City of Atlanta Sustainable Brownfields Redevelopment Project
Brownfields are properties that are abandoned or underutilized because of actual or perceived contamination. Whether the contamination is real or perceived, the redevelopment of these properties tends to be difficult and complex. The City’s involvement in the cleanup of brownfield sites can be traced to 1996 when it received funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct a pilot project in select communities. The objective of the pilot project was to identify and assess potential brownfield sites within the Empowerment Zone, draft a redevelopment strategy, get the private sector involved in redeveloping these sites, and conduct environmental justice planning to mitigate the impact of these sites on affected communities. The current project builds on the experience gained in the pilot project and expands the scope to include the entire City.
The primary and immediate goal of this project is to identify and assess potential brownfield sites throughout the City. However, the City’s projected growth in population and jobs will require that every parcel of land available be developed to its highest and best use. Therefore the success of the Brownfield Redevelopment Project is imperative. The City needs land for housing, including affordable housing; for parks and green spaces; for schools and community centers; and for commercial and retail development. The identification and assessment of potential brownfield sites is the first step in the process of reclaiming and redeveloping properties that will help meet these needs.