The Auburn City Council is making the right move in ending its search for a developer willing to restore the old Kalet's department store and instead looking for funding to help pay to have the building torn down.

While we support the concept of trying to save buildings with historic or architectural importance, Kalet's is simply too far gone to save.

The building has now been vacant for more than 20 years, with the city having taken ownership for back taxes more than a decade ago.

In all that time, there has been a lot of talk about what an important building Kalet's is for Auburn and there's been a lot of talk about the bright future it might one day have.

A 2003 proposal by a local restaurant owner fell through when he was unable to secure the $600,000 in financing needed to turn the 7,000-square-foot building into a restaurant and banquet hall.

That same year the Auburn City Council authorized spending $308,000 for repairs.

It was hoped that cleanup, stabilization and roof repairs would make it easier to find a developer willing to pay for more extensive renovations.

In 2004, as more than 200 tons of rotted wood, broken plaster and other debris were hauled out of the building and repairs were made to the roof, many remained hopeful that businesses might one day occupy the ground floor, with apartments being created above.

But still the developers failed to materialize, and the roof of Kalet's is once again open to the elements and the animals that have made it their home.

In its heyday, Kalet's boasted the largest selection of furs in central New York, and the store's demolition will be marked by melancholy reminiscence by many.

The city did the right thing trying to save Kalet's, but it's past time to move forward.