Brownfields Program
What is a Brownfield?
Abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination.
Raleigh's Commitment
The City of Raleigh is committed to facilitating equitable, environmentally sustainable economic development within the City through its Brownfields program. By encouraging new and expanding businesses to locate near the urban core in economically distressed areas through the Brownfield and other local and state programs, the City hopes to reduce urban sprawl, increase economic development and improve neighborhood livability in the areas that need it most.
Overview of the City of Raleigh Brownfields Program
Raleigh has been active in Brownfields issues since 1999 when it was awarded its first grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In 2001, the City was awarded a Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund (BCRLF) grant in the amount of one million dollars. This grant makes loans available for developers who need to conduct brownfield cleanup activities to redevelop their property. Raleigh's Brownfields efforts have been focused on a state-designated Development Zone (DZ) which was replaced by the Urban Progress Zone in 2007. The target areas were concentrated on the central city including the downtown area and adjacent residential redevelopment areas. These target areas were chosen based on the high concentrations of potential Brownfield sites as well as the unemployment and poverty rates in the DZ are several times the county and city averages. By selecting these targeted areas the City's goal has been to facilitate redevelopment, improve employment opportunities, and improve the income and quality of life for residents.
In 2004, EPA Region 4 awarded a $200,000 Hazardous Substances Assessment Grant and a $200,000 Petroleum Substances Assessment Grant for assessment of candidate sites within the City's target area. In 2006, the City identified candidate brownfield properties and conducted a review to identify which of the properties would be assessed by the City's environmental consultants, Hart & Hickman. There were several phases to the assessment process, including Phase I and Phase II assessments, followed by remediation and redevelopment planning. Due to the extent of work involved the City requested and received a grant extension through September 2008.
Brownfield Activities
Several sites have been assessed using EPA grant dollars. These sites include 301 Hillsborough St.; 500 E. Davie St.; 4 parcels at 500 Fayetteville St.; 615 Fayetteville St.; 10 W. South St.; the former 15 Lenoir St.; 600, 602, 616, and 820 S. Salisbury St.; and 1420 Garner Road.
-
"Convention Center Lots" (CC Lots): Comprised of several individual parcels totaling approximately three acres of commercial property in downtown Raleigh. The specific parcels are located at 615 Fayetteville St., 10 W. South S.; and 600, 602 and 616 S. Salisbury Street. Most of the parcels had historical operations of potential concern, such as gasoline service stations, automotive sales and service facilities, and dry cleaning and laundry facilities.
-
1. A Phase II site assessment identified petroleum, solvent, and metal impacts to soil and/or ground water at the site. The petroleum impacts are believed to be associated with the presence of petroleum underground storage tanks (USTs) and the solvents are associated with former dry cleaners at the site.
-
2. Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) was approved by the EPA for the CC Lots. Based on the approved ABCA, 616 S. Salisbury St. was remediated in September 2007, and 10 W. South St. was remediated February 2008. Groundwater monitoring has been conducted at 10 W. South St. and the City is working with the EPA and State on site closure.
-
500 East Davie St.: ,A City-owned commercial site, is a 0.83-acre property near downtown Raleigh that was originally developed in 1930. The site vicinity was used for a variety of operations, including vehicle maintenance services, laundry and dry cleaning, and church-related uses.
-
1. Results of the Phase I ESA indicated a petroleum UST is likely located in front of the building beneath the sidewalk along East Davie Street. The Phase II ESA found modest impacts to site soil beneath the warehouse slab from petroleum hydrocarbon compounds and metals.
-
2. An ABCA was approved by EPA that recommended cleanup activities including properly closing the UST and removing impacted soil. Cleanup activities including limited excavation and disposal of impacted soil in localized areas under the concrete slab were completed in June 2008. Additional work associated with closure of the UST will be completed in the near future. The City is currently working with the EPA and State to obtain final site closure.
The City was successful in getting revolving loan funds for the cleanup of assessed City-owned properties into what is considered a more permanent brownfields program that can eventually be utilized by approved parties for brownfield assessment or cleanup activities even though the formal EPA $1 Million Brownfield Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund and the $400,000 Assessment Grant closed out on September 30, 2008.
City of Raleigh Brownfields Advisory Committee
The City of Raleigh Brownfield Committee is composed of representatives from various city agencies and provides over-sight for the city's Brownfields program. This committee meets as necessary to review progress on Brownfields issues and to make recommendations regarding management of the program. Tasks of the committee include but are not limited to the following activities: providing input on project tasks, critiquing work being done, recommending certain actions that should be undertaken, applying for federal grants, reviewing and approving applications, and developing criteria to award grants. City agencies that are members of the Brownfield Advisory Committee are: planning, community development, finance, administrative services, and the chamber of commerce.
For More Information Contact:
Alysia Bailey-Taylor
Planner II
Planning Department
One Exchange Plaza, Suite 204
Raleigh, NC 27602
919-516-2650
|
