Demolition to begin at St. Paul Ford plant Monday

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Demolition will begin Monday on the old Ford Assembly Plant in St. Paul, the next step in the city's effort to redevelop the 150-acre site.

The plant, which closed in December of 2011 after Ford phased out the Ranger pickup truck, has been a fixture in its Highland Park neighborhood since it opened in 1925. City officials and Minnesota politicos lobbied Ford Motor Company to retrofit the plant to build new models, but the company declined.

Demolition on the plant and its buildings will begin on June 10 and continue through 2014. Buildings are now mostly clear of equipment, which was shipped to other Ford sites for reuse or recycled as scrap metal.

Removal of asbestos and other hazardous materials has been completed for buildings to be demolished and most utilities have been disconnected, except those required to support construction trailers, security, and fire suppression.

Crews will attempt to salvage all reusable materials.

St. Paul's Planning and Economic Development Department has conducted numerous studies to prepare for Ford's future marketing of the site in 2015. The goal is to create a mixed-use site that utilizes sustainable and urban design, reduces traffic impacts, encourages walking, biking and transit, and provides connections to the community and the Mississippi River valley.

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Demolition to begin at St. Paul Ford plant Monday