Waste Site Cleanup & Reuse in New England
4. Site Redevelopment
> Bringing a Brownfields Property Back to Reuse
Brownfields redevelopment can present a number of challenges. They include, but are not limited to:
- Site access
- Contamination
- Construction and redevelopment concerns
- Employment
- Location
- Reuse plan
- Liability
- Financing
- Cleanup standards
- Stakeholder involvement
Site access. For private properties or properties where ownership is uncertain, gaining access to records or to conduct sampling may be difficult.
Contamination. Perhaps the largest barrier to brownfields redevelopment is the perception of contamination by potential developers and/or investors. Without an assessment of property, this perception cannot be dispelled.
Construction and redevelopment concerns. These may be temporary, and include noise, pollution, and altered traffic patterns. However, analyzing the benefit to the community in the long-term means factoring in and acknowledging disadvantages in the short-term.
Employment. Communities and local governments are eager for neighborhood revitalization and revenue. However, lack of employment opportunities for area residents may affect decisions on whether or not a company or industry can relocate there.
Location. Although many brownfields properties are urban, there are also rural brownfields properties. Redeveloping a property that is isolated and not part of a larger revitalization plan may pose transportation and workforce challenges.
Reuse plan. Disagreements between various stakeholders on the reuse of a property may hinder redevelopment activities.
Liability. Concerns over liability due to the nature or extent of contamination (whether known or unknown) may discourage developers who are unfamiliar with the various cleanup options and certification agreements available.
Financing. Concerns over contamination and potential liability also factor into the decisions of private investors and lending institutions, and whether or not they will risk providing money to cleanup and redevelopment of a brownfields site.
Cleanup standards. Since federal and state cleanup standards may vary depending on proposed end use, a property owner or potential property owner may find it difficult to identify the appropriate standards before proceeding with a redevelopment project.
Stakeholder involvement. There are numerous benefits to including all stakeholders in the redevelopment process. However, the addition of different perspectives also means the addition of different priorities, which will need to be recognized by all before moving toward a plan that is acceptable to all groups. One way to include stakeholders in the redevelopment processes is by involving community groups.