Changes may soon be coming on South Broadway in Albert Lea.

The city is looking at purchasing a building at 314 S. Broadway, which currently houses the Christian & Peterson Law Firm. A public hearing will be held during the Albert Lea City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Monday.

The City Council discussed the possible acquisition Thursday evening at a work session.

The council will consider a resolution approving purchase of the building from CSSJB&K, a Minnesota general building partnership that owns the property, for $130,000. Under the agreement, the law firm could remain a tenant of the building until Nov. 30. The city will then look for other tenants to operate the space on a short-term basis until a larger redevelopment plan is in place for the whole avenue

The city is looking at redeveloping the 300 block of South Broadway to add tax base, jobs, and housing in the area.

“We’ve identified in our comprehensive plan there are different corridors, including South Broadway and downtown, that we wanted to be more pro-active in encouraging redevelopment,” City Manager Chad Adams said.

“This is a good idea,” Larry Anderson, Albert Lea City Council Fifth Ward councilor, said.

“Sometimes you have to be a leader. Some developers won’t come in unless you show them that you have an idea of what you want to do.”

Anderson said the 300 block of South Broadway may be an ideal place for city hall in the future because of the block’s close proximity to the Freeborn County Government Center.

Anderson said having a future development for business and housing would increase the tax base and make the area more marketable because of its proximity to Fountain Lake, bike trails and the hospital.

The city owns a building next door at 310 S. Broadway that had a fire and isn’t in a structural capacity to be used. The city is planning on the building remaining vacant and then tearing it down.

No action or votes were taken on the item Thursday. The Albert Lea Planning Commission has reviewed the proposed transfer and found it consistent with the terms of the city’s comprehensive plan.

Plans are also in the works for housing developments at both the Freeborn National Bank building and the Jacobson Apartments building, as part of the city’s revitalization plan.