Alleged Duluth 'house of ill repute' demolished for new parking lot

DULUTH - As of Thursday, a spot in Duluth once under frequent police investigation is now a pile of debris.  Kevin Lund of Duluth bought the Yoshiko Sauna months ago and tore it down himself to bring about healing and progress.

On a chilly dreary day, under a steady rain, Kevin Lund sees sunshine.

"It's going to be a great day," Lund said, working an excavator he called a mechanical thumb.  He's living out a dream he's had for the Yoshiko Sauna building for some time.  "Buy it and knock it down," said Lund, summing up his thoughts. 

Lund owns other properties in the area and jumped at the chance to buy the building at 18 North 21st Avenue months ago.  That was when the former owner, Suzy Woo–Young Kotts closed down what she called a massage parlor.

Lund and other nearby business owners had their own names for it.

"Not the most desireable building to look at," said Lund.

"A den of ill repute," said Yan Saillard, who owns a business nearby.  "It was definitely a blight of the Lincoln Park neighborhood."

Police eventually charged Kotts with promotion of prostitution and the city denied her request for a business license.  Lund said immediately things began to change.  "We've noticed that the foot traffic has cleaned up quite a bit just with the closure of the business," Lund said.

But there's more to this demolition than getting rid of an eyesore and bad memories.   The property will be turned into a 30-space parking lot which could launch a revitalization of Lincoln Park neighborhood.

"I think it's a good start," said Saillard.  He owns the Innerspace Scuba Center and said it was hard trying to run a family–oriented business so close to the sauna building.  "Kind of a trashy–looking place,"  Saillard said of the sauna building.

He believes what Lund is doing will help the neighborhood in many ways.

"Hopefully get Lincoln Park going as a nice business area," he said.

"Things are starting to turn around here," said Lund.  "I'm just trying to do my part as a local business owner to clean up the area.  It's been a long time coming.  It just feels great."

Lund said the demolition will take a few more days.  He's hoping to complete the parking lot next summer.