Bakken Housing Summit Focasts Record Numbers In Housing Construction

The oil boom in the Bakken has made available housing in the oil patch become almost nonexistent. With housing shortages being one of the biggest problems of the current oil boom more than 350 people from 33 states attended the Bakken Housing Summit in Williston.

The sold out summit this past week gave stakeholders and service providers opportunity to connect and conduct business. The presentations offered valuable market information and perspectives.

Engineer and surveyor companies attended the summit along with building suppliers. Representatives from Superior Homes, Clark Realty and Kadrmas, Lee, and Jackson were also among many other corporations trying to make connections and solve the housing crisis in the Bakken.

Man camps have been a way to house those working in the oil fields but communities in the Bakken are seeking ways for them to bring their families. A plethora of RV Parks have appeared in the area but is a hard way of life for families of men working in the oil fields.

Housing has become a major focus of building the Bakken communities. Families are needed to sustain communities with workforce shortages in areas such as retail, schools, medical and law enforcement.

A goal of the summit was that of building 5,000 homes in 24 months in Williston. In addition, ground was broken last week in Williston for the new Northwest development that promises more than 1,300 multi-family units and more than 200-thousand square feet of retail space as well as a 157-room hotel.

Watford City has recently approved the development of multi-family units within the next two years. With the potential to have 2,400 apartment units under construction this summer they are expecting the biggest construction ever seen.

Construction is nearing completion of a 12-unit housing complex in Sidney. The construction of larger multi-family subdivisions are in the beginning stages.

North Dakota has gone from being the ninth-leading oil-producing state to the second-leading producer in the past six years, passing California and Alaska just this year. Officials expect the need for housing to reach the biggest ever seen in the Bakken communities.