In Hastings, Nebraska, a long-vacant former middle school is being redeveloped into residential housing, an effort that brings new use to an underutilized property and supports ongoing investment in the community — where education once built futures, new housing will help shape them.
But before construction can begin, environmental challenges inside the building must be carefully managed. The site has been identified as a brownfield due to the presence of hazardous materials such as asbestos, which must be addressed to enable redevelopment. The City was awarded an EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant to support cleanup activities and help advance the work needed to prepare the property for its next chapter.
ҰƵapp is supporting the project through abatement oversight, providing on-site monitoring and coordination to help remediation work move forward in alignment with regulatory requirements and established safety protocols. This role is critical in keeping progress on track and creating a clear path to redevelopment.
“Projects like this are a great reminder of the value of adaptive reuse. This building has so much character that simply can’t be replicated today, and it’s exciting to see a path forward that preserves that history while bringing much-needed housing to the community,” said Kelly Schmitt, National Brownfields Director at ҰƵapp.
As cleanup advances, the building is positioned to transition from a vacant property into a residential space that contributes to the city’s growth. By addressing environmental conditions that can otherwise delay progress, ҰƵapp is supporting a project that brings new housing and renewed purpose to the site.