News Flash

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) recently awarded Residential Redevelopment grants to the cities of Aurora, Chisholm, Cook, Ely, Hibbing and Virginia. The six communities received a combined total of $91,875 in grant funding to demolish 23 blighted structures that have reached the end of their useful life.

City of Aurora: $15,219 to demolish one house, two trailer houses and two garages. (Project pictured above.)

City of Chisholm: $18,585 to demolish two houses and three garages.

City of Cook: $3,630 to demolish one house.

City of Ely: $16,566 to demolish two houses and one garage. (Project pictured below.)

City of Hibbing: $36,027 to demolish six houses, one garage apartment and one garage.

City of Virginia: $1,848 to demolish one garage.

Residential Redevelopment grants help communities in the Taconite Assistance Area eliminate blight, improve property maintenance, promote health and safety and encourage economic development.

“The number one tool in our toolbox for helping to combat blighted and nuisance structures in Aurora is the IRRR Residential Redevelopment grant,” said Luke Heikkila, city administrator. “We are extremely grateful for this program and will continue to advocate and use this resource for years to come.”

Residential Redevelopment grants may be awarded to cities, townships, counties and tribal governments to demolish single-unit residential homes, residential duplexes, residential multi-unit structures, garages, sheds and barns. Homeowners interested in applying should contact their municipality. 

The Hibbing addresses to be demolished include:

• 2721 6^th Ave. E.: house & garage – grant amount received $3,984 – court ordered demolition (demo completed in October 2023)
• 3617 4^th Ave. W.: house – grant amount received $ 6,840 – voluntary demolition (previously had fire) (demo completed in February 2024)
• 2324 6^th Ave. E.: house & garage w/apartment – grant amount received $ 7,668 – court ordered demolition (demo completed March 2024)
• 1507 14^th Ave. E.: house – grant amount received $ 4,986 – voluntary demolition (previously had fire) (not yet scheduled for demolition)
• 2715 6^th Ave. E.: house – grant amount received $ 4,725 – voluntary demolition (not yet scheduled for demolition)
• 11455 Tamminen Rd.:  house – grant amount received $ 7,824 – voluntary demolition – (not yet scheduled for demolition)