Buildings demolished as Ascend Phase II work begins
A building comes down to make way for Ascend Phase II. The Ascend Phase I building, which includes apartments and commercial space is in the background. Staff photo by Karen M. Jorgensen
Demolition crews were hard at work last week as several buildings were taken down along Oak Avenue as construction on Phase II of the Ascend project got started.
Among the buildings demolished were the former Mineral Springs Brewery and the offices of Baker Tech Services.
When the demolition is completed, construction can start on the five-story building that will include 57 apartments and 21,000 sq. ft. commercial space in a mixed-use development. It is the second phase of the Ascend project. Phase I includes 69 luxury apartments and more than 20,000 sq. ft. of commercial space. Olmsted Medical Center and Mineral Springs Brewery occupy the first floor of the Phase I building. West Bank complements the development with a new bank building.
Ascend is Owatonna’s first Mixed Use Complex.
The Ascend project is adjacent to the east bank of the Straight River on Oak Avenue.
Anticipated completion of the Phase II project is fall of 2027.