Old Trib building is like new

Published 12:00 am Monday, September 17, 2007

By Sarah Light, staff writer

Another historical downtown Albert Lea building has been renovated for use.

On Aug. 30, the local Minnesota Department of Corrections office moved into what is known as the old Tribune building on 404-408 S. Broadway Ave.

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The organization occupies about two-thirds of the first floor, but there is still roughly another 5,000 square feet of unused space in the building, said owner Margaret Ehrhardt.

Ehrhardt, who shares in ownership of the building with her four siblings, said the reconstruction process was one filled with several challenges &8212; but nonetheless, it has been worthwhile.

She and her siblings have owned the building for about four or five years and first entered into discussions with the Department of Corrections about moving in last October. The organization signed its lease this past May.

Since then, the building has been gutted out, new walls have been erected, the roof has been replaced, and new wiring and plumbing have been installed, among many other constructions.

Though several of the renovations were planned, she said, there were several that were unplanned that had to be completed when they were come across. Especially with older buildings, there are often many hidden costs that come up that had not otherwise been anticipated, she said.

Regardless, Ehrhardt said, it has been her family&8217;s goal to invest in Albert Lea.

The building is at a good location across from the Freeborn County Government Center, and it is rich with history, she said.

They didn&8217;t want to see another old building go down.

&8220;Before this, I was one of those people who would watch buildings go down and be sad about it,&8221; Ehrhardt said. &8220;I wish it was different.&8221;

Though she has many ideas for what could become of the rest of the building, Ehrhardt said she has to be practical in thinking about what will make ends meet.

In the meantime, some last-minute upgrades are still being completed on the building to get it ready for the winter season

Then at some point in the next year, she and her siblings will decide whether to have apartments or offices on the second level.

For now, nothing is set in stone.

Before moving to its new location, the Minnesota Department of Corrections had been on the corner of Main Street and Washington Avenue.

Other historic downtown buildings recently renovated are the Carnegie Library and the Freeborn National Bank. The Freeborn County Courthouse became the Freeborn County Government Center earlier this decade. There is an effort under way to restore the Albert Lea Art Center. The city condemned the former Midwest Antiques building.