FARGO (KFGO) - John and Sherri Stern of Fargo are breathing a little easier these days. They've been attempting to save their historic home along the Red River. The house, designed by the Frank Lloyd Wright family, is in the South River Road neighborhood.
The area is flood prone and the city has planned a permanent earthern flood levee to protect homes and the nearby water treatment plant.
The Stern's home is among those marked for buyout and demolition to make room for the levee. To try save the home, John Stern has also looked into construction of a flood wall around the home that would tie into the levee. That cost could be prohibitive and Stern is aware his home might have to go.
Stern says after meeting with city commissioners and engineers, they city decided to take another look at the project and "moved it down the priority list," pushing any decision back to 2018.
Stern says the project is complicated with "many moving parts" and a lot depends on whether the Diversion project is built. He says if it is, a flood levee in his neighborhood might not be needed.