Hotel Could Face Wrecking Ball

CROOKSTON, Minn. (AP) - A downtown Crookston hotel that's on a

list of Minnesota's "10 Most Endangered Historic Places" could

soon face the wrecking ball.

The Polk County Commission on Tuesday decided to move ahead with

a plan to demolish the Palace/Wayne Hotel. While the board did not

authorize demolition, it directed staff to seek project estimates.

The decision came after officials learned that a St. Paul

developer's second attempt to get funding for a project had been

denied.

The developer had proposed converting the building into

affordable rental housing. But the developer's application for

Minnesota Housing Finance Agency funding was turned down.

That financing was supposed to supplement a $1 million USDA

Rural Development Loan for the project.

The commission will review preliminary costs estimates for

demolition on March 2.

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