Red Wing Central Research Building

The site of the former Central Research building in Red Wing will soon be a blank slate for redevelopment.

Monday night, the Red Wing City Council authorized a demolition contract for the long-vacant building at the intersection of Highways 61 and 19.

Previous efforts to reuse the building for another purpose never fully developed, and the building's age and poor condition make its presence a barrier instead of a selling point.

The demolition cost, $163,800, is lower than initially projected, and will be funded by a state loan, half of which could be forgiven upon successful redevelopment.

Without the building on the property, the site's prime location will now be the full focus, opening doors to countless possibilities for building something new.