The former Door County Cooperative grain elevator may go the way of the wrecking ball if no one steps forward to save it. On a vote of four to three, a majority on the Sturgeon Bay City Council approved a motion that staff be directed to seek estimates for the costs associated with taking the old building down. Alderman Stew Fett said the waterfront grain elevator suffered from numerous structural deficiencies and it’s only going to deteriorate more. Fett’s motion also set a deadline date…
Alderman Fett said individuals and groups would have several months to figure out how to save the grain elevator, but the city should not get involved in that effort. Meanwhile, Alderperson Laurel Hauser, a proponent of saving the century old structure, said it was too soon to be talking about tearing it down…
Complicating the decision-making related to the grain elevator is the current lawsuit regarding the waterfront property, an effort to have the structure named to the state or national registry of historic places, and the fire chief’s decision to close the building due to noxious fumes.