A Minneapolis City Council panel voted Thursday to move forward with demolition of the Peavey Plaza on the Nicollet Mall, despite objections from local preservationists.

The Zoning and Planning committee vote, which requires full Council approval, overrules a previous action from the Heritage Preservation Commission to deny demolition permits.

Proponents of the demolition, including the city's public works department, testified that many of the plaza's pipes and fountains are broken and beyond repair.

Others supported demolition because the current plaza is not handicapped accessible.

For more background on the issue, read my colleague Claude Peck's report from this morning.