Continued overlay of First Street part of Willmar s 2021 street improvement plans
During Tuesday’s Willmar City Council meeting a public hearing was held on the 2021 Street Improvement projects. Projects include both reconstruction and overlay. 5:33 am, Jan. 22, 2021 ×
Part of the 2021 street improvements plan in Willmar is the overlay of First Street South from 19th Avenue to Willmar Avenue, the intersection shown here. The work is a continuation of last year s project when a new overlay of First Street was laid from 19th Avenue to the westbound state Highway 23 ramps.
Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune file photo
WILLMAR One of Willmar s main commercial corridors will continue to receive a needed upgrade in 2021. First Street South, from 19th Avenue to Willmar Avenue will get a new layer of pavement this construction season, one of four street projects the city plans to tackle this year.
Rochester City Council moves forward with plans expected to lead to demolition of former AFL Labor Temple. 8:06 pm, Jan. 20, 2021 ×
The former Legends Bar & Grill location along the Zumbro River in downtown Rochester. Photo taken Jan. 20, 2021. (Andrew Link / alink@postbulletin.com)
A split Rochester City Council gave the green light Wednesday to end the city’s lease with Legends Bar and Grill and move forward with potential demolition efforts.
“This building has been slated for demolition since I joined the council,” said council member Nick Campion, who’s starting his seventh year on the council.
He added that the goal is to move toward the eventual redevelopment of the city-owned property that runs along the west side of the Zumbro River between Second Street Southeast and Fourth Street Southeast.
While earlier plans to demolish the building that holds Legends Bar and Grill included the Second Street parking ramp, the current proposal will keep the city structure in place, for now.
He said the lower-level floor of the building at 11 Fourth St. SE is buckling and would require expensive repairs. Additionally, a heating and air-conditioning system prone to breakdowns with costly repairs would cost an estimated $156,000 to $210,000 to replace, and the roof is prone to leaking.
He also said an elevator replacement required to meet code would cost an estimated $100,000. The city has received a one-year reprieve on replacement based on plans to demolish the building within a year.
The building’s proposed demolition is expected to make way for future development on the west side of the Zumbro River, but the short-term use is expected to be green space for the city, with plans to gauge potential uses at the site, according to city project manager Josh Johnsen.
Is the library proposal right for Rochester?
City council will review design concepts and potential tax impacts of proposed public-private partnership that would include a $95 million downtown library. 1:35 pm, Dec. 11, 2020 ×
A proposal for the Rochester Public Library expansion moves the library to the block formerly occupied by the Post Bulletin with the main entry at Civic Center and East Center Street. The Library would double it s current size. Three other buildings a hotel, senior living complex and condos, would be built up from the library s third floor. (Contributed rendering)
A new downtown Rochester library constructed under a proposed public-private partnership would cost an estimated $95 million.