Demolition begins on long vacated buildings in downtown Harvard

Demolition is underway on two long vacant buildings on Harvard’s Main Street, marking the end of structures that had been part of the community’s downtown for generations.

Work began July 6 and is being carried out by Lincoln Demolition & Excavation.

The project was made possible through a $120,000 Revitalize Rural Nebraska Grant awarded to the City of Harvard for the demolition of the building at 306 N. Clay Ave. Created by the Nebraska Legislature in 2023, the competitive grant program helps rural communities remove vacant, deteriorating commercial buildings that have become safety hazards and prepares sites for future redevelopment. As a city of the second class, Harvard was required to provide a 15 percent local match toward the project.