Community Discussion on Brownfield Redevelopment

APA and Bethel New Life held two community meetings on January 26, 2006, in the West Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago. The purpose of the meetings was to engage community members and local organizations to help inform the design of the workbook and training program. The meetings were held at the Bethel Community Center. The facility, a combination transit stop and commercial center, is on a redeveloped brownfield site.

Afternoon attendees represented local business and community organization interests. The evening meeting attendees were neighborhood residents from the West Garfield Park and Austin communities. Many of the participants acknowledged having little or no knowledge of brownfields redevelopment prior to the meeting. Even so, participants provided insight into both the type of information that should be included in the workbook as well as the format the workbook should ultimately take.

Mildred Wiley of Bethel New Life (photo above) led the afternoon discussion.

Following a brief presentation introducing the concept of brownfields and the process of redevelopment, participants at each meeting were led through a facilitation discussion addressing these questions:

• What do you want to know about brownfields?
• What format should the workbook take?
• What topics should be covered in the workbook?
• What tools would you like to see included in the workbook and training program?
• What did you like about past workshops and trainings?

The attendees represented a cross-section of the intended audience for the workbook, and the information gleaned from both meetings will be extremely valuable in terms of shaping the project.

Click here for the presentation (pdf) (2.85MB)

Click here for the participant handout (pdf)