Cherry Lake Reserve: Like No Other

A Sioux Falls developer has big plans for the west side of the city.

Van Buskirk Companies wants to rezone a piece of land at the intersection of Highway 42 and Ellis Road where there's an old gravel pit owned by Jim Soukup. If all goes according to plan it'll soon be an urban development like no other in Sioux Falls.

The old gravel pit may not look like much now, but it could be the only place in the city where you could soon build on lakefront property.

"We've had a couple of little lakes on the east side in rural subdivisions, but to be in an urban development right next to a lake, it's definitely a first of its kind," Steve Van Buskirk of Van Buskirk Companies said.

The Soukup family envisioned such a development for years.  Now Van Buskirk wants to rezone the land to develop 160 lots around what's been named Cherry Lake Reserve for extravagant homes, retail and office space and a couple of restaurants overlooking the water. 

"Imagine how fantastic that will be sitting here, watching the west sun go down over top of the lake, it's just something we don't have in Sioux Falls, we think it could be a destination spot where people go for a romantic dinner, maybe even a tourist spot," Van Buskirk said.

People who build in Cherry Lake Reserve could have access to the water for kayaking and paddle boating. Plus, they're planning a one mile walk path around the lake as well.

"It's kind of a nice unique area, it's really a good way to take advantage of a natural resource," Van Buskirk said.

Van Buskirk says the price of the lots will range between $50 thousand dollars and $190 thousand dollars. But he says Cherry Lake Reserve will add value to that area of town. 

"This is really a chance to change what you perceive of West 12th Street," Van Buskirk said.

Van Buskirk also has plans to develop on the other side of the road, east of Cherry Lake Reserve where there is another small lake, which is next to Family Park.