Concrete Contractors in Downtown Fargo, ND

Downtown Fargo is the city's oldest commercial district, and the concrete contractors downtown property owners hire face tight sites, older buildings and a lot of foot traffic. On June 7, 1893, a fire destroyed 31 blocks of downtown, and more than 246 new buildings went up within a year. The Downtown Fargo District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, covers about 60 acres with 88 contributing buildings.

Old buildings, small spaces

The district includes the Masonic Block of 1884, the Northern Pacific Railway Depot of 1898 and the Fargo Theatre of 1926. Many downtown buildings now hold apartments, condos and offices, and nearby blocks include townhomes and older houses. The concrete work here is usually small in area but detailed:

• Entry steps and landings at building doors
• Sidewalk panels in front of a property
• Small patios and courtyards for residents
• Concrete repair where old slabs have cracked or settled

Sidewalk rules in Fargo

The City of Fargo's sidewalk FAQ says state law requires property owners to install and maintain sidewalk next to their property in the city right-of-way. It also says anyone doing that work must be licensed with the City of Fargo as a Sidewalk Contractor and hold a North Dakota general contractor's license, and that unauthorized work can be fined. Downtown, where nearly every property fronts a public walk, that matters on almost every job.

The city's Engineering Department runs two sidewalk projects each year, one for new sidewalks and one for rebuilding deficient ones. Owners who hire their own contractor should let Engineering know so their property is removed from the city-ordered project.

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Building on downtown ground

NDSU's Fargo geology pages explain that the Lake Agassiz clay under the city can carry houses and small buildings but not high loads, which is why larger downtown structures and even the skywalks rest on deep concrete caissons. Sidewalks and steps do not need caissons, but they still sit on that clay. A compacted granular base, good drainage away from building walls and properly placed joints are what keep downtown flatwork level.

Working around people

Downtown jobs mean pedestrians, parking and businesses that need to stay open. We plan the work in sections where we can, keep a safe route around the work area, and schedule pours so entries are out of use for as little time as possible.

Winter wear

Downtown walks get heavy deicer use all winter. Air-entrained concrete and a penetrating sealer slow the scaling that salt causes. For steps, a broom finish and a slight pitch on each tread help shed water before it freezes.

Courtyards and rooftop-adjacent slabs

Some downtown residential buildings have small courtyards, patios or ground-level terraces for residents. These spaces often sit between buildings, where sunlight is limited and snow lingers into spring. Concrete there stays wet longer, so drainage and air entrainment matter even more. We set slabs with a clear fall toward a drain or open ground, keep water away from building walls and window wells, and use finishes that stay grippy in the shade. Where access is tight, we plan for smaller equipment and pump or wheel the concrete in rather than driving a truck up to the forms.

Historic buildings

The Downtown Fargo District is on the National Register. If your project touches a historic building's entry, we can help you ask the city whether any review applies before work starts.