Decision coming soon on whether Watertown Senior Center will be demolished (Audio)

January 19, 2021

Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–Fargo developer Jesse Craig is building a new Senior Center in Watertown called, “Generations on First.”

A decision on what happens to the existing Senior Center on Kemp Avenue will be coming very soon.

At Tuesday night’s Watertown City Council meeting, Craig told the council he needs a decision by February first on whether he can demolish the building, or incorporate it into his development of a project called, “The Ruins,” which will be an apartment complex that will replace the aging, and now vacant, Palace Apartment building.

The existing Senior Center sits on land that will become part of a new downtown park development called Foundation Plaza. The Senior Center could be remodeled into public restrooms, or be used for storage space for the park.

Watertown Development Company Executive Director Chris Schilken….

The downtown plaza is being developed by Confluence Design of Sioux Falls. It’s a $2.1 million project that is being funded, in part, by a $500,000 donation from the Watertown Area Community Foundation.

Generations on First will be built just north of the City Auditorium. Craig will lease the building to the city for a dollar a year under the terms of a 99 year agreement. 

Schilken says demolition work on the Palace Apartment building will begin around February first.