Report defines scope of brownfield development
Cities estimate they could generate $790 million to $1.9 billion annually in additional tax revenues if existing brownfields were redeveloped, according to a U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) survey released in June. “Recycling America’s Land: A National Report on Brownfields Redevelopment, Volume IV” is the fourth report published by the Washington, D.C.-based organization that compiles information about the status of brownfields and the impact the properties have on communities.
USCM defines brownfields as abandoned or underutilized properties where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by either real or perceived environmental contamination. Those properties may include closed gas stations, vacant warehouses, former dry cleaning establishments or abandoned residential buildings that could contain lead paint or asbestos. Although federal legislation helps governments and developers assess and clean up brownfields, cities report that they have a large amount of contaminated land and could use more assistance in returning the properties to the tax rolls.
A total of 244 cities completed the USCM survey. The respondents reported a total of nearly 25,000 brownfield sites, with the average size of a site being five acres. For example, Jacksonville, Fla., reported that it has 300 brownfield sites that affect approximately 11,500 acres.
Most respondents (82 percent) reported that brownfield sites remain undeveloped because of a lack of funds for cleaning up the property. In addition to needing clean-up funds, 75 percent of respondents reported a need for low-interest loans, demolition funds and help in acquiring land to attract investment.
Many survey respondents reported successes in redeveloping brownfields. The sites have been redeveloped in a variety of ways, including retail projects, housing development projects, mixed-use developments, commercial projects, greenspace areas and intermodal hubs for transportation. Detroit, for example, reported that it has already redeveloped 100 brownfield sites, totaling 850 acres in the city, and Saint Paul, Minn., reported redeveloping 1,400 acres of brownfields.
Forty-five cities reported receiving a total of $90 million in actual tax revenue from redeveloped brownfields. Gary, Ind., reported gaining $20 million in actual revenue from redeveloped brownfields, which was the greatest amount of actual revenue reported by respondents. Seventy-four cities said that approximately 83,000 jobs were created from former brownfield sites, with Saint Paul reporting the greatest number of jobs being created at 40,000.
USCM added the information from the report to its National Brownfields Database, which helps track local efforts to redevelop contaminated sites. To view the complete report and more information about brownfields, visit www.usmayors.org.