River Falls (WQOW) - A move to eliminate run-down buildings could help pave the road for a new community center in River Falls.
The Foster Community Foundation was recently awarded nearly $15,000 from a state housing agency. The organization hopes to use that grant to demolish an old house and build a gathering place along Lake George in River Falls.
"It's a beautiful site right next to Lake George and downtown River Falls," says Buddy Lucero, River Falls city planner.
Planning for a gathering place in river falls has been going on since 2007.
"One of the biggest things for demand has always been a community building or a space for people to meet and gather," says Lucero.
That's where the Foster Community Foundation comes in.
"The thing that seemed to be missing the most was space to have non-profit organizations to have meetings and run their programs and have affordable space that they could use," says Judie Babcock, Foster Community Foundation.
The two-story, 19,000 square foot building would sit on land that has been in Babcock's family for years.
"This property has been in the Foster family for five generations and Joel Foster is credited as a founder of River Falls," says Babcock.
Besides serving as a meeting place -- the project would also focus on being green.
"Succulent plants and other small grasses that can grow easily in this area will provide area to retain water in this site so that we don't have as much run off into the trout stream," says Babcock.
The Foster Community Foundation is still in the process of raising money for the project. It plans to demolish an old house on the property and hopes to have the entire project done in 2015.
