Barring a last-minute collapse of negotiations, Albert Lea’s vacant Central High School building will have a new owner.

Wednesday, March 20, 2002

Barring a last-minute collapse of negotiations, Albert Lea’s vacant Central High School building will have a new owner.

A news conference was scheduled for 10 a.m. today to announce the deal, which was to be signed around 9 a.m., unless there was a last-minute change, said David Prescott, Albert Lea superintendent of schools.

The new owner would be Rymer Companies, a Hastings firm that specializes in refurbishing old buildings, Prescott said. Potential uses for the old high school include residential and office space, although nothing will be confirmed until the deal is made final, Prescott said.

The school board held a special meeting at 7:30 a.m. today to authorize board vice-chairman Tom Eaton and Prescott to sign documents closing the deal, Prescott said.

Prescott said he could not disclose the price of the building until the news conference.

The old high school has been for sale for more than a year, ever since the new high school opened near Hammer Road in the northern part of the city. Prescott said school representatives had been talking to Rymer for several months.

&uot;I think we look at this as a positive thing for us and the community,&uot; Prescott said. &uot;We look forward to the building having a positive reuse for the neighborhood and the community.&uot;