What is a Brownfield?

What is a Brownfield?

Brownfields in a Nutshell, June  2006

Brownfields are real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties takes development pressures off of undeveloped, open land, and both improves and protects the environment.[1]

Brownfields redevelopment can be ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable.  The nature, context, and perspective of the challenges confronting Brownfields practitioners demand this new approach. By integrating the concepts of sustainable development, community involvement, risk management, and collaborative project teams with Brownfields redevelopment, Brownfields redevelopers can avoid re-creating Brownfields and continuing their legacy.[2]

The Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) grant program was created by the October 2003 New York State Brownfields Law to promote neighborhood planning in areas with multiple Brownfields.  Most brownfields produce little tax revenue and few jobs, if any. When brownfields are investigated, cleaned up, and returned to productive use New York City, its economy, and its neighborhoods benefit.

The Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) Program provides municipalities and community based organizations with assistance to complete area-wide approaches to brownfields redevelopment planning.  Through the Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program communities will have opportunities to return dormant areas back to productive use and simultaneously restore environmental quality.  The Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program will enable local governments and community based organization to:  address a range of problems posed by multiple brownfield sites; build consensus on the future uses of strategic brownfield sites; and establish the multi-agency and private-sector partnerships necessary to leverage assistance and investments to revitalize neighborhoods and communities.  

Info on Brownfields and/or BOAs

NYC Office of Environmental.Coordination – www.nyc.gov/html/oec/html/brown/brownfields.shtml

DOS Division of Coastal Resources – http://nyswaterfronts.com/grantopps_BOA.asp,  http://www.nyswaterfronts.com/BOA_intro_LP.htm

US Environmental Protection Agency – http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/index.html

Scenic Hudson Brownfields Resource – http://www.scenichudson.org/brownfields/index.html

For more information:

Harlem River BOA Program, www.hrboa.org,

Hilary Kitasei, Project Manager, 212-227-9505

Bronx Council for Environmental Quality, www.bceq.org,

Dart Westphal, Project Chair, 718-324-4461

This document was prepared for the NYS DOS and the NYS DEC with funds provided as a result of the General Municipal Law, Article 18-C , Section 970-r.

[1] http://www.epa.gov/brownfields / [2] http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain.htm (A Sustainable Brownfields Model Framework, EPA, 1999, p. i)

[3] http://www.nyc.gov/html/oec/html/brown/brownfaq.shtml From the NYC OEC web page:  A brownfield is property that is not being redeveloped because it is or might be contaminated. The possible presence of hazardous materials poses liability, cost, and time obstacles to investment in and redevelopment of these sites.  Brownfields are often a blight on urban neighborhoods.

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