Community Center Information

The Ely City Council has authorized the sale of the Community Center at 30 S 1st Ave E. 

The building is situated on the corner of First Avenue and Harvey Street in Ely Minnesota.  It is owned by the City of Ely.

     It is three stories high with a total area of 28,834 square feet.  The two main entrances are between the lower and main floor.  The lower level is a cafeteria with kitchen, dishwashing and dishware that could serve hundreds of people.  The main floor previously housed the city library and provided office space.  The top floor includes a 5000 square foot multi-purpose auditorium. 

     The building, constructed as one of the Public Works Administration Building projects in 1938, is made of the finest materials including an exterior of Minnesota Mankato Gray Limestone and an interior that boasts terrazzo floors, Montana Travertine Marble on selected walls, and oak, walnut and birch doors, frames and panels.

     The building is a stunning example of streamline modern design.

     The building was completed in 1938.  For over 75 years it served as an office building, library, and event center.  In 2014, the City chose to sell the building and construct a small library giving up the community center aspects of the building.  In 2018 the building was sold to a non-profit organization that was planning to open a culture camp on the site.  They have since dropped the project and the building has been returned to the City.

     With the building unoccupied since 2014, there has been some cosmetic damage to the building - primarily in the area of peeling paint and some mold in the lower level.  However it is still structurally sound and the primary materials are holding up well.  Please see the 2014 Re-use Study on the City website ( ely.mn.us ) for complete details about the building.  The attached photos were taken before the 2018 sale, so before the paint started to peel. Please see the images Tab for more photos. 

 

Below are the Re-Use Study's for the Ely Community Center Building. 

The Sale Price is $79,000.  

 

For more information on the property contact Clerk/Treasurer Harold Langowski at elyod@ely.mn.us.