Ford Plant Demolition Set To Begin Next Week

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- The process to demolish the shuttered Ford Assembly Plant in St. Paul will begin next week as community leaders press forward to envision what will replace it.

The Ford Plant closed its doors in December 2011 after 86 years of operation. The plant had been around long enough to manufacture Model T's.

On Monday morning, crews will begin the demolition process following a press conference with Mayor Chris Coleman, St. Paul city councilmember Chris Tolbert and Ford project manager Mike Hogan.

The three of them plan to discuss the logistics of the demolition progress, which is expected to last well into 2014. The Ford Plant site constitutes 150 acres of land along the east bank of the Mississippi River.

The city's Planning and Economic Development Department has investigated the site and conducted studies to redevelop it into a mixed-use area, with an emphasis on encouraging biking, walking and transit.