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Iowa troubles put new scrutiny on 'Switchyard' redevelopment in downtown Sioux Falls

Developer who landed $8M TIF for $95M former railyard site complex facing fraud, unpaid loan allegations

Joe Sneve's avatar
Joe Sneve
Aug 20, 2026
∙ Paid
Jake Christensen discusses project details on four acres of land in downtown Sioux Falls June 5, 2024, as Planning and Development Services Director Jeff Eckhoff listens. (Jonathan Ellis/The Dakota Scout)

A developer behind a $95 million downtown Sioux Falls project that received an $8 million tax incentive from City Hall this year is facing allegations of fraud and more than $6 million in unpaid loans in Iowa.

And while Mayor Christine Erickson’s office has made no indications that the so-called Switchyard project that broke ground in downtown Sioux Falls last month is in jeopardy, at least one other project Des Moines-based developer Jake Christensen is involved in has stalled amid an ongoing legal battle east of the South Dakota state line.

Fate of Farm Bill could depend on results of midterm election

Fate of Farm Bill could depend on results of midterm election

Jonathan Ellis
·
Aug 19
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