Creating Community-Based Brownfields Redevelopment Strategies

About the Project

The American Planning Association was the recipient of a Brownfields Training, Research, and Technical Assistance Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The result of this three-year initiative, which involved  community development corporation (CDC) leaders, community members, and others working to revitalize low-income and disadvantaged communities, is Creating Community-Based Brownfield Redevelopment Strategies, a guide to redeveloping brownfield sites.

It is estimated that there are more than 450,000 brownfield sites in the U.S. In many brownfield redevelopment projects, community groups are frequently left out of the process. However, they represent the main constituency that suffers from the negative impact of vacant and abandoned brownfield sites. The purpose of Creating Community-Based Brownfield Redevelopment Strategies is twofold: first, it is designed to help community-based organizations (CBOs) recognize that brownfields are opportunities for neighborhood revitalization, and, second, it provides critical information to help local CBOs participate more effectively in the complicated process of brownfield cleanup and redevelopment. This guide intends to empower residents to actively and effectively participate in brownfield site redevelopment and understand how different development strategies will benefit their communities.

Download a copy of Creating Community-Based Brownfield Redevelopment Strategies (pdf)

Overview

Since community-based organizations (CBOs) and residents will come to the table with varying degrees of knowledge about brownfields and the redevelopment process, Creating Community-Based Brownfield Redevelopment Strategies covers both very basic information and more complex issues. The range of information covered in this guide therefore is applicable to a beginner to intermediate user.

1: Brownfield Basics
This section provides readers with an overview of brownfields, including a comprehensive definition and an explanation of the laws and regulations shaping brownfield cleanup and redevelopment. In addition, this section discusses the problems and opportunities presented by brownfields.

2: The Brownfield Redevelopment Process
The process of remediating and redeveloping a brownfield site can be complicated and time consuming. This section describes the six basic steps of the brownfield redevelopment process, which include:

Step 1: Develop a Community Vision
Step 2: Identify Brownfield Sites
Step 3: Assess Level of Contamination
Step 4: Determine Reuse Options
Step 5: Evaluate Cleanup Options
Step 6: Implement a Redevelopment Plan

3: Community Visioning
The community visioning process is a consensus-driven, public participation process that results in a cohesive vision for a targeted area. Section 3 describes the community visioning process, who has a role in the process, and why it matters in brownfields redevelopment. This section provides:

• a definition and explanation of the different stakeholders;
• a definition and explanation of the community vision and visioning process;
• an overview of how to build public support for a brownfields redevelopment project and maintain momentum over the long-term; and
• details strategies for how to influence the development of community-friendly brownfields policies.

4: Brownfields Cleanup
Environmental cleanup of brownfields is governed by complex and often overlapping federal, state, local, and tribal laws. Since the regulatory framework associated with remediating brownfields can be complicated, this section provides a broad overview of cleanup and legal issues that often arise during the redevelopment of brownfield sites. This section also outlines many of the critical brownfields cleanup issues, including:

• how to determine cleanup liability and understanding options for liability protection;
• cleanup options, the technology and costs;
• determining the level of cleanup necessary for the intended use;
• how to involve the community in cleanup decisions; and
• advice on selecting a technical consultant and environmental lawyer.

5: Brownfields Finance 101
Remediating and redeveloping a brownfield site can be complicated and costly. Private investment, coupled with public funding, makes community-based redevelopment efforts possible. This section focuses on the pertinent information involved in financing brownfield cleanup and redevelopment by describing the:

• various sources of public and private funding available for site assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment; and
• contractual approaches and insurance products that can be used to reduce and control cleanup costs.

Additional resources on brownfield site assessment, cleanups, and redevelopment (pdf)

Partners

APA's research department is undertaking this project, working in close collaboration with Bethel New Life, Inc., a Chicago-based CDC with extensive experience in brownfields redevelopment issues. APA and Bethel are also working with the Center for Public Environmental Oversight (CPEO), an organization that promotes and facilitates public participation in environmental activities, including brownfields, to create the workbook.