We're happy to report that that has been completed.”

Community Development Director John Hinzman

Hastings Creamery
1701 Vermillion St
Hastings, mn 55033
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Nearly three years after a massive fire destroyed the Hastings Cooperative Creamery, city officials announced Monday that cleanup and demolition of the long-vacant site has been completed, bringing an end to one of the community's most visible redevelopment challenges.
Community Development Director John Hinzman informed the Hastings City Council during its June 15 meeting that all hazardous structures and debris have been removed from the former creamery property at 1701 Vermillion St., satisfying a demolition order issued by the city earlier this year.
"We're happy to report that that has been completed," Hinzman told council members. "The buildings are gone, the debris is gone, the grass seed has been set in there."
Hinzman said the final outstanding issue identified in a staff report had also been resolved after a surety was secured to ensure grass establishment on the site. As a result, the demolition permit has been fully closed out and staff is recommending no further action by the city.
Mayor Mary Fasbender summed up the feelings of many residents with a brief comment following the report.
"Long time coming," Fasbender said.
The announcement closes a difficult chapter that began on Sept. 13, 2023, when fire ripped through the century-old Hastings Cooperative Creamery complex along Vermillion Street.
The blaze caused extensive damage to the structure, rendering it uninhabitable. According to city records, the property remained vacant for nearly two-and-a-half years following the fire.
The creamery had already ceased operations in August 2023 before the fire occurred and was the subject of several code enforcement actions involving site conditions and sanitary sewer discharge issues.
For many Hastings residents, the creamery was more than just an industrial building. The facility had long been a recognizable landmark on the city's south side and a reminder of Hastings' agricultural heritage. The destruction of the property left a large, highly visible scar along one of the city's main corridors.
Following the fire, city officials spent months attempting to work with property ownership to secure cleanup of the site.
According to documents presented to the City Council earlier this year, city staff began contacting the owner's representatives shortly after the fire. Emails and communications throughout 2024 sought information on cleanup plans and documented code violations at the property.
Inspections revealed deteriorating conditions as the damaged structure remained exposed to the elements. Portions of the roof had collapsed, holes in the roof allowed rainwater to enter the building, and debris accumulated throughout the structure. City officials also reported concerns about trespassing and inadequate security measures at the site.
Residents continued to voice concerns about the property's appearance and condition. During 2024, the city received complaints regarding weeds, storage of inoperable trailers and the overall state of the property.
A November 2025 inspection conducted by city officials found the building remained severely damaged and unsecured. Officials concluded the structure was unoccupiable and that the cost of repair exceeded the building's value. The building was formally deemed hazardous.
After months of limited progress, the Hastings City Council took formal action on Feb. 17, 2026.
The council adopted a resolution ordering the property owner to demolish and remove all hazardous buildings and debris from the site by June 15, 2026. The order gave the owner four months to complete the work and warned that the city could pursue legal action and recover costs through assessments if compliance did not occur.
The action followed a lengthy public process during which city officials documented extensive deterioration and safety concerns associated with the property.
At the time, Community Development Director John Hinzman told council members the city had maintained regular communication with ownership for more than two years while seeking voluntary cleanup of the site.
The council's demolition order ultimately proved successful.
By June 10, city staff reported that demolition of the hazardous buildings had been completed, all debris had been removed and the site had been seeded.
Five days later, Hinzman was able to report to the council that all remaining permit-related matters had been resolved and the city considered the demolition order fully satisfied.
With demolition complete, the former creamery site now sits as an open parcel awaiting its next chapter.
Photographs included in city documents show a cleared property where the towering creamery structures once stood, with freshly seeded ground replacing the burned and deteriorated buildings that had dominated the site since the 2023 fire.
While no redevelopment plans were discussed Monday night, the completion of the cleanup removes a significant obstacle for future investment and development opportunities on the property.