The Shade Tree/Prairie View Development Project was very controversial when proposed. Many neighborhood residents were concerned that they would be displaced and homeless as the housing was remodeled. Many residents made their fears known. City staff and City Council members made a committment to the families that non-one would be displaced. That there would be relocation and everyone would be taken care of. The Developer did take the issues seriously and did build replacement housing. On The surface, things looked like they were being improved. However, as we look beneath the surface, it is much more disturbing.
After nearly two years of substandard living and delapitation of the existing property, two buildings were "razed". the origial units totalled 32 with many 3 bedroom apartments for families. The new units will total 24-2 bedroom units. The replacement housing was built on the southside of Moorhead ans 30 new three bedroom apartments came to be the Moorhead Townhomes Project. Unfortunately, non of the Families in the Shade Tree/Prairie View Development Project were actually relocated to the new relacement housing. The families were left with the delapitated housing, many were forced to move elsewhere and several families have lived in the sustandard buildings since this project was developed.
