WAUSAU, Wis (WSAU) It's sat vacant for a decade, now Wausau city leaders are announcing plans to renovate the federal building downtown.
City leaders say they'll do some of the renovation work now, and will decide on the exact use for the building later. Some of the ideas are college classrooms, an incubator for technology-based businesses, mixed residential and retail, or studio-space for artists.
The city will discuss its plans with the Historic Preservation Commission today.
The renovations could be costly because of lead paint on the walls and asbestos tiles on the floor. The vacant building still costs the city about 20-thousand dollars a year in heat, maintenance, and snow removal.
The Federal Government sold the building to the city for $1 in 1995 when the federal court and the FBI field office moved out.
