The air on the 400 block of Howard Street in Hibbing was filled with the rumble of falling brick, the snap of breaking support beams and the spray of water from a fire hose used to keep dust from blowing out of a demolition site Wednesday morning as a long-awaited revitalization project got underway. A helpful suggestion from Anthony Hagel of Collyard Demolition to a certain photographer to move over a bit so as not to be crushed by falling debris was also gratefully appreciated.
The 400 block Redevelopment Project as it’s known is led by the Hibbing Economic Development Authority (HEDA) with the stated goal of enhancing and revitalizing the heart of downtown Hibbing by removing dilapidated buildings and bringing in new development to address several urgent needs in downtown Hibbing as identified by a 2022 survey of local businesses by the Hibbing Chamber of Commerce. The survey helped determine that while downtown Hibbing certainly has strengths including a central location, high visibility and it’s easy to walk through, there are also problems that need to be addressed including limited parking, vacant buildings and inadequate snow removal.
A follow up assessment by HEDA and the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency found that of the 152 buildings in the downtown corridor, 72 are classified as substandard or dilapidated with a total estimated market value of $21.7 million.
The 400 block was identified as the most urgent place to begin a major overhaul with three empty and dilapidated buildings including the former Ace Hardware Building, the former Flower Basket and next door bar as well as the former Teske building.
HEDA purchased the buildings and secured funding through several grant and loan programs. HEDA also secured a grant from the MN Department of Employment and Economic Development and the Department of Iron Range Resources to help with the cost associated with demolishing the block and leaving it a shovel ready site for development.
HEDA selected Rebound Partners last July to lead a $24.3 million mixed use housing and retail project with updated plans for the project being voted on May 29. Plans include street level commercial space, upper level housing units and off street parking for the development and will include an estimated 78,500 square feet. Rebound Partners, while still working to secure funding, is expecting to break ground in the spring of 2027 and open the summer of 2028.
The current demolition project is expected to be finished in about four weeks.
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