Dakota Commercial and Development Company along with Hopfauf Custom Builders are being given a chance to help rebuild downtown Mandan, which has been turned into a series of parking lots through the diesel contamination clean up.

On Tuesday, for five hours, a special committee listened to presentations by three companies on their proposals for redevelopment of empty lots along the 200 block of West Main Street and the corner of Main Street and Collins Avenue. The committee recommended to the city commission Grand Forks-based Dakota Commercial and Mandan's own Hopfauf.

Mayor Ken LaMont, a member of the selection committee, called it a big day for Mandan.

"These are major developers and for them to display confidence in our community felt good," LaMont said. "The companies made three extremely high quality, multi-million dollar proposals for Mandan. It just means so much for our community to see that kind of confidence displayed."

Business development director Ellen Huber said that Dakota Commercial is proposing to build a 45,000 square foot, multi story building with 40 market rate apartments and a 64,000 square foot multi-story building with 55 market rate apartments for the 200 West Main block. The developer is considering commercial for the ground floor if enough demand is shown; otherwise it will all be residential housing.

Mike and Geris Hopfauf are working with the Sevens Seas' Shannon Gangl, who holds Bennigan's Grill and Tavern franchise rights. The Hopfaufs will build a three-story building on the corner of Collins Avenue and Main Street resembling the historic hotel which was torn down last summer. The ground floor will house the Bennigans and the upper floors will have residential condominiums.

There are conditions tied to the Hopfauf's proposal, as they need to identify parking availability for the restaurant. They have six weeks to resolve the matter.

Huber said that the companies were complementary of the city in being assertive on redevelopment. LaMont said a lot of foot work was done behind the scenes in working with developers, financial institutions and realtors.

Commissioner Tim Helbling made the motion to approve the recommendations made by the selection committee. The commission approved the motion 4-0 as commissioner Dan Ulmer was absent.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)