Jan. 28, 2012--With a Colorado-based company's plans for construction, South Heart may soon be home to an 80-room hotel and other developments.

Centerra Development Co. intends to open an office in Dickinson and develop commercial properties including a hotel, restaurant and apartment complex, said Tom Davidson, president of the company.

The hotel will have at least 80 rooms and will be constructed in north South Heart in the spring, he said.

"We're hoping to do a lot of projects in that area in the next few years -- South Heart, Dickinson, that overall area," said Kirk Tsiaperas, financing director for Centerra Development.

Plans will evolve, Davidson said.

The brand of hotel and other details have not been determined, he added.

The property, south of Highway 10, was a good place to begin in North Dakota, Tsiaperas said.

"It's just kind of amazing the growth that's going on up there," said Kim Bradley, program manager. "It's a huge black gold rush that's going on right in your town and we're all very excited."

South Heart Mayor Floyd Hurt feels the city of about 310 people will welcome the development.

"I think that'd be good for the town," he said.

The city has about five businesses and its two apartment buildings are full, Hurt added.

Hurt is open to updating infrastructure to accommodate the development.

"As of now, I think our infrastructure can handle it, but in the future if this comes to be, we might have to expand our lagoon," Hurt said.

Davidson wants to have an office open in Dickinson in March.

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