A new survey by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Washington, concludes that redeveloping “brownfields”—parcels of land whose reuse may be hindered by real or perceived environmental contamination—could generate more than 575,000 new jobs and as much as $1.9 billion annually in new tax revenue for America’s cities.
According to the survey, 153 cities have already successfully redeveloped 922 sites, totaling more than 10,500 acres, and bringing in $90 million in revenue. More than 83,000 jobs have also been created in 74 of the surveyed cities.
But the potential for job and revenue creation is far greater, the survey finds. Some 205 cities have nearly 25,000 brownfield sites awaiting redevelopment. Of those, 148 cities reported that 576,373 new jobs and as much as $1.9 billion annually could be generated if these brownfield sites were redeveloped.
“Redeveloping brownfields holds tremendous economic potential for our cities and our nation,” says Boston Mayor and Conference president Thomas Menino. “Congress should respond to mayors and increase funding for assessment and clean-up to help stimulate hundreds of thousands of new jobs and potentially billions of dollars in new revenues, at a crucial time for the economies of our cities.”
Such redevelopment often entails a significant demolition project, followed by an equally significant construction project. Both circumstances can provide opportunities for the recycling of concrete, brick and block, metals and other materials.
In the survey, the most frequently identified impediment to redevelopment of these sites is lack of clean-up funds (82 percent); liability issues (59 percent); and the need for environmental assessments (51 percent). Three-quarters of respondents said that additional resources are needed to attract greater private-sector investment.
Mayors have requested that Congress provide $250 million in annual funding to the U.S. EPA for brownfields assessment and clean up. Congress is also currently considering creating two new funding streams at the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Commerce to help prepare brownfield sites for redevelopment. The Conference has endorsed this effort.
“Brownfields redevelopment is a win-win for everyone involved,” says Charlotte Mayor Patrick McCrory, who chairs the Conference’s Environment Committee. “It is pro-environment, pro-business, pro-neighborhood, and pro-smart growth.”
The Government Accounting Office has estimated that there are 400,000 to 600,000 brownfield sites throughout the U.S. The survey examined only a fraction of the existing sites, but may still be the most detailed report documenting specific brownfield sites.
“Brownfields redevelopment is the key to smart growth,” says Elizabeth (N.J.) Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, who chairs the Conference’s Brownfields Task Force. “By recycling brownfield sites, we ease development pressures on farmland and neighboring communities.”
Adds Jackson (Miss.) mayor Harvey Johnson, who co-chairs the Conference's Brownfields Task Force, “Brownfield redevelopment is a key component of revitalizing many of the nation's urban neighborhoods. Turning these properties around and making them productive makes city neighborhoods better places to live, work, and play.”
The U.S. Conference of Mayors met in Denver in early June for its annual conference. The organization says it has taken “a national leadership role in raising and addressing the brownfields issue.”
Working with the business community, the Conference has identified and worked to address impediments to brownfields redevelopment. These efforts culminated in the 2002 passage of the Small Business Liability and Brownfields Redevelopment Act, which addressed liability issues and provides some environmental assessment and clean-up funds. A complete report can be downloaded at www.usmayors.org.