That’s when the City Council is expected to transfer the property at 908 First Ave. S. to a developer that will have a major role in rehabilitating the eight-story edifice.

The transfer is to be considered during the council’s regular business meeting which will begin at 6 p.m. Monday in the Municipal Building, 819 First Ave. S.

The city owns the building now. On Monday, the council is expected to transfer it to KDG LLC, of Columbia, Missouri.

That company entered a preliminary memorandum of understanding with the city government in August under which it will invest $30 million in the former hotel and apartment building. To help offset its costs, the company plans to seek historic preservation tax credits from both the federal and state governments, but it can’t do that until it owns the building.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen Rooms and apartments in the Warden Plaza offer fine views of downtown.

“We need to get the building transferred to them so they can start that process,” said Vickie Reeck, the city’s community and economic development manager.

Reeck said the company should have its tax credit application process done in April or May.

She said the federal historic tax credits are worth up to 20 percent of the company’s investment and the state ones are worth up to 25 percent of the investment.

The removal of asbestos from the building will likely be the first actual work performed. Reeck said that may begin next spring.

Exactly what will be in the renovated building has not been determined. Apartments, offices, stores and a new recreation center are all under consideration.

-Messenger photo by Hans Madsen A broken light fixture combined with peeling paint gives one of the stairwells inside the Warden Plaza a medieval dungeon feel.

Building an addition on to the Warden Plaza to house the recreation center is apparently one possibility. The Wahkonsa Annex, a yellow brick building to the east of the Warden Plaza, could be torn down to make room for that addition.

Reeck said a combination of people and organizations will have a role in deciding what goes in the building. Representatives of the city government, KDG LLC, the committee planning the new recreation center and the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Association will all be involved.

In March, the city went to court to acquire the building, formerly owned by Coralee LLC, of Oakland, California, under the terms of the state’s abandoned buildings law. That effort was successful and the city took ownership of the building in July.

Also in March, the City Council joined forces with the Fort Dodge Community Foundation to hire Iowa Business Growth, of Johnston, to develop plans for the building.

Other firms have since been hired to help with the project.

In September, the council hired ATC Group Services LLC, of Des Moines, to check the building for asbestos and lead paint.

Last week, the council hired Formation Group Inc., of Des Moines, to serve as its representative on the project. The company’s duties will include developing a budget and schedule for the work.