Brownfield FAQ
What is a “Brownfield” or “Brownfield site”?
Brownfields are just vacant or underused sites that haven’t been redeveloped or reused because people are afraid they might be contaminated from previous industrial or commercial uses. Sometimes they’re actually contaminated; sometimes they’re not. But if banks, developers, or the public are afraid of these sites, or if property owners can’t get loans to reclaim or use them, then they end up neglected.
What is a Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA)?
The BOA program, created in 2003 in conjunction with the state’s Brownfield Cleanup Program, is an innovative planning program that provides communities with financial assistance to facilitate the collection of basic information about an area blighted with brownfields. The program provides assistance to identify, prepare, and assemble information to be included in an application to “nominate” an area as a BOA. The program also provides financial assistance for site assessments performed in designated BOAs.
What is a Nomination Study?
A nomination provides a thorough and in-depth analysis of economic and market trends, existing conditions, opportunities for improvement and reuse potential for properties located within the designated Brownfield Opportunity Area. The nomination includes a description of findings and recommendations for redevelopment of key strategic sites to revitalize the area. (www.dec.ny.gov)
Dorothy Morehead said on Wednesday, October 27th 1:34PM:
The definition of a Brownfield should be vacant or underused sites that are, or are perceived to be, contaminated.
Comment #1