Hutchinson schedules Hotel Jorgensson demolition for late April; MnDOT approves street closures

Miles Sept, Hutchinson economic development director, said hazardous materials have been removed from the Hotel Jorgensson and the city has an approved Minnesota Department of Transportation plan for street closures when demolition begins. "The demolition should be going" in the second half of April, he said, adding the project was pushed back from March because crews must source a specialized high-reach demolition excavator.

Sept said the demolition contractor has been identified and crews will erect a tall perimeter fence and close Washington Avenue adjacent to the hotel, the alley behind the building and the western lanes of Highway 15 in front of the site. He said the city expects the work "to take probably four, five, six weeks to complete," after which the existing foundations will be left in place and temporarily filled to maintain street and basement integrity until a replacement project is financed.

Why it matters: the demolition removes an existing hazard and clears a central downtown parcel that city leaders hope will be redeveloped. Sept said timing for new construction depends on project financing and market conditions and could be one to several years after demolition.

Details and context: Sept said the high-reach excavator is scarce and that availability drove the schedule change; MnDOT has approved the traffic and closure plan to protect public safety during work. He described the foundation retention as a protective measure "so that the streets don't collapse into it" and said the city is encouraging the developer to move forward as quickly as feasible.

Next steps: crews are expected on site in the second half of April, with demolition work continuing for roughly a month to month-and-a-half; the city will implement the posted street closures according to the MnDOT-approved plan and will coordinate contractor fencing and site safety.