Work has begun on the former Casey’s building on East Main Street in Luverne to prepare the location for business and public use.
Exterior siding was removed and interior walls were gutted Monday, and plans call for a new entrance and an exterior blend of architecture with exposed rock and dark trim.
Up next will be construction of two handicap-accessible public bathrooms with separate entrances for trail users and others.
The City Council included the construction costs — estimated at $125,000 — in the 2020 budget planning in December. Tom Nergaard is the contractor.
The bathrooms and exterior construction will be wrapped up this summer, and remaining interior work will be put on hold until a suitable tenant is found.
The city of Luverne acquired the property from Casey’s Corporation for $1 in January 2019.
Since then, city leaders have been considering the best use for the property, considering its location on the bike trail and near the river.
“We’re planning whatever we can do to enhance our outdoor quality of life,” Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian said Monday, referencing a possible trailhead operation for bike path and river trail recreation.
“It could be something that rents bikes, canoes and kayaks, and possibly a bike repair shop and other services.”
On March 31, 2017, the Casey’s closed its East Main Street location, boarded the windows and removed inventory and equipment.
The pumps and underground tanks were removed and the corporation received EPA clearance late in 2018 to post it for sale.
From the city’s standpoint, owning the property, especially at the price of $1, is important in order to control Luverne’s east “gateway” first impressions.
At that location on the city’s east entrance, the property holds promise for all kinds of potential opportunities, but several non-compete restrictions are attached to the deed.
For 15 years whoever buys the lot will not be allowed to sell products similar to those offered by Casey’s.
This includes fuels, tobacco products, groceries, alcoholic beverages and prepared foods, such as sub sandwiches, pizza and donuts.
A bike repair shop or recreation rental business, however, would conform to this restriction.
Meanwhile, Papik Motors has donated a small bike repair station on the north side of the building for the public to use.
Luverne leaders are eyeing that corner for the next upgrade in their goal to improve aesthetics at each of the community’s gateways to town.
The East Main Street corner will be widened to allow easier corners for truck traffic, and plans are being drawn up to match landscaping to the other “four corners” features at the intersection of Highway 75 and Main Street where there’s a Flag Park, lighted signage, Sioux quartzite boulders and prairie grasses.