Called Second Avenue Rowhomes, this apartment complex is unlike basically any other in the city. There is no main entrance and central corridor. Instead, the apartments are arranged like rowhouses seen in larger cities, with individual entrances to the sidewalk or rear parking lot.

The first tenants moved into the complex in the 900 block of Second Avenue South last fall.

The site was celebrated in October with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Ambassadors of the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance.

Speaking on behalf of the Ambassadors, Craig Schlienz described the Second Avenue Rowhomes as a “beautiful addition to our downtown corridor here.”

-Messenger file photo by Bill Shea
Danny Heggen, center, a partner and the chief financial officer of DEV Partners, is joined by the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance Ambassadors as he snips a ribbon on Oct. 16, 2024, to mark the debut of the Second Avenue Rowhomes.

The rowhomes were developed by DEV Partners, of Des Moines.

Danny Heggen, a partner in that firm who is also its chief financial officer, thanked the city government, MIDAS Council of Governments and Availa Bank for their support on the project.

“It doesn’t happen without all the support,” he said.

He said Second Avenue Rowhomes consists of a total of 32 units in two buildings.

There are 24 one-bedroom units and eight two-bedroom units, he said.

-Messenger file photo by Bill Shea
Danny Heggen, center, a partner and the chief financial officer for DEV Partners, of Des Moines, described the features of the firm’s new Second Avenue Rowhomes in the 900 block of Second Avenue South last fall. The debut of the homes was marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance Ambassdors.

“I would anticipate we’re fully occupied by the end of the year,” Heggen said at the October celebration.

The rowhomes are located on ground that was a city parking lot that had not been used much in recent decades.

Construction began in May 2023, with Shyft Collective, of Des Moines, as the general contractor.

DEV Partners purchased buildings at 700 Central Ave. and 1109 Central Ave. in 2021.

Heggen said his firm now has 50 units in the market.

He said there is still a demand for housing in Fort Dodge, and he wants to do more projects in the local market.

“You have my attention,” he said. “I want to see what else we can do here.”