a commercial development and possibly an apartment building. The last activity in Silver Springs was in 2022, when 10 building permits were issued.

Tax records at the end of July showed more than $45,000 owing in back taxes by Silver Springs Development for 2022.

Harvest Heights and Highlands Ranch, both oil boom developments at Burlington, have seen construction on many of the available lots. However, tax records show several parcels owned by developers in the subdivisions were delinquent for 2022 as of the end of July, and three Highlands Ranch parcels came into Ward County ownership a couple of years ago for unpaid taxes.

A modular home subdivision that broke ground at Berthold in 2014 did not survive the changes that came when the Bakken oil boom slowed.

Developers planned to make 75 homes available initially in the 240-lot Prairie Rose Estates, which had land to accommodate up to 1,000 homes had demand existed.

The community waited four years for the North Dakota Development Group to hurdle obstacles, leaving the residents guardedly optimistic when there appeared to be progress in 2014. However, since then, the site has returned to farmland.

Jumpstarting developments good for tax rolls

In addition to providing more housing in the Minot community, the city’s efforts to jumpstart arrested developments could help get a number of properties out of tax delinquency.

Minot’s 55th Crossing is facing the biggest hurdles currently with more than 280 parcels owing back taxes, mostly for 2022 but a few as far back as 2020. Tax records also show 47 properties in Bolton Heights with 18 properties at Skyport, both in northwest Minot, were in tax arrears for 2022 as of the end of July.

There are other developments in Minot that owe back taxes, too, but they haven’t been identified by the City of Minot as arrested developments.