Maple Grove Votes To Tear Down Old Village Hall Damaged by Arson

After an arson incident damaged Maple Grove’s historic Village Hall building, the city finalized plans this week to demolish the structure. 

The city plans to tear down the building sometime in the next several weeks.

The Maple Grove City Council approved the demolition of the structure on Monday. 

“Based on the size of the structure, and the severity of the fire damage, the decision was made to remove the building,” acting City Administrator Joe Hogeboom told CCX News. “The city has saved the building’s historic sign, and plans to incorporate it into a historical display when the Community Center is renovated. There were no other historical items within the structure.”

After an arson incident damaged Maple Grove’s historic Village Hall building, the city finalized plans this week to demolish the structure.

History of the Village Hall

Maple Grove’s original Town Hall was built in 1856 at the northwest corner of Fernbrook Lane and Count Road 30. A tornado later destroyed the building. 

City officials later built the Village Hall on the same site. It was constructed in 1939 and served as the city’s primary office building until the early 1970s.

The city moved the Village Hall a short distance away, near the current Lakeview Knolls Park, when Maple Grove’s first City Hall was built in the mid 1970s.

Most recently, the city has offered the space as a rental building and as restrooms for Lakeview Knolls Park.

The interior of the Maple Grove Village Hall after an arson incident.

Village Hall Arson Case

On Oct. 18 2022, a fire damaged much of the building. Investigators later determined that apparent arsonists had started fires in the men’s and women’s restrooms. 

The fire spread and damaged the basement and attic. The main meeting room in the building also sustained smoke and water damage. 

 “Although determined to be arson, [the] Maple Grove Fire [Department] was not able to determine a suspect,” Maple Grove Fire Chief Tim Bush told CCX News.

Exterior damage to the Maple Grove Village Hall. The city plans to demolish the building in the coming weeks.

Decision to Demolish Village Hall

The city conducted an architectural study of the Village Hall after the fire. 

“Unfortunately, most of the original features of the building (siding, roof, interior wall finishes, flooring, ceiling, furniture, etc.) had been replaced over the years,” Hogeboom said. “So, we were looking at an option to restore the building to a 1936 character with new replacement materials.”

Cost estimates to repair the building ranged from $350,000 to $500,000.

The city also considered the potential uses for the space. The Village Hall is around 650 square feet, smaller than most of the city’s rental facilities. 

“It was not able to accommodate large meetings, parties, or other events that are typically done in park rental facilities,” Hogeboom said. 

Maple Grove’s Public Works Department will conduct the demolition work in-house. The city estimates the cost to demolish the building at $10,000 to $20,000.

Maple Grove