New York Governor Paterson Announces $10 Million In Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program Grants

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October 7, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced more than $10 million in Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program grants for 24 projects located in communities across the State. These grants support environmental remediation, community revitalization, job creation and the expansion of the tax base in neighborhoods that have been adversely affected by multiple brownfield sites or economic distress.

“The State’s Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program provides critically needed resources to transform thousands of brownfields and other dormant properties back to productive use to generate jobs for New Yorkers and revenues for local governments,” Governor Paterson said. “This program lays the foundation for sustained community redevelopment by putting solid strategies and investment priorities in place.”

Brownfields are dormant properties where contamination has impeded redevelopment, making them an economic and environmental drain on localities. To date, nearly 100 Brownfield Opportunity Area revitalization plans, supported by over $14 million in State funding, are underway across New York. The program is administered by the Department of State in partnership with the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Secretary of State Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez said: “In these economically trying times, it is more important than ever to lay the groundwork for sound investment to redevelop brownfields that will benefit communities by transforming them from liabilities to community assets. These grants will assist local governments and community organizations in identifying opportunities to establish new businesses and uses that will be the catalysts for cleaning up and redeveloping sites and energizing local economies throughout the State.”

State Environmental Conservation Commissioner Pete Grannis said: “These grants will help communities across the State take action to identify and eventually clean-up dormant properties. With this program, Governor Paterson is helping to revitalize communities and improve their economic security.”

The Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) Program provides a new area-wide approach, rather than the traditional site-by-site approach, to brownfield assessment and redevelopment. The area-wide approach enables communities to comprehensively assess existing economic and environmental conditions associated with brownfield blight and impacted areas, identify and prioritize community supported redevelopment opportunities and to attract public and private investment. Communities are using the BOA approach to attract new uses and businesses that are appropriate for their area including housing and retail, commercial, manufacturing, business incubators and public amenities such as parks or recreation facilities.

Program grants support a variety of community revitalization activities, including public participation processes; economic and market studies; investigations to assess site contamination and environmental conditions; site-specific redevelopment plans; environmental impact assessments and statements; marketing to attract developer interest; local law changes; architectural and streetscape design guidelines; and other actions to spur investment in, clean-up of and redevelopment of brownfield sites.

The following BOA grants were awarded:

Western New York

City of Buffalo, Buffalo Harbor - Step 2 $540,000
The City of Buffalo will complete a Nomination for approximately 1,040-acre study area characterized with 50 potential brownfield sites that are located adjacent to Buffalo Harbor. The primary revitalization objectives include fostering sustainable commercial development, improving public waterfront access and addressing environmental justice issues.

City of Buffalo, South Buffalo - Step 3 $1,458,000
The City of Buffalo and Buffalo Urban Development Corporation will complete an Implementation Strategy for an approximately 2,000-acre area characterized with 86 potential brownfield sites that are located in South Buffalo. The Implementation Strategy will include: development of land use implementation techniques including updated zoning regulations and urban design guidelines; creation of targeted and effective development incentives to attract desired land uses; redevelopment feasibility studies and site plan alternatives for specific strategic sites; site marketing to attract developer interest; developing a local management structure to ensure plan implementation of the South Buffalo BOA; and compliance with the New York State Environmental Quality Review requirements.

City of Dunkirk, AL Tech Site Area - Step 2 $303,750
The City of Dunkirk will complete a Nomination for a 100-acre area located in the vicinity of the AL Tech Site near the city center. Eleven brownfield sites make up approximately 85 acres of the area. The primary community revitalization objectives include the elimination of environmental contamination and blight associated with these brownfield sites by returning them to productive use.

City of Lockport, Tourism Focus Area - Step 2 $370,800
The City of Lockport will complete a Nomination for the 385-acre Tourism Focus Area. This area is located in the center of the City and is characterized with at least three brownfield sites. The primary community revitalization objectives include: eliminating environmental contamination and blight associated with these brownfield sites; fostering economic growth in terms of new business, jobs, and an expanded tax base; and, enhancing tourism opportunities associated with the Erie Canal.

City of Rochester, Lyell-Lake-State Street - Step 2 $214,509
The City of Rochester will complete a Nomination for the Lyell-Lake-State Street area, which is a 394-acre area with approximately 270 potential brownfield sites. These sites are located in the Browns Square, Edgerton, JOSANA, Lyell-Otis and People of Dutchtown neighborhoods in Rochester. The primary community revitalization objectives include: redeveloping strategic sites that have the most potential to positively impact real estate values, economic development, the local job market and overall quality of life.

Southern Tier

City of Binghamton, North Chenango River - Step 2 $147,570
The City of Binghamton will complete a Nomination for an approximately 407-acre area characterized with five potential brownfield sites that are located in the North Chenango River Corridor. The primary community revitalization objectives include the identification and redevelopment of strategic sites.

Town of Erwin, Village of Painted Post, Village of Riverside - Step 2 $135,000
The Town of Erwin will complete a Nomination for an approximately 494-acre area characterized by 22 potential brownfield sites that are located at the interchange of Interstates 99 and 86. The primary objectives include cleaning-up and ensuring compatible reuse of brownfields and other vacant land and creating long-term employment opportunities.

City of Jamestown, Chadakoin Riverfront - Step 2 $370,800
The City of Jamestown will complete a Nomination for an approximately 365-acre area characterized with 40 potential brownfield sites that are located along the Chadakoin River in the City's center. The primary community revitalization objectives include catalyzing economic growth in terms of new business and jobs and creating new waterfront access points along the river corridor.

City of Olean, Northwest - Step 2 $360,000
The City of Olean and the Cattaraugus Empire Zone Corporation will complete a Nomination for a 457-acre area that is located in the northwest portion of the City. The primary community revitalization objectives include fostering economic growth in terms of new business, jobs and an expanded tax base and enhancing a gateway link between the Interstate 86 corridor and the City's central business district.

Central and Northern New York

Village of East Syracuse, East Syracuse Downtown - Step 2 $121,505
The Village of East Syracuse will complete a Nomination for an approximately 980-acre area characterized with several potential brownfield sites. The primary revitalization objectives include: improving the downtown business core; developing new businesses and expanding existing businesses with related job development; improving local residential housing opportunities; increasing green space; and improvements for pedestrians.

Town of Fort Edward, Northeast Village - Step 2 $180,000
The Town of Fort Edward will complete a Nomination for an approximately 106-acre area characterized with four brownfield sites that are located in the northeast corner of the Village of Fort Edward and northern portion of the Town of Fort Edward. The primary objective is to establish a revitalization plan that determines the best reuse for several properties.

Town of Fort Edward, Downtown - Step 2 $180,000
The Town of Fort Edward will complete a Nomination for an approximately 428-acre area characterized with nine brownfield sites that are located in Fort Edward's downtown. The primary objective is to establish a revitalization plan for the downtown that identifies redevelopment opportunities for properties located in the existing Empire Zone.

Village of Lyons Falls, Lyons Falls - Step 2 $148,637
The Village of Lyons Falls and the County of Lewis will complete a Nomination for an approximately 627-acre area characterized with four potential brownfield sites located in the Village of Lyons Falls. The primary revitalization objectives include: redeveloping an abandoned mill site and other sites; providing affordable housing; and improving the village's downtown and economy.

City of Mechanicville, Waterfront/Urban Core - Step 2 $211,500
The City of Mechanicville will complete a Nomination for a 561-acre area that has 28 potential brownfield sites in three key subareas. The primary objective is to foster new, compatible economic development in these areas.

City of Ogdensburg, Ogdensburg Waterfront - Step 2 $355,500
The City of Ogdensburg will complete a Nomination for a 330-acre waterfront area characterized by at least 13 brownfields and vacant sites located along the St. Lawrence and Oswegatchie Rivers. The primary community revitalization objective to be achieved is to return brownfields and other underutilized waterfront sites to productive economic use.

City of Utica, Erie Canal Industrial Corridor - Step 1 $111,600
The City of Utica will complete a Pre-Nomination Study for an approximate 1,580-acre area characterized with over 50 potential brownfield sites located along the old Erie Canal. The Pre-Nomination will assess and plan for the reuse of brownfield sites in areas of historic significance.

New York City

City of New York, City wide - Step 1 $1,230,000
The City of New York, in partnership with participating community organizations, will advance existing Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) Program projects, and through the preparation of Pre-Nomination Studies, identify new projects throughout the five boroughs. PlaNYC estimates that the City has approximately 7,600 acres of brownfields. The primary community revitalization objectives include assisting existing BOA grantees in improving their neighborhoods, promoting brownfield cleanups, identifying and evaluating areas for more advanced BOA projects.

Flushing Willets Point Corona Local Development Corp., Flushing River Waterfront - Step 2 $1,505,700
The Flushing Willets Point Corona Local Development Corporation will complete a Nomination for an approximately 60-acre area characterized with 32 potential brownfield sites that are located along the Flushing waterfront neighborhood. The primary community revitalization objectives include: determining appropriate reuses for the area; quantifying remediation costs; designing reuse opportunities considering the varying environmental issues associated with each site and its proximity to the Flushing River waterfront; and facilitating new sustainable, transit-oriented development with mixed uses adjacent to new public open space linked to Flushing Meadows Park.

United Puerto Rican Organization of Sunset Park, Brooklyn Sunset Park - Step 2 $214,596
The United Puerto Rican Organization of Sunset Park (UPROSE) will complete a Nomination for a 475-acre area with over 50 potential brownfield sites that are located in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The primary community revitalization objectives include conducting a participatory community planning process, including the identification and redevelopment of strategic sites for uses that will serve the community.

Long Island

Town of Babylon, Wyandanch - Step 3 $1,484,118
The Town of Babylon will complete an Implementation Strategy for a 105-acre area with approximately 250 brownfield sites located in Wyandanch. The primary revitalization objectives include: returning dormant and underutilized properties to productive use for a mix of commercial, retail and cultural uses; creating jobs; providing affordable housing; and restoring environmental quality. The Implementation Strategy will include: development of land use implementation techniques including form-based zoning code and urban design guidelines; creation of targeted and effective development incentives to attract desired land uses; redevelopment feasibility studies and site plan alternatives for specific strategic sites; site marketing to attract developer interest; developing a local management structure to ensure implementation of the Wyandanch BOA; and compliance with the New York State Environmental Quality Review requirements.

Village of Farmingdale, Main Street - Step 2 $289,710
The Village of Farmingdale will complete a Nomination for 60 acres with approximately 14 potential brownfield or vacant sites near Main Street. The primary community objectives include revitalizing the downtown, restoring an eroding tax base and achieving “smart growth” to enhance the ability for people to walk to transportation, shops and dining on Main Street.

Town of Huntington, Huntington Station - Step 2 $240,000
The Town of Huntington will complete a Nomination for an approximately 500-acre area with potential brownfield sites. The primary revitalization objectives include advancing economic development through a public-private partnership that will stimulate and achieve revitalization of the Huntington Station area.

Town of Oyster Bay, Southeast Hicksville - Step 2 $307,170
The Town of Oyster Bay will complete a Nomination for an approximately 1,100-acre study area with 24 potential brownfield sites located in the southeastern portion of the hamlet of Hicksville. The primary community objectives include redeveloping vacant and underutilized properties, enhancing aesthetics, providing needed businesses and services and new housing options for the senior and next generation populations and enhancing transportation to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians.

Town of Oyster Bay, Northwest Hicksville - Step 1 $76,050
The Town of Oyster Bay will complete a Pre-Nomination Study for an approximately 1,100-acre study area characterized with 21 potential brownfield sites located at the northwest portion of the hamlet of Hicksville.

Source: New York Governor