A Brownfield is “real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.” Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 9601(39). These are often former industrial properties located in areas of high density within urban limits and along river corridors. In part, increased redevelopment and reuse of Brownfields is simply a product of the overall economic recovery, and a product of the greater comfort project participants have in using contaminated property. But beyond that, to satisfy the criteria of future users, there are some definite advantages to Brownfields over greenspace. For example, for manufacturers who have experienced increased production, relocating to a larger, moth-balled factory can have significant benefits over constructing a new facility in a greenspace. These include existing utilities, an available workforce (i.e., cheaper labor than in a remote area), and perhaps even the ability to retain existing employees and avoid the costs of hiring and training new ones.
For residential and mixed-use development, as William A. White, principal at Endurance Real Estate Group, notes, “another valuable feature of ‘infill’ development (which applies to many Brownfields) is that the locations are already surrounded by lots of amenities, unlike locations on the fringe where the new users often have to wait for more development to fill in around them.” Desirable amenities include stable school systems, public transportation, nearby shopping and pedestrian friendly infrastructure. Other favorable features include proximity to the workplace, scenic waterways and riverfront recreation, such as multi-use trails and entertainment facilities.
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