BEMIDJI—A formal groundbreaking ceremony will be held July 28 for a construction project already underway along Bemidji Avenue.

The development, which will stretch between 15th Street and 18th Street NW, is University Heights, a $3.7 million student housing venture adjacent to the BSU campus. The project’s work is being handled by Kraus-Anderson Construction Co. and the area is being developed by Peterson Developers.

Originally home to Bemidji High School, the most recent owner of the land was the Bemidji State University Foundation, who finalized the sale to Peterson Developers earlier this year.

University Heights is a multi-phase project that will begin with a 26,444-square-foot apartment building near 18th Street NW. Completion is expected in May and will be open to tenants in August 2016, a release said. The structure, designed by MJ Architectural, will have four stories with 16 apartment units with individual rooms for a total of 56 students.

The next phases for University Heights will include five additional apartment complexes and 12 townhomes; the second building is expected to be completed by August 2019. Four of the apartment complexes in the development will include first-level retail businesses, the release said.

The groundbreaking ceremony will start at 11 a.m. July 28 at 1725 Bemidji Ave. N.