FARGO - As North Dakota State University was swarming with students on the first day of classes Monday, Aug. 20, a group of residents living around campus voiced concerns about a controversial $25 million expansion project of nearby St. Paul's Newman Center.

Around 20 homeowners living near the Catholic church said they aren't opposed to a new chapel, but the addition of apartments on the property, 1141 University Dr. N., has residents in fear of losing their neighborhood.

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"We're sympathetic to your cause, but we want to talk about this and help shape this project because what you have today is not going to work for us," said Jim Laschkewitsch, a leader in the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association. "Let's talk this over because right now I think we're looking at the death of our neighborhood if you put this project through."

The existing Newman Center just southeast of NDSU's main campus, was built in 1958. Plans of expanding it were first announced in 2016. Since then, the Diocese of Fargo has been working with developers Roers Development and architect Kevin Bartram.

But residents said that a 136-unit apartment with 449 parking spaces is far too dense for the neighborhood. Rather than building multi-family apartments for NDSU, residents said Roosevelt needs more single-family homes to retain and sustain its neighborhood elementary school.

Some residents said that if the project catered to young families who would attend Roosevelt, they may have a different position on plans being considered for development.

The Forum previously reported that Roers plans to raze 17 single-family homes in Roosevelt to make way for the development. Roers has asked the city for a tax incentive to help pay for the demolition of 13 "uninhabitable" homes associated with the project as well.

Roers is requesting a replat of the existing lots, a change in zoning and to modify certain development standards.

"It seems like these developers come in and they get their way," said Les Herbranson, who has lived in Roosevelt since 1982. Herbranson is only against the high-density housing proposal as his children were baptized at Newman and he worked at NDSU for more than 42 years.

The proposed complex would be 70,000 square feet with a 500-seat worship center. Also included in the plans are a student commons area, priests' residence and administrative offices.

Plans haven't been approved, but planners hope to complete the project by 2020.

There will be a planning commission meeting Sept. 4 to go over feedback from residents that will be used to form a recommendation for the commission to vote against or in favor of the project.

Comments on the proposed development can be sent to the Fargo Planning Department, 200 Third St. N., Fargo, N.D. 58102 or email planning@FargoND.gov.