The Block 25 Lofts apartment complex nearing completion in downtown Willmar was a finalist for an award from Minnesota Brownfields, a nonprofit organization that promotes cleanup and reuse of contaminated land for sustainable development.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development has awarded $475,581 to the city of Willmar for contamination cleanup on Block 25. Matching funds will be provided by the developer of an apartment complex under construction there.
Clearing and decontamination of the land at Block 25 in Willmar began Wednesday for the construction of Block 25 Lofts between Second and Third Streets Southwest and U.S. Highway 21 and Benson Avenue.
Cleanup is needed on a downtown Willmar lot slated to be the home of an apartment complex, including petroleum, a fuel tank leak and solvents used by a former dry cleaning business.