Demolition is expected to occur Thursday, Sept. 8.

The city approved the demolition due to safety considerations. Maintenance issues have been a concern with the property since 2015. The north wall of the building is crumbling and has been cited as a safety hazard.

Building owner Robert Van Zile previously stated he did not have the money to fix the wall, leaving the city with the choice to fix it or knock it down. Each option has the potential for hidden costs. In January, the City Council was leaning toward demolition, but bids were rejected due to high cost.

New bid requests were presented, but in February, Van Zile said he had the money to repair the building. The city gave him three months to submit a plan and begin repairs before August, or the city would proceed with demolition.

Photo by Clay Schuldt The large concrete blocks stacked against the exposed side wall of the building at 307 N. Minnesota St. were placed to prevent that section of the wall from buckling and bringing down the building prematurely.

Van Zile failed to present a plan before the deadline, forcing the city to move forward with the demolition.

One of the reasons the city was hesitant to demolish the building at 307 N. Minnesota St. was concern that this building shared a common wall with The Journal building at 303 N. Minnesota Street. Blueprints were unclear if the buildings had one wall or two separate walls. In the event the two buildings shared a wall, the city would be responsible for covering a newly exposed wall.

Recently, the city confirmed 307 N. Minnesota building and The Journal building did not share a wall, making the demolition process simpler. However, a section of parapet on the 307 N. Minnesota building could create a problem.

New Ulm Building Inspector Ellwood Zabel said the buildings are not tied together, but removing parapet material from the roof could pose a challenge.

For safety reasons, Journal staff will vacate the building with the office closed during demolition on Thursday, Sept. 8.

Photo by Clay Schuldt Preparations for demolition of the building at 307 N. Minnesota St. have been underway for a few months now as the interior has been cleared and city officials have been inspecting the property and planning its takedown. Shown here is the rear of the building with a small loader clearing away debris.

The office will re-open on Friday, barring any unforeseen delays.