Waste Site Cleanup & Reuse in New England
Myrtle Street Brownfields Redevelopment
Success in EPA Brownfields Assessment
Grant Program and Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Program
Lynn, MA and the Lynn Economic Development & Industrial Corporation
(November 25, 2002)
Contacts
 Empire Laundry property prior to redevelopment |
|
 Demolition of Empire Laundry |
|
 Construction of Myrtle Street Property |
|
 Myrtle Street Property after construction |
Successful Partnerships Make for a Successful Brownfields
Program
The Lynn Community Development Housing Corporation partnered (LCDHC)
with the Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development (LHAND)
to construct five single-family homes that will be sold to low-
and moderate-income first-time homebuyers. This innovative project
converted a former industrial property into residential properties
within a residential neighborhood. The project was also made possible
by the partnership of the city of Lynn, the Economic Development
Industrial Corporation (EDIC / Lynn), and the Conservation Law Foundation
which used EPA Brownfields funding from the Assessment Grant program
and the Revolving Loan Fund programs to assess and clean up the
former Empire Laundry property prior to redevelopment. EDIC / Lynn
has been awarded $350,000 in assessment funding since 1997 and $500,000
to capitalize it’s Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund, a portion
of which was used for this redevelopment project.
Myrtle Street Property Background
The Myrtle Street property was previously used as a commercial laundry
facility, the Empire Laundry, from the early 1900's until 1993.
The property was abandoned from 1993 until 1996, when the city of
Lynn foreclosed. EDIC / Lynn was awarded $200,000 from EPA’s
Brownfields Assessment Grant program in 1997, Assessment Grant supplemental
funding of $150,000 in 2000, and $500,000 to capitalize the Brownfields
Revolving Loan Fund in 2000 as well. The property is 36,000 square
feet in size and is surrounded on all sides by residential properties.
Assessment Grant Program Phase
In January 1998, the first community meeting was convened. Given
the location of the property, area residents and city officials
favored converting the industrial property to a residential use.
In March of 1998 above-ground hazardous materials were discovered
on the property. EPA subsequently completed an Emergency Removal
Action to remove 15 55-gallon drums of hazardous waste. Follow-up
site investigations, risk assessment, remedial alternatives, and
cost estimates were prepared through the fourth quarter of 1999.
Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Phase
In 1999, EPA awarded the city of Lynn a $500,000 grant to establish
a revolving loan fund program to fund environmental cleanups. As
part of the cleanup and redevelopment of the former Empire Laundry
site, the Lynn Housing Authority was able to borrow $69,000 in Brownfields
funding from the city’s loan fund to cleanup the site and
ready it for redevelopment. The loan was signed on November 25,
2002. The loan interest rate is 5% and the term is 12 months. In
September 2002 the redevelopment kick off was held, once the building
demolition was complete, and the cleanup continued for the next
year. The cleanup consisted of excavating and removing contaminated
soil. Over 2,400 pounds of solid waste were removed, as well as
over 300 gallons of liquid waste and 163 bags of asbestos-containing
building materials.
Redevelopment Phase
In October 2001, LCDHC was conveyed the property. In January 2002,
the Mayor of Lynn signed the deed for the property. The groundbreaking
for the Myrtle Street properties was held on Wednesday, November
20, 2002. The project is scheduled for completion in March 2003.