IN
THIS ISSUE:
MI DEQ Supports Rural Brownfield Cleanups with Mix of Funding
By Ron Smedley, Brownfields Redevelopment Coordinator,
MDEQ
Photographs by Ron Smedley
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A reduction in state funding for brownfield cleanups in
Michigan, has the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
looking for other ways to support redevelopment efforts in
the state. Local tax increment financing, which reimburses
developers for their cleanup costs, is often used in urban
areas. In rural parts of the state, however, additional incentives
are often necessary to make a redevelopment project viable.
That’s where brownfield funding from the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) comes into play. The Michigan DEQ
was awarded a $250,000 Brownfield Assessment Grant in October
2004 to conduct environmental assessments at seven sites
in six rural communities to increase the likelihood of redevelopment.
Together with township and village officials, the DEQ’s
Remediation and Redevelopment Division (RRD) staff identified
sites with redevelopment potential and created a comprehensive
assessment and cleanup plan culminating in a successful proposal.
Work on the Phase I site assessments has already started
at three properties in Arenac County, two properties in Berrien
County, and one each in Saginaw and Tuscola counties. The
DEQ has supplemented the EPA grant with funding from the
state’s Clean Michigan Initiative (CMI) bond fund to
perform the necessary remedial activities. Completion of
the projects is expected in two years.
Click here for more.
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Alameda County Transforms Agricultural Land to Senior Housing
Complex
Maintaining railroad lines with chemicals such as arsenic
herbicides can have lasting effects on the land. Years later,
arsenic levels in the soil can be higher than is generally
considered safe for residential land use. This was the case
at the proposed site of the Livermore Senior Housing and
Assisted Living Care Facility.
The 10-acre site was used for agriculture until the 1970s.
From 1988 until 2001, the site had many uses, including a
Christmas tree lot and circus grounds. The environmental
problem came from a rail line that ran through the property
between 1957 and 1988. Soil sampling results showed contamination
around the southern abandoned railroad embankment. While
levels varied along the rail line ranging from 3.3 parts
per million (ppm) and above, soil samples contained arsenic
levels up to 140 ppm, well above acceptable levels for residential
use.
In August 2001, Valleycare Senior Housing, LLC purchased
the site to develop a senior housing complex. That May, the
developers entered into a Voluntary Cleanup Agreement with
the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) to ensure
the property would be cleaned up. DTSC approved the Removal
Action Workplan that called for soil removal.
Approximately 4,800 cubic yards of contaminated soil was
removed and encapsulated under two feet of clean soil. A
layer of asphalt was placed over the soil and the area is
now used as a parking lot at the facility. A deed restriction
placed on the parking lot restricts the land use to commercial
or industrial development.
Opened in June 2004 as Heritage Estates, the facility consists
of a three-story, 190-unit senior housing area, and a two-story,
60-unit assisted living area specifically designed for those
in need of frequent assistance. Forty percent of the apartment
homes are designated as affordable housing. Amenities at
the facility include a beauty salon and spa, gift shop, Internet
café, theater, travel program, and Primefit Gym.
For site facts and photograph, visit http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/SiteCleanup/Brownfields/SMBRP_FS_BROWN_LIVERMORE.pdf
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Challenges of Redeveloping Landfills Can Be Overcome
By
Mike McLaughlin and Dan Johnson
There is much recent interest in reclaiming real estate
formerly occupied by municipal landfills in many jurisdictions.
For years, closed landfill sites were used, if at all, primarily
for passive recreation. Over the last 25 years, however,
an increasing number of closed landfills have been used for
a variety of industrial, commercial, and residential purposes.
Throughout North America, agencies of federal, state, and
local governments have begun new initiatives (“brownfields”)
to redevelop sites that are environmentally “tainted.” In
many respects, closed landfills are classic brownfields opportunities,
as they are often near good transportation and other public
infrastructure.
Consider this recent landfill project. At the closed Junipero
Serra (Colma) landfill in San Mateo County, CA, refuse depths
varied up to 130 ft. After the site was selected by Bocci-Schneider
Interests to be developed as a Home Depot, the civil engineering
firm of Brian Kangas Faulk (now BKF Engineers) and DPA Associates
prepared one of the most innovative approaches ever undertaken
for redevelopment of a landfill site. Included was a deep
pile foundation through buried waste to support the building,
a landfill gas protection system, and an unusual hinged slab
to connect the building to the parking areas supported by
waste.
The completed project was presented at National Solid Wastes
Management Association’s WasteTech ’96 Conference.
Many in the audience wondered how the project would work
in the “real world.” More than eight years later,
the results are in, and the Colma Home Depot is doing very
well. Sales are good - the store has been one of the highest-grossing
Home Depot stores on a per-square-foot basis - and the innovative
environmental systems have worked almost better than expected.
Click here for more.
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Vacant Land in New London, CT Reclaimed
for New “Green” Condos
Home to many different businesses over the years, 334-400
Bank St. in New London, CT has been vacant and neglected
for decades. Redevelopment attempts began as early as the
1970s, when the property came under the control of the New
London Redevelopment Agency. By the end of the 1970s, with
the exception of one building, the site had been cleared
and was awaiting the right business to move in. Under an
agreement with the Redevelopment Agency, Abbott’s Seafood
began operations on the site. However, by the late 1980s,
Abbott’s closed and the property was returned to the
city. Since that time, the vacant building has suffered significant
deterioration.
Using approximately $100,000 in Brownfields Assessment
Program funding, site environmental problems were investigated
through Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments
revealing contaminants from petroleum and an offsite dry
cleaner. The site was prepared for redevelopment and groundbreaking
occurred in August 2004.
Construction of 120 market-rate condominiums are planned,
35 to be built in Phase I. The developer is following Leadership
in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) building standards,
including using low VOC carpets and paints, compact fluorescent
lighting, Energy Star appliances and windows, high efficiency
heating and air conditioning units, a plank exterior requiring
infrequent painting, and bamboo floors. A bike room encourages
bicycle transportation, and the condominiums are a short
walk from public transportation.
The redevelopment of this downtown parcel will be advantageous
to New London, currently classified by the state of Connecticut
as a “distressed municipality.” The redevelopment
will attract new investors and will also increase the downtown
tax base by 11% after Phase I, and about 38% after Phase
III. Plans include a shoreline extension of the public River
Walk.
Shaw’s Landing is a great example of public-private
partnerships, innovation, creativity, and a commitment to
environmental protection by going beyond standard development
practices to incorporate “green building” environmentally
responsible principles into the redevelopment of this site.
To learn more about this project, contact Bruce Hyde at
860-447-5203 or at bhyde@ci.new-london.ct.u
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Trenton Tunnel Project Creates Waterfront Park
The Trenton Tunnel Project in Trenton City, NJ provides
direct access from Route 129 to Waterfront Park for those
interested in a Minor League baseball game, and to New Jersey
state government offices for employees looking to cut some
time from their daily commute. In addition, the project’s
creative design, with beautiful views along the Delaware
River, serves as the foundation for River Walk Park. This
6.3-acre community park sitting atop the Trenton Tunnel graces
the South Trenton neighborhood with beautiful gardens, a
playground, and an historic walkway documenting the city’s
history from prehistoric times through the present.
The construction of the tunnel was not without environmental
issues. Various heavy metals, base neutrals, and historic
fill were encountered in soil throughout the project area.
In some instances, the contamination did not affect groundwater
and could be addressed by capping contaminated areas with
roadways and restricting the future use of the property.
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection case manager,
Kirstin Pointin-Hahn, was instrumental in the process and
approved the reuse of more than 23,200 cubic meters of minimally
contaminated soil. In instances where groundwater was affected,
continual recovery and monitoring is ongoing. Other remedial
efforts include the removal of several underground storage
tanks and soil excavation. Environmental costs for the tunnel
project totaled roughly $17 million for investigative and
remedial activities. A No Further Action Letter has not yet
been issued due to the ongoing groundwater monitoring.
Since its completion, the tunnel has served thousands of
motorists and the surrounding neighborhood. Traffic has been
redirected from local streets and residents and visitors
alike enjoy River Walk Park. For a leisurely stroll through
the history of Trenton, NJ, take a walk “on” the
Trenton Tunnel.
To view photos of this project, visit the NJ Department
of Environmental Protection web site at http://www.nj.gov/dep/srp/brownfields/success/trentontnl/
For additional information about this project, contact
Kirstin Pointin-Hahn at 609-584-4171.
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