TUSCOLA — Tuscola city officials are expected to talk in coming weeks about the future use for city-owned downtown land after two vacant buildings there were demolished on Thursday.

Meuser Construction and Excavation of Paxton tore down buildings at 128 and 130 West Sale Street at an approximate cost of $180,000, Hoel said.

City administrator Drew Hoel said both buildings have been vacant for a long time. The taller, three-story Helm Building formerly housed a department store, and the other building had once been the home of a savings and loan, he said.

"It has been at least 10 years since either building had a business in it," Hoel said. "The two buildings shared a stairwell."

Hoel said the city used tax increment financing money to buy the Helm Building several years ago and to buy the savings and loan building within the last year.

"Our original goal was to get some redevelopment in the buildings, but both of them were too far gone," Hoel said. "We couldn't attract anyone to use them. The buildings had become eyesores, and there were some safety concerns."

After the rest of the debris from the two buildings is hauled away, Hoel said, city officials will discuss options for the property.

"But we have no development plans at this time," Hoel said.