MAYORS SEE BROWNFIELDS BLOOM
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.
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According to the survey, 153 cities have 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 significant demolition projects, followed by equally significant construction projects. Both circumstances can provide opportunities to recycle 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 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.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors met in Denver in early June for its annual conference.
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