U of M moves closer to demolishing nine buildings, some historic
On Thursday a board of regents committee reviewed a list of nine buildings University of Minnesota officials want to tear down.
They include:
A former church and now classroom building at 1701 University Ave SE on the Minneapolis campus.
Houses on both campuses including the Berry House and Weigley House in St. Paul.
An office building on the Minneapolis campus called Klaeber Court.
Wesbrook Hall in the heart of the U's Minneapolis campus.
The Veterinary Anatomy building (pictured above) on the St. Paul campus.
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The last three buildings are considered historic, so the U put together Environmental Assessment Worksheets on the properties. The board of regents seemed to think that was enough, and voted against requiring the U to provide a more in-depth Environmental Impact Statement for each building.
The regents will take a final vote on whether to allow the U to tear down the buildings at their June meeting. If they give the go ahead, the buildings will be demolished this summer.
U officials also want to mothball the oldest building on campus, Eddy Hall, until they come up with enough money to update the iconic building. The U of M says it has no intention of ever tearing down Eddy Hall.
You can see why the U of M is ready to do away with these old buildings in a story I did in March for MPR News.