MITCHELL — More housing is now available in Mitchell.
The Mitchell Area Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting and open house Thursday afternoon for Van Buskirk Companies’ new Wheatridge Townhomes at 920 W. Norway Ave.
The newly built townhomes include eight units with a private drive tucked behind the Wheatridge Apartments and The Meadows condos on West Norway Avenue.
The 1,196 square-foot townhomes are available to rent and have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, matching Amana-brand appliances, and attached two-stall garages. Van Buskirk started construction on the project in fall 2025 and finished in June.
Monthly rent is $1,975 with a $450 security deposit and $50 administrative fee. Residents would be responsible for electricity, gas, trash, and Internet. Homes have keyless entry, in-unit laundry, are pet friendly, and have snow removal and lawn care built-in to the rent. Wheatridge is waiving the $60 application fee through Aug. 1.
Adam Birger, Van Buskirk maintenance and asset operations manager, noted the townhomes will provide low maintenance living.
“Our goal is simple. We want to provide quality places to live, dependable service, and to be a company this community can count on for years to come,” Birger said.
According to Wheatridge Property Manager Sue Hanson, the townhomes are currently vacant, though there had been some interest and applications submitted. Hanson believes the tucked-away townhomes will provide a community feel for residents.
Lori Meier, regional residential property manager at Van Buskirk Companies, noted the property the townhomes sat on was landlocked and that she had pursued its development with Van Buskirk owner Myron Van Buskirk for the previous eight years. Myron Van Buskirk wanted the right floor plan for the project, which was designed in house.
Meier believes there is more demand for townhomes with no-step entries and three bedrooms, and stated there are not many two- or three-bedroom options available in Mitchell.
“We wish it could be more,” Meier said. “There’s a demand for it. There’s nothing better than giving someone a home.”
Hanson noted there were an abundance of electrical outlets and that the townhomes have the same square footage, but unit layouts may have kitchens and bedrooms switched. A garage separates the units, and the interiors have 9-foot ceilings. The garage and front entry provide two access points to the house.
“Everything’s exactly the same,” Hanson said.
The houses are designed to stay cool even with the air conditioning system off and the flat top stove is expected to require less maintenance. The kitchen island is equipped with a garbage disposal and a three-setting faucet. The townhomes have features such as ceiling fans, finishings and double-edge blinds.
Van Buskirk officials said they have more business coming to town, including a custom build at Lake Mitchell and at the First Avenue redevelopment north of Hitchcock Park, which is to break ground in October.
Birger noted Mitchell had been “an important part of (Van Buskirk’s) story for more than 30 years.”
“We’re grateful for the opportunity to invest in this community and continue growing alongside it. Today’s celebration is especially meaningful because it highlights another part of what we do: creating quality spaces for people to call home,” Birger said.
Van Buskirk owns and manages apartment buildings in Mitchell, Sioux Falls, Sioux City, Harrisburg, Brandon, and Watertown.
Marshall Mitchell is a reporter with the Mitchell Republic covering local news and politics. He has over 15 years of experience working with leaders, authors, non-profits, and small businesses in publishing, marketing, and content creation. He moved to Mitchell in December 2024, and can’t wait to hear from you. Reach out to him at mmitchell@mitchellrepublic.com.