Last Wednesday marked the end of the line for decades-old Anson-Gilkey water tower on the east side. The demolition of the tower has been in the works for a while and according to City Administrator Dave Johnson, the project began Tuesday night and was finished by noon on Wednesday.
The cellular antennas owned and operated by AT&T, which were once positioned atop the tower, will be relocated to a new tower on the northeast corner of the property in 2016. As for the future of the property, Johnson states it will be marketed for development upon completion of demolition.
The former manufacturing property was donated to the Riverfront Development Foundation of Merrill last year by long-time owners, Development & Leasing Corp. The foundation retained an easement for future development of the River Bend Trail and turned the remaining 12 acres over to the city for redevelopment.
All buildings have been removed from the site and demolition of the foundations continues.