Could the Former Citibank Site Become South Dakota’s New State Prison?

Could the old Citibank location in north Sioux Falls become the site for a new Men's State Prison in South Dakota?

That idea is being bantered around at the moment.

Dakota News Now is reporting that the former Citibank campus has been vacant for several years. Recently, there's been discussion of whether the former Citibank location might make a viable location for the new state prison.

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The previously proposed site in rural Lincoln County came with an $800 million price tag, and lawmakers were urged to tap the brakes on that idea and take another look at the project. As Dakota News Now reports, a Project Prison Reset task force was formed to find the best financial option, and they've asked for information regarding the former Citibank location.

What's the price tag on the former Citibank location?

The asking price for the old Citibank campus at 701 E. 60th Street North last year was 34 million. Many believe that the location would make an excellent site for a new men's state prison.

The old Citibank buildings were constructed in the 1980s, with additional expansions built throughout the 1990s. According to Dakota News Now, inmates would not be housed in the existing Citibank structures of this proposed plan; instead, new housing pods would be built on existing land to accommodate inmates, and the current buildings would be repurposed for administrative and educational uses.

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The Project Prison Task Force is looking for at least 100 acres of land, within 20 miles of Sioux Falls, as options for the new state prison. The old Citibank campus is sitting on nearly 70 acres of land.

What's next?

Dakota News Now reports that the state plans to evaluate submissions with a priority deadline of April 24. No land will be purchased until after lawmakers hold a special session in July, according to state officials.

Source: Dakota News Now