Article

Fort Pierre, South Dakota, has 42 vacant lots owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, preventing housing development due to flood risk regulations. The city, with a population of about 2,500, is facing challenges in encouraging new housing to boost its economy.

Mayor Gloria Hanson has been seeking the transfer of these lots or clearance for development for years. The Corps acquired the properties as part of a flood control project after significant flooding in the late 1990s.

Current regulations mandate that new homes must be elevated above the historic floodplain. The Corps has allowed some alternative uses for the lots but remains hesitant to facilitate residential development.