When passing over the bridge next to Kwik Trip on the east side of Main Street, you can’t help but notice the obvious. That big, ugly, vacant lot most of this community used to know as the old Farmstead Foods site. A fire in 2001 burned down the building, and since then, it has laid untouched.

As a member of this community, driving by this sight disturbs me heavily. Something with so much potential being used as a sight to burn large fallen branches. To me, the vacant lot makes the town look bad. The question is, why hasn’t anything been done with it?

Every time I drive by, I wonder what potential lies within this concrete landscape. Could there be a nice sports complex? How about a new shopping mall or other establishments? What about a hotel overlooking Albert Lea Lake, possibly with a year-round indoor waterpark? Some of these ideas are long shots but quite worth the imaginative thought. These dreams could be possible through sponsors, community donations and maybe a little help from the outside.

New opportunities await within. It’s a matter of when someone will attempt to strike one of the awaiting treasures. Potentially, this could bring a whole new spark to this town.

 

Tanner Bellrichard

sophomore

Albert Lea High School

Albert Lea