Breaking Ground on Cliffview Heights

On Tuesday, August 11, we gathered with volunteers, supporters and community members at 3001 N Van Eps Ave. in Sioux Falls to break ground on our next affordable housing development, Cliffview Heights! This life-changing development will create homeownership opportunities for 16 local households through the construction of eight safe, affordable twin homes.

Habitat for Humanity Executive Director Rocky Welker speaks during the Cliffview Heights groundbreaking. Other Habitat and community leaders look on.

The groundbreaking ceremony was led by Habitat and community leaders:
(Pictured above, from left to right)

Miles Beacom, Past Board Chair of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce
Mayor Christine Erickson, City of Sioux Falls
Cindy Newman, Board President of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls
Kent Cutler, Past Board Chair of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation
Rocky Welker, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls Development Foundation Past Board Chair Kent Cutler presents Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls Executive Director Rocky Welker with a commemorative shovel at the Cliffview Heights groundbreaking.

Throughout the ceremony, leaders emphasized the importance of collaboration to make affordable homeownership opportunities like Cliffview Heights a reality.

Our first partner on the project was the City of Sioux Falls, who helped us purchase the land for Cliffview Heights with a $160,000 interest-free, forgivable loan.

“As our community grows, we are so glad to have supported this effort in a small way,” said Mayor Erickson. “Collaborations and partnerships are critical to support affordable housing.”

The city’s support was able to get the project started, but we have a long way to go before 16 families can call Cliffview Heights home. Adding infrastructure and constructing eight twin homes will cost $3.7 million. From financial contributions to volunteer efforts, it’s going to take the community stepping up and coming together to build lasting stability through Cliffview Heights.

“Remember every nail driven, every hour volunteered, every dollar donated, helps create something much larger than just a house,” said Habitat Board President Cindy Newman. “It creates a foundation for a stronger future.”

Habitat team member and supporters gather and mingle at the Cliffview Heights groundbreaking.

We’re grateful to everyone who joined us to celebrate the beginning of our next development journey! To learn more about the project and how you can invest in the futures of local individuals and families, contact Monica Rilling at (605) 274-6283 or MRilling@siouxfallshabitat.org.

About Cliffview Heights

Rendering of a Cliffview Heights twin home

Cliffview Heights is our second development project in Sioux Falls. The eight-twin home development will create 16 owner-occupied residential units for eligible households in our Homeownership program. Each home will have a functional floor plan with a full basement, providing additional living and storage space.

In August 2026, work will begin on critical infrastructure, including water, streets and electricity, with construction of the first two homes starting in spring of 2027.

Households will be selected to purchase Cliffview Heights homes through our annual Homeownership program application, open October 1-31. Explore our Homeownership program page to learn more about eligibility and selection criteria.

Once selected, future Cliffview Heights homebuyers will help build homes and take homebuyer education classes before becoming eligible to purchase their home with an affordable mortgage.