For immediate release
March 25, 2025
Media contact: Building Official Wayne Sorensen at 507-377-4340 or [email protected]
City proposes removal of 4 hazardous structures, including former downtown theater
The City of Albert Lea is proposing to remove four hazardous structures to protect public safety, including the downtown building that once housed the Broadway Theater. The other three structures are houses in residential areas. All four properties are vacant and owned by private parties.
The Albert Lea City Council will hold public hearings at its March 24 meeting on ordering the removal of the commercial building at 338 S. Broadway Ave. and houses at 809 W. Clark St., 915 Autumn Ave. and 819 Garfield Ave. The downtown building would cost $727,000 to stabilize the exterior while the residential properties all have failing roofs and foundations. The city’s goal for all four properties is redevelopment.
After holding a public hearing on each property, the council will vote whether to order removal of the structures. The order for removal is the first of many steps toward demolishing the buildings, and comes after giving property owners ample time and opportunity to make repairs themselves.
If the Freeborn County District Court agrees with their removal, then the city will hire contractors to demolish the buildings and assess the costs to the property owner.
Hazardous structures pose public safety risks, including the potential for collapse, fire, or exposure to dangerous materials like asbestos. Dilapidated buildings can also become a nuisance, attracting crime and pests, leading to reduced property values in the surrounding area. Removing these structures removes the risks while ensuring safe disposal of contaminated materials.
Former theater building
The former Broadway Theater, built in 1902, spans almost 9,000 square feet at the corner of Broadway Avenue and College Street. The building has passed through several owners over the decades who have changed the exterior and interior for various businesses. Past owners have removed the theater features on both the first and second levels since the movie theater moved to the Northbridge Mall in the 1990s.
City staff first started working with the current property owners in 2021 after inspectors noticed loose sandstone panels on the exterior of the south wall. At that time, the city barricaded the sidewalk along College Street to prevent pedestrians from being hit by falling debris above.
Then in 2022 the city hired an engineering firm called SEH to help plan for the demolition of the adjacent building, which shared a wall with the former theater. The city also wanted to document the condition of the theater building before removing the adjacent building. That evaluation revealed structural problems in the theater building and the city paid for a follow-up evaluation in 2023. Staff shared the evaluations with the owners and met with them twice in attempts to identify solutions before placarding the building as hazardous in December 2023.
The $727,000 in repairs include roof strengthening; reconstruction or repairs of all four walls; replacement or repair of front wall panels; and sealing of roof joints to prevent moisture intrusion. Part of the deterioration appears to have started with a roof replacement in the 1950s that allowed structural issues to remain and further develop.
How to access the council meeting
The Albert Lea City Council meets Monday, March 24, at 7 p.m. in the council chambers on the top floor of City Hall, 221 E. Clark St. For city councilor contact information, visit the city website. The meeting will be available live and as a recording on ALTV.
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