T’s Corner
My wife and I tried really hard to stay on the balcony of our VRBO condo at New Smyrna Beach, FL…but nobody contributed to my “Keep Tristan and Sarah at the Beach” GoFundMe so we had to come home. Enjoyed some relaxing time at the beach - and even snuck in a trip to the Kennedy Space Center that was WAY cool.
Got back just in time for all the 4th of July stuff. We were pretty laid back but it was fun to see everyone celebrating. My son and I hiked up Boulder Hill to watch the fireworks over Mt Rushmore. Side view, but didn’t have to deal with traffic. Then, as usual, we sat in the boat in front of our house and watched our neighbors complete on who spent the most money on fireworks. Quite the show! haha
Let’s find a way to slow down and relax the next few weeks so the summer don’t go by quite so quick - right?
Keep Being Awesome,
Tristan
Bi-Weekly roundup
What news caught the most eyeballs or stirred up the most trouble?
Knollwood Park Redevelopment Project—officially approved at just over 2.8 million dollars in total investment. This isn’t just a “spruce it up and throw in a bench” kind of deal. This is a full-scale transformation of a roughly 16 to 17 acre site on the north side of Rapid City that’s been sitting underutilized for years. The vision includes a paved loop trail system for walking and biking, wide enough for emergency access… plus new lighting throughout the park to improve safety after dark.
Two buildings, 206,000 square feet total, and 132 apartment units ranging from studios all the way up to three bedrooms. Some of those units hit around 1,500 square feet, which for an apartment is legitimately roomy. And they are ready for move-ins. Building A has 16,800 square feet of ground-floor commercial space with 54 apartments above it. Building B has underground parking and 78 units above that.
In 2025, tourism alone generated $776.2 million in total economic impact right here in Rapid City. That’s not just visitors snapping photos at Mount Rushmore or passing through the Black Hills—that’s real money flowing through hotels, restaurants, shops, gas stations, and local attractions. We’re talking about 3.93 million visitors coming into the city in a single year. And they spent roughly $527.3 million directly in local businesses.
The City Had Meetings…
Rapid City Planning Commission (June 25, 2026)
Medical Waste Storage Lot Variance Denied: The commission voted to deny a variance request that would have allowed a medical waste transport company to use a gravel/asphalt milling surface instead of hard surfacing for a storage lot at 2526 Marlin Drive. Commissioners and staff cited concerns over potential medical waste spills seeping into the ground and dust negatively impacting the nearby residential neighborhood
Kelly's Sports Lounge Temporary Parking Agreement: The board approved a temporary, one-year variance to reduce the required parking at 780 Mountain View Road to 114 spaces. This allows Kelly's Sports Lounge to enter a shared parking agreement while the owner finalizes the purchase of the adjacent Subway property to build a dedicated parking lot
New Industrial and Business Park: The commission approved preliminary subdivision plans for the Black Hills Industrial Center, paving the way for future industrial uses, potentially including data centers and battery manufacturing. They also approved a series of rezoning requests north of Mall Drive to create a tiered-zoning business park that places commercial and office uses as a buffer between residential areas and new light industrial lots
Rapid City Public Works Committee (June 30, 2026)
Leaking Polybutylene Water Lines: During public comment, a resident raised concerns about 56 leaking polybutylene feeder water lines in the Ridge View Road and Panorama Circle area, noting that the continuous leaks are causing significant land movement and landslides. The committee directed the public works director to meet with the neighborhood to discuss a long-term replacement plan.
$5 Million Recycling Grant: Public Works Director Mike Ty presented a strategic business plan to accept a nearly $5 million Solid Waste Infrastructure for Recycling (SWIFR) grant from the EPA. The funds will be used to install a cardboard screen to accept curbside glossy cardboard, launch a commercial recycling program, and secure the north remote drop-off site to reduce contamination. The committee unanimously acknowledged the presentation and moved the item forward.
Farrar Business Park Collector Street: The committee discussed an exception request to waive the construction of a $2 million collector street for a minor land-swap plat. To protect taxpayers from footing the bill for the road later, the item was continued for two weeks so staff and the applicant could explore alternative lot configurations
Rapid City Legal & Finance Committee (July 1, 2026)
Real America Birthday Bash: The committee formally acknowledged volunteers for the Real America Birthday Bash to ensure they are covered by the city's workers' compensation policy. The committee also discussed the $58,000 expense of placing concrete Jersey barricades around the event to protect pedestrians from errant vehicles, which was paid for through event fundraising.
Support for EPA Recycling Grant: Following another presentation from the Public Works Director, the committee threw its support behind the $5 million EPA recycling grant, praising the department's visionary approach and encouraging future collaboration with the South Dakota School of Mines to find local uses for recycled materials.
Rapid City City Council (July 6, 2026)
New Council Members and Leadership: The city swore in five newly elected council members: Josh Bdorf, Lindsey Serris, Kevin Maher, John Roberts, and Laura Armstrong. Following the oaths of office, the council elected Steven Tamang as the new Council President and Cali Meyer as Vice President.
Parks and Recreation Master Plan Adopted: The council unanimously adopted the city's first-ever Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which will serve as a guiding document for park infrastructure and tax dollar spending over the next 10 to 15 years.
EPA Recycling Grant Officially Approved: The council officially voted to authorize the acceptance of the $4.97 million SWIFR grant from the EPA
Data Center Noise Warning: During public comment, a citizen warned that a proposed high-density data center using air-cooled infrastructure could violate South Dakota's strict public nuisance laws regarding noise. The citizen formally demanded the city require an acoustic model proving the facility will stay under the 45-decibel limit before issuing permits.
Dispute Over Revoked Dispensary License: Representatives for Puffy's Dispensary addressed the council regarding a "deemed forfeited" letter they received for their Emerson Lane location. The attorneys argued the city's revocation was based on a clerical error regarding state certification dates and requested the council nullify the letter to avoid litigation.
Limestone Mining Rezonings Approved: Despite severe public pushback from a resident citing dust and blasting damage near St Elizabeth Seton Catholic School, the council approved multiple rezoning requests for GCC Dakota Inc to expand their mining and earth resources extraction operations. The approvals passed with a protest vote requesting better long-term reclamation planning to turn the future pits into community assets like amphitheaters or parks
The Deep Dive
The Case FOR TIFs….
I know - you’ve had it with all the talk of TIFs.
Certainly the powers that be are going nutso with them all. Shouldn’t we just nix them? Shouldn’t those rich developers and corporations pay for their access here?
Tossing out every TIF because a few have been controversial is a little like swearing off restaurants because one time your burger showed up looking like it lost a fight. A bad experience doesn't automatically mean the entire concept is broken. Admittedly I was on the fence about Liberty Land. But the Sports Complex? Adding a business park next to said Sports Complex? E Anamosa Street to Elk Vale connectors? No brainers.
Done right, these programs are not only beneficial for our area, but I would argue needed.
Why they Still Matter
Infrastructure has to come first. Before you can build homes, businesses, or neighborhoods, you need roads, water, sewer, utilities, and traffic improvements. That's kind of like building a house. Nobody gets excited about paying for plumbing, but you'll notice pretty quickly if it isn't there.
Businesses aren't charities. Every company—from a local coffee shop to a national retailer—has to make money. If the numbers don't work, they simply won't build there. That's not greed; that's how businesses stay in business. If they can’t make the numbers work, they ain’t coming. Chick Fil A wouldn’t have said yes to coming here without some help. Other businesses aren’t going to do the development. The business parks/infrastructure/utilities have to be there first before they even gonna consider it. Aldi’s ain’t gonna hire people to make a parcel of land work.
Rapid City has geography working against it...and for it. Living in the Black Hills is pretty amazing. BUUUTTTT….getting construction materials, equipment, and supplies here isn't always as amazing. Our distance from larger population centers and normal distribution routes often means higher costs and more logistical challenges than cities located along major metro corridors.
Sometimes a little help brings a lot more investment. A TIF can make a project financially possible, leading to millions of dollars in private investment that may never have happened otherwise.
Growth attracts more growth. One successful development often encourages the next one. New businesses create jobs, attract customers, and give other companies confidence that Rapid City is worth investing in.
Everyone benefits over time. Once a TIF district ends, the roads, utilities, and other infrastructure don't disappear. The city keeps them, the businesses keep operating, and the improved properties generate more tax revenue than an empty field ever could.
More choices for all of us. More restaurants, shopping, housing, entertainment, and employers don't just benefit newcomers. They make life better for the people who already call Rapid City home.
It's Okay to Ask Questions
Supporting TIFs doesn't mean supporting every TIF.
Every project should stand on its own merits. It's healthy for taxpayers to ask questions, expect transparency, and hold local leaders accountable for how these tools are used.
But it's also worth remembering what we're trying to accomplish.
If we want Rapid City to continue growing, attract quality employers, improve infrastructure, and compete with other communities for investment, we need tools that help make those projects possible.
TIFs aren't magic, and they're certainly not perfect. But when they're used wisely, they're less like handing out free money and more like planting a tree. It takes time before you enjoy the shade, but once it grows, everyone gets to sit under it.
Local Business Highlight
Black Hills Card Shop
Rapid City is getting another strong addition for collectors, families, and hobby culture. Black Hills Card Shop is officially set up at 628 6th Street in downtown Rapid City.
This isn’t just a “browse and leave” kind of store. The shop is branding itself as “Everything TCG” - trading card games, collectibles, and hobby supplies, all locally owned and operated right here in the Black Hills.
Inside, you can expect the heavy hitters of the hobby world—Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, plus sports cards and collectibles—along with supplies, accessories, and what they’re calling a mix of everyday inventory plus “hidden distributor finds,” meaning rare and rotating stock that keeps collectors coming back.
Real Estate Corner
Price Reduction of the Week
5520 Coal Bank Road
Rapid City SD
Listed by Rich Hegre, Engel and Volkers BH
4 Bedrooms
3 Bathrooms
2,163 Total Sq Feet
2 Car Garage
$419,500
Was listed at $429,900. Almost new home - yard, fence, window coverings included. :)
Looking to Buy a Home or Check out Home Values?
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That’s a Wrap
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Your Rapid City REALTOR®
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Tristan Emond
The Emond Team
Mindful Living Realty
1511 West Blvd
Rapid City SD 57701
605-391-7086
www.rapidhomesonline.com
