IN
THIS ISSUE:
Call
for Brownfields 2004 Presentations
St Louis, MO will host this year’s national brownfields
conference from September 20-22, 2004. Brownfields 2004: Gateway
to Revitalization will feature more than 200 presenters, 4,000
participants, 200 exhibitors, and three full days of educational
and networking opportunities. Don’t miss this opportunity
to experience the premier national and international event
in brownfields reuse. Participants will have the chance to
attend numerous educational sessions covering key issues facing
brownfields professionals, including targeted options for
both beginners and seasoned experts. In order to create an
exceptional educational experience, your perspective on the
most important and relevant issues facing brownfields practitioners
is welcomed.
To suggest a presentation online or to download a printable
Call for Presentations form to mail in, visit http://www.brownfields2004.org/en/ideas.aspx.
Please note the Call for Presentations deadline is March 31,
2004.
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City of New Orleans
Secures Loan to Clean Up Bywater Property
The New Orleans Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund Pilot
recently secured a $325,000 loan to cleanup a brownfields
site in the historic Bywater district of New Orleans. The
Bywater district is close to the Central Business District,
the French Quarter, and the Superdome. Located in an historic
New Orleans neighborhood, the property was once home to an
oyster company, a television studio, a molasses plant, and
an adhesives company.
Planet of the Dreamers plans to cleanup the property and
establish an art studio, teaching facility, and exhibit space
that will be associated with the New Orleans Center for Creative
Arts (NOCCA). NOCCA is a premier arts training conservatory
founded in 1973. Alumni include such well-known musicians
as Wynton Marsalis, Branford Marsalis, and Harry Connick,
Jr. A sculpture garden is also planned adjacent to the site.
A Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund grant provides funding
for grant recipients to capitalize a revolving loan fund that
provides funding for cleanup activities at brownfields sites.
For more information, contact Nathan Champagne, at nathanc@new-orleans.la.us.
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Historic
Distillery Redeveloped as Mixed-Use Project in Canada
“Urban farming” is an offbeat but down-to-earth
expression that describes the momentum in Toronto’s
Historic Distillery District. Perhaps you’ve heard about
the Gooderham & Worts property – a site that housed
the world’s largest distillery about 150 years ago.
This maze of 44 Victorian-era industrial buildings lying across
13 derelict acres is one of Toronto’s hot new areas.
Cityscape Holdings’ acquisition of these one-of-a-kind
historic buildings allowed them to grasp the opportunity to
create a living community – a process it refers to as
“urban farming.” Cityscape has planted the roots
of a successful, full-time neighborhood in an area with limited
development.
Their vision is drawn from successful communities such as
Yorkville and Queen Street W. in Toronto and SoHo and Chelsea
in New York City: First attract artists, restaurants, bars,
cafes, boutiques, galleries – then the people will come
and they will stay. Retailers must reflect the spirit of the
area and no chain operations or franchises may locate in the
area.
Restoring the continent’s largest, best-preserved set
of Victorian-era industrial buildings in one of Canada’s
most heavily regulated areas, found the developers locating
lathe from the 1860s and crown molding built 100 years ago.
A storm sewer system, updated gas and electrical supply networks,
and streets and sidewalks were also part of the redevelopment.
Now, with 90 percent of the buildings leased and 80 percent
of the ground floors refurbished, Cityscape is ready to embark
on new housing. Despite recent sub-zero temperatures, the
area was busy with people shopping, dining, and socializing.
Beneath a pair of parking lots in the Distillery District
is enough land for 1.2 million square feet of residential
space. Cityscape plans to develop a 25-story condominium building
atop a 5-story podium that will comprise live/work units for
artists creating works ranging from small paintings to large-scale
sculptures. Courtyards will integrate the new development
to the historic structures and an existing condominium building
on the site.
No specific buyers are being targeted. The builders are looking
for people who want to live in a new hub of arts, culture,
and entertainment.
To learn more about this development, visit http://www.newhomes.org/new_homes/bricks/2004/bx040214.htm.
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Keystone
Enterprise Park Redevelopment Moving Forward
Reprinted from Brownfields Bulletin, 1st Quarter 2004, Issue
23
The city of Indianapolis is in the process of developing
a partially developed area of the city. The Martindale-Brightwood
area is located on the east side of Indianapolis at the intersection
of Keystone Avenue and Interstate 70. Approximately 62 acres
in size, when completed, it will provide commercial/industrial
development of approximately 19 parcels and some greenspace.
The neighborhood was initially developed for residential
purposes in the 1900s. All infrastructure, including utilities
and roads, was in place for homes to be built. However, in
the 1950s when construction for the adjacent interstate highway
began, the residential development project stopped. Since
that time, the area has been in decline. Approximately 150
parcels remain undeveloped, resulting in nuisance dumping
of trash and tires. The city of Indianapolis has purchased
over 100 houses and commercial facilities to prepare this
62-acre area for an industrial park.
Three phases of environmental investigation and redevelopment
were funded from a variety of sources, including city funds
and state brownfields grant and loan funds. The first phase
determined that metals impacted a limited area of surface
and subsurface soils. This area was capped to prevent any
harmful exposure. The second phase revealed soil and groundwater
contamination of chlorinated solvents. The impacted source
soil was removed, and groundwater monitoring will be conducted
to determine the stability of the contaminant plume. The chlorinated
solvent contamination is shallow in the groundwater, and a
phytoremediation (remediation using plants) pilot test with
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is being considered.
The city plans to use this area as greenspace with picnic
tables. The third phase of environmental investigation is
ongoing.
The city of Indianapolis is currently marketing the Martindale-Brightwood
area for redevelopment. An anchor tenant is expanding operations,
and several businesses are negotiating with the city to relocate
to the area. Announcements for the new businesses are pending.
For more information, visit http://www.in.gov/idem/land/brownfields/
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2004 Phoenix Awards
Program Call for Nominations
The Phoenix Awards™, Recognition for Excellence in
Brownfield Redevelopment, are widely recognized as the outstanding
award for achievement of excellence in brownfields redevelopment.
This prestigious award recognizes one winner from each of
EPA’s 10 regions. Additional winners are selected for
Community Impact Awards, recognizing exceptional projects
in smaller communities. Last year, The Phoenix Awards™
program created an international category and presented its
first International Phoenix Award.
Award-winning projects are showcased at the national Brownfields
2004 Conference and receive handcrafted crystal trophies presented
during an awards ceremony. They also receive recognition in
professional journals, newspapers, and on the Internet as
a Featured Site at www.brownfields.com.
To nominate your project for this prestigious award, apply
soon! The 2004 Phoenix Awards application deadline is May
21, 2004. Applications are available on The Phoenix Awards
web site at http://www.phoenixawards.org.
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