Brownfields 101
A Guide to Finding Brownfields & Understanding Our Program
Training for the Community Champions
Presentation Outline 1. Understanding that Brownfields sites aren’t always what you think and are widespread. 2. Understanding Reuse. 3. Understanding the difference between finding sites and having projects. 4. Understanding obstacles and overcoming them. 5. Understanding our Program 6. Finding Sites and Resources
What is a Brownfield? Northwest New Mexico defines a brownfield site as: 1. a parcel of real estate 2. abandoned, inactive, or underutilized
3. on which expansion, redevelopment, or reuse is complicated because of the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, a contaminant, petroleum, or a petroleum product
Brownfields have many faces o o o o o o o o
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Former service stations Oil and gas sites Salvage yards Illicit dump sites Landfills Industrial sites Rail yards and adjacent facilities Abandoned/occupied buildings - Old hotels, schools, offices, etc. Mine scarred and adjacent lands
Brownfields have many faces o
Illicit dump sites
Brownfields have many faces o
Dry cleaners
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Scrap metal facilities
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Oil & gas sites
Brownfields have many faces o
Mothballed commercial sites
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Mothballed office buildings
Why is Brownfields Redevelopment Important? • • • • • • • • • • •
Links economic vitality with environmental protection Stimulates economy through investment and job creation Returns abandoned or underutilized properties to tax roles Values existing infrastructure (decreases costs) Improves community appearance Fosters sustainable and livable communities Increases surrounding property values Promotes infill development Decreases blight (improves community appearance) Encourages planned growth / discourages urban sprawl Preserves greenspace and farmland
Examples of Brownfields Reuse/Redevelopment • • • • • •
Industrial Commercial Residential Public – offices, building, recycling centers Greenspace - parks, golf courses, trails, greenways, community gardens Mixed (a mixed use development is a project that combines uses above on one site)
KEY: There are many potential Brownfields sites in Northwest NM – but without a re-use development planning or wanting to occur - we do not yet have a Brownfields project.
Specific Examples of Reuse • • • • • • • • • •
industrial park shopping center grocery store restaurant houses, apartments, condos government offices bank soccer field golf course community park
What are Obstacles to Brownfields Redevelopment? • • • • • •
Real or potential environmental contamination Assessment / Cleanup costs Liability issues for the lender, prospective purchaser, and third parties Socio-economic issues Economic development climate Viability of re-use plans for the site
What are Obstacles to Brownfields Redevelopment? • • • • •
Unknowns – risks, ownership, access Lack of awareness Lack of planning Lack of community support Lack of partnerships (among local gov’t, developers, community groups, etc.)
NWNM Brownfields Coalition Assessment Grant o
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Administered by NWNMCOG Funds ($1M) – used only for assessments and planning work on sites, Project Need: In May 2009, the COG Program Budget breakdown: received $1,000,000 in “American Reinvestment & Recovery Act (ARRA) – COG management (5%) stimulus funding for the region to implement a Brownfields Assessment – Assessment Contractors (80%) Program and ramp up site assessments • Daniel B. Stephens in Cibola, McKinley, and San Juan counties. • AMEC • Intera – Quality Assurance Manager - EAEST(10%) – Travel and Other (5%)
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Can provide service any site in Cibola, McKinley, & San Juan counties (including tribal sites)
NWNM Brownfields Coalition Assessment Grant Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III environmental site assessments Eligible entities include private individuals, developers, public entities and non profits, etc. Typical Phase I activities: Historic use information Research on site or nearby recognized environmental conditions Mapping Site investigations Typical Phase II activities: Soil sampling/ waste characterization Monitoring well installation and ground water sampling Geophysical surveys Risk assessment Soil & gas surveys Remediation Planning/cost estimates Typical Phase III activities: Cleanup cost estimate and scope-of-work development Tank pulls Other pre-cleanup planning work Phase II or III leads to eligibility to apply for an EPA Cleanup Grants, which offer up to $200,000 for site cleanup activities.
NWNM Brownfields Coalition Assessment Grant Examples: County Property Along 491 (Private owned land, Private Developer) – Phase I Report finalized on former illegal dump site, no further action needed. A developer is currently creating a manufacturing business on this property. Lexington Hotel (CARE 66, Non-Profit) – Phase I and Phase II Reports completed on the project – site needs asbestos and lead paint remediation – currently pursuing a NMED RLF and EPA Cleanup Grant. CARE 66 has a planned transition housing project slated for this historic building, once remediation has been completed.
Identifying sites and Resources for Development
Finding sites that fit o o
Develop screening criteria What are the site’s needs? – Assessment – Cleanup – Demolition – Renovation
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Are these eligible costs?
Finding sites that fit o
Will the site be eligible? – Brownfields eligibility criteria – Contaminants
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Will the owner be eligible? – When was site acquired? – How was it acquired? – Is the owner responsible for contamination?
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Is it a good development site? – What is likelihood of redevelopment?
Finding sites that fit o
Some sites may need a little help – Assessment needs • NWNMCOG can offer free services to perform assessments
– Cleanup/Reuse Funding • NMED has a revolving loan fund that is available for cleanup as well as the EPA grant program • COG can facilitate funding for a variety of other sources (EDA, USDA, HUD, etc.)
– Lack of interest in the property • Market to developers
Identifying Sites o o
Brownfields won’t come looking for you Be on the lookout for good candidates – Blighted or distressed areas – Abandoned or mothballed properties – Sites with proposed development concepts – Sites in key development areas
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Avoid fast track redevelopment projects
Identifying Sites o
Tools to identify sites – Newspaper • Business and real estate sections – Major transactions – Proposed projects
– Economic Development entities • • • •
City planning or economic development Councils of government Chambers of Commerce Brokers
Identifying Sites o
Tools to identify sites, cont’d – Visual cues in the landscape – Sudden changes in land use
Identifying Sites o
Tools to identify sites, cont’d – City / county property records – Regulatory databases – Services such as EDR OnDemand • Provides instant access to up-to-date local, state, federal, and proprietary database information
Contact Information