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April 2007 — Vol. 85, No. 3

Why it makes sense
to reclaim brownfields

 

The benefits of brownfields remediation and development are numerous, according to a report released in February by the Task Force on Brownfields Strategies. They include:

  • Environmental and public health benefits from cleaning up the contaminated areas.

  • Economic development. A remediated site can create new economic activity at the site and also serve as the catalyst for additional economic activity in the area.

  • Increased tax revenue. Returning these sites to productive use will increase real estate and property tax revenue for municipalities and generate additional income and business tax revenues for the state.

  • Jobs created from businesses locating to a brownfield site as well as jobs in the fields of construction and hazardous-waste assessment and remediation.

  • Revitalization of urban centers. A significant percentage of brownfields are located in cities, where their presence restricts economic development and can lead to further deterioration in the neighborhood.

  • Community development. Restoring a brownfields can remove blight, restore pride and lead to more development.

  • Smart growth. Brownfields redevelopment is a crucial component of smart growth, which promotes development that is well planned, economically strong, environmentally sound, and located along transportation corridors, usually in urban areas where many brownfields exist.

 

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