City will demolish two buildings, then market the property
By Laura Gossman
lgossman@postbulletin.com
KASSON —Two buildings in downtown Kasson will meet the wrecking ball this spring.
The city has owned one of the buildings for about four years, but contractors never submitted bids when it was advertised for sale.
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"The city bought one of the buildings, which was seriously substandard, and put it out for bids," Martin said. "Contractors never bid because they were concerned about the liability of damaging the privately owned building next door."
Martin said the city negotiated with the owners of the Country Pizza building and eventually bought that building as well.
The buildings are next to each other at 204 and 206 W. Main St.
Martin said no one’s expressed any concerns about the demolition of the buildings.
"They are well past their prime, and they’re not in any usable condition," Martin said. "It would be easier for a business to build new."
The Kasson City Council accepted a bid of $14,440 from Bob Braaten Construction of Byron last month, and the work will be completed by May 22. City engineer Neil Britton expected the demolition and asbestos abatement to cost about $37,000.
Two other two bidders were Quality Concrete of Kasson with a bid of $46,150 and Swenke Co. of Kasson with a bid of $19,750.
"Contractors are hungry out there," Martin said. "Now is the time to demolish or build."
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The city plans to put the property on the market after the lots have been cleared.
The two buildings are the first to be demolished since Martin became city planner four years ago.
"We don’t have plans to buy and demolish any other building at this time, but as opportunities arise, we’ll do whatever we can to improve downtown," Martin said.
He said there’s been a lot of activity in Kasson’s downtown during the past year, and the city recently received a letter from a business interested in relocating there.
"Downtown real estate is moving," Martin said.
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City of Kasson
http://www.cityofkasson.com
