Hoeven Discusses Efforts to Redevelop Fargo High Rise
Senator Working to Secure EPA Support for Asbestos Mitigation, Advanced Project with HUD Secretary & Supported City Officials in Identifying Funding Sources
FARGO, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) Appropriations Committee, today toured the Lashkowitz High Rise in downtown Fargo, where he discussed efforts to demolish the now-obsolete U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) facility and redevelop the site. Currently, the city is facing a funding shortfall for the demolition phase of the project due to presence of asbestos.
Accordingly, Hoeven has been working to secure funding through the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfields Cleanup Grant program to address the asbestos mitigation and help move the project forward. To this end, the senator:
- Spoke with Barry Breen, EPA Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Land and Emergency Management, to:
- Stress the importance of replacing the outdated HUD facility.
- Ensure the Brownfields Cleanup Grant program can adequately meet the community’s needs.
- Repeatedly raised this priority with HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge during THUD committee hearings in recent years.
- Hosted a call between the City of Fargo and HUD officials to identify funding opportunities for the project.
“The Fargo region is dynamic and growing, meaning new development is needed to ensure adequate housing for people from all walks of life,” said Hoeven. “The Lashkowitz High Rise is in a prime location, but due to a severely outdated design and health hazards, this building needs to be demolished and redeveloped in order for the city to make the best use of this land. That’s why I’ve been working through my role on the Appropriations Committee to identify funding sources, like the Brownfields Cleanup Grants, and ensure these programs will be a good fit for the city.”
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