City begins demolition for future city hall

STEVENS POINT – The City of Stevens Point has begun demolition at 1039 Ellis St. which is the planned site of the future city hall.
Crews arrived on site on Jan. 26, to begin evaluating the building and mobilizing equipment. Over the next several weeks, preparatory work will take place, including abatement activities, removal of garbage, installation of safety fencing, and removal of salvageable materials. More active demolition work is anticipated to begin in mid to late Feb.
“This project represents real momentum for our community,” said Mayor Mike Wiza. “I’m grateful for the collaboration between the city and Portage County that helped move this effort forward, and I’m excited to see a new city hall take shape that both serves our residents, provides a quality workplace for employees, and pays tribute to the historic Weber Tackle building that once stood on this site. It’s a great example of respecting our past while investing in our future.”
Prior to demolition, city and Portage County staff worked collaboratively to salvage reusable materials that could be incorporated into city and county facilities. In addition, the demolition contractor will continue to salvage and recycle materials wherever feasible, minimizing waste and reducing the project’s environmental impact as much as possible within their scope of work.
For public safety reasons, residents are asked to avoid the demolition site while work is underway. Fencing and signage should clearly delineate the work site. At this time, no street closures are anticipated, as all demolition activities will be contained within the property boundaries. Dust control measures will be implemented to the greatest extent possible; however, due to winter conditions, the use of water will be limited.
Demolition and site restoration activities are expected to be completed by the end of May 2026.