Minneapolis residents on Wednesday celebrated the closure of a shingle factory on the shores of the Mississippi River that has been a major source of air pollution in the Twin Cities.
GAF Materials Corp., which produces shingles, announced it is closing its factory in Minneapolis, which has operated off Lowry Avenue N. for more than 60 years. While workers will be present at the facility until April, shingle production has ceased, according to a GAF spokesperson.
For residents of north and northeast Minneapolis neighborhoods abutting the factory, the news comes as a breath of fresh air. GAF was the 23rd most air-polluting facility in Hennepin County in 2024, according to data from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). It’s drawn the ire of city residents for decades due to a foul smell and poor air quality…