Brennen Brothers, news editor

On Feb. 26, demolition of the Smith Foundry began, surprising Minneapolis East Phillips Neighborhood residents, as they were not previously informed that the building would be torn down. The building was originally shut down on July 26, 2024, for federal pollution violations. Residents are now worried about the pollution and health risks from the demolition, states MPR news.

According to the East Phillips Improvement Coalition (EPIC), who made a statement on Facebook, the city of Minneapolis failed to notify neighborhood organizations or any of the partner organizations about the demolition of the Smith Foundry. EPIC demands that the city provide a protection plan that addresses the risk from the dust and toxic fumes. 

“This biggest worry regarding the demolition is respiratory illnesses. That’s a concern for everyone, but especially for children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. And, unfortunately, as we see so many times–it will be primarily people of color that this will affect. And, of course, residents are concerned about the lingering effects in the soil, long after the foundry has been demolished. And I think their concerns are justified–we’re talking about a business that violated the Clean Air Act repeatedly,” writes Political Science Professor Jeff Stanglin in an interview with the Echo.

MPR reports that in Dec. 2024, a permit application was submitted and was later approved by the city of Minneapolis on Feb. 20. A copy of the permit, obtained by Sahan Journal, states that the demolition will occur in stages, the first being removing the building, then testing and removal of the foundation. Smith Foundry started their operation in the 1920s, and was located near an old arsenic factory. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), removed tons of soil from surrounding areas in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The building was closed down in Aug. 2024 when federal regulators accused the foundry of violating the Clean Air Act over five years. They were fined $80,000 and chose to close down instead of finding a new use for the building.

Bring Me The News states that the demolition contractor sent out a letter on Dec. 10, 2024 to neighbors informing them of the demolition. Ward 9 Council Member Jason Chavez wrote in a statement that he “was never communicated with details on the process, specific dates, and any neighborhood engagement.” He continues to write his belief that more communication could’ve been done to inform community members about what they could’ve expected and a timeline of information. Officials working on the demolition are allegedly using proper dust control; there is ongoing air monitoring and daily inspections of the site. Additionally, all environmental hazards were removed before the demolition, writes CBS news.