The building at 911 E. Main St. is coming down today as C&D Excavating is doing the demolition work.
The building was condemned by the city of Merrill last spring following a roof collapse of the neighboring building at 913 E. Main St., then home to the Merrill Karate Club. The Karate Club building, owned by Lincoln Community Bank, was demolished last year, leaving an empty lot. The bank offered to sell the lot to the city of Merrill, but the city council declined.
The 911 property is owned by Merrill Federal Savings & Loan, whose building is directly next door. When the building was condemned, residential and business tenants moved out. The building has been vacant for the past year.
According to Merrill Federal Savings & Loan President Mark Zuliger, the condemnation presented an opportunity to remove the building. Once the building is gone, the lot will be backfilled and left as open space for the time being. Zuliger said the savings & loan has no immediate plans for expansion. Merrill Federal will retain ownership of the 911 lot, which would be available should the need for expansion arise in the future.