COUNTDOWN: THE YEAR’S MAJOR WINONA NEWS
No. 17: Major constuction projects
Construction cranes hovered at four major projects – the new Y, the Gundersen clinic, the Fastenal office building, and the Mainstreet Square residential-commercial complex. The $22 million YMCA, adjacent to the Winona hospital, opened in December. It replaced the aging Y on Huff Street, which will be razed for parking at the new Fastenal building a block away. The Fastenal building, on the riverfront, will move 400 to 600 employees a day into the downtown area. The abandoned Kmart store at the West Winona Lake swamps was remodeled as LaCrosse-based Gundersen Clinic’s classy 86,000-square foot Winona footprint. Kmart never looked s good. Retired Fastenal executive Bob Kierlin continued investing his fortune in long-term projects. His Mainstreet Square, on the former Owl Ford dealership and Hardee’s fast-food place, includes upscale and market-price apartments, shops, offices and a Montesorri school.
White-collar workplace. Future Fastenal offices at riverfront.