December 23, 2025 12:30 PM

Press Release regarding St. Catherine's and the Convent

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December, 23, 2025
The City of McCook and The McCook Community Development Agency (CDA) are taking action to address the condition of the St. Catherines Hospital and Convent properties and the entities want to educate the public about the process.
The City and the CDA are working to apply to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfield Program for a cleanup grant to remediate the asbestos and other contamination that is present in the St. Catherines properties located at 1200 and 1201 West 4th Street and 1207 West 5th Street. Addressing these conditions is necessary to mitigate potential project and community impacts and to position the properties for future redevelopment.
A public engagement meeting will take place from 5:30-6:30 p.m., Wednesday January, 7th 2026 at the McCook Municipal Center City Council Chambers. The meeting will provide information on the grant, the City’s proposed application and seek ideas for the reuse of the building once the contaminants are addressed.
Following introductions, a brief presentation will be provided outlining the grant, its requirements, and the known asbestos and lead-based paint issues within the buildings. The meeting will then be opened to the public for comments and to share ideas regarding potential future uses of the sites.
If funded, the grant will allow the CDA to address hazardous material cleanup in the buildings such as asbestos and lead paint. The presence of contamination has historically made future reuse of the buildings unattainable due to the high cost associated with proper and safe clean up.
“The St. Catherine’s Hospital has remained vacant for approximately 15 years and the convent not quite as long. Both properties have passed through multiple property owners without successful remediation. This is our best opportunity to address a long-standing nuisance and take a step toward a viable future for St. Catherines and the convent.” said Nate Schneider, City Manager for the City of McCook.
The grant application is due on January 28, 2026. Members of the McCook City Council are scheduled to hold a public hearing at their January 19, 2026 meeting, which starts at 5:30 p.m. to consider the draft grant application.
It is anticipated that the award would be announced in the summer of 2026, with work to begin in the fall 2026 or spring 2027.