Redeveloping complex sites requires thoughtful planning, collaboration, and informed leadership. These themes were recently highlighted during a lunch and learn put on by Range Association of Municipalities and the IRRR, where senior scientist Ted Hubbes and other project stakeholders shared insights from several impactful redevelopment projects. The presentation offered a behind-the-scenes look at how environmental challenges can be successfully navigated through experience-driven decision-making.

Abandoned City Dump Redevelopment | Eye Clinic North, Hibbing, Minnesota 

Projects highlighted during the lunch and learn demonstrated how technical expertise and long-term vision can transform a long-abandoned site. This 1.4-acre property had been used as a city dump from the 1940s through the 1960s.  The dump was covered, paved and forgotten about for more than 50 years and only used as a paved parking lot during that time period. 

The past use as a City Dump left behind buried waste and contaminated soils in an unlined, unpermitted landfill, with contaminants including diesel range organics, PAHs, lead, and arsenic. Methane exposure also posed a potential risk to future building occupants.

Prior to building construction, approximately 4,500 cubic yards of landfill waste and impacted soils were removed and disposed of off-site. Construction included the design and installation of a soil vapor mitigation system, along with post-construction diagnostic testing and sampling to verify system performance. Vapor mitigation operates as a safeguard for the new building. 

The redevelopment resulted in a new 4,000-square-foot eye clinic featuring seven exam rooms, support spaces, and a large optical suite supporting two existing optometrists and allowing for future growth.  

Cobb Cook Place and Missabe Manor | Hibbing, Minnesota 

The Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Hibbing is currently planning construction of two apartment complexes (Cobb Cook Place and Missabe Manor) on properties adjacent to a former manufactured gas plant. As discussed during the lunch and learn, the site has numerous challenges that require careful coordination. Extensive surficial waste and debris (drums, petroleum tanks, etc.) have been removed from the site and a full evaluation of soils in those areas will be completed prior to construction to facilitate remediation. Construction plans will incorporate vapor mitigation systems to safeguard building occupants. 

Braun Intertec is assisting project stakeholders with participation in the MPCA Voluntary Investigation and Cleanup (VIC) Program in pursuit of assurance letters and regulatory approvals. Our team is preparing a Response Action Plan (RAP) and Construction Contingency Plan (CCP) to support safe redevelopment and management of potential contaminants that may be encountered during construction. The project team is also preparing applications for investigation and remediation grants through the DEED Brownfield Program, helping move the site from a long neglected and under-utilized property to providing much needed housing for the community. 

Collectively, these projects demonstrate how thoughtful environmental planning can unlock the potential of challenging Brownfields sites and support meaningful community reuse. Each redevelopment reflects a commitment to safety, sustainability, and responsible risk management. Partner with Braun Intertec and our industry experts to help your redevelopment projects proceed through complex regulatory requirements toward completion.