4 Albert Lea Homes to be demolished - KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and Sports

4 Albert Lea Homes to be demolished

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By Courtney Sturgeon, Reporter - email

ALBERT LEA, Minn. (KTTC) -- Four condemned homes in Albert Lea are scheduled to be torn down. The houses at 722 Columbus Ave., 717 Madison Ave., 815 Madison Ave. and 318 Winter Ave. were foreclosed on or abandoned.

"For the owners or anybody else, it just wasn't feasible to buy them and try and fix them up," said Doug Johnson, city of Albert Lea building inspector.

The decision to demolish comes after years of complaints, court orders, and failed inspections.

"Some owners say, 'well, I want to fix it up.' So, we give them extensions and extensions and it turns out-they can't do it," Johnson said.  "They just walk away from the house and we've got to go through the process again."

The city is currently accepting bids on the demolition.  Once a contractor is selected, the homes could be knocked down as early as spring.  According to Johnson, the structures will be checked for asbestos, and any hazardous material found in the homes will be disposed of before demolition begins.  

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