Brownfields

Struggling Communities Ignored by NY's Brownfield Cleanup Program

An environmental watchdog group reveals that funds from New York's Brownfield Cleanup Program are not going to clean up the lower-income communities they were intended to help.

February 4, 2011 - readMedia

Developers Find Cash in Brownfields

According to this article in Area Development Online, developing a brownfield is a no-brainer: infrastructure is in place, governments have redevelopment funds to support it, and "the PR flip is huge."

January 21, 2011 - Area Development Online

Plants Do The Dirty Work

"Phytoremediation" is a growing field (pun intended) of practice that uses particular types of plants to leech toxic materials out of the soil in contaminated sites.

December 30, 2010 - ASLA's The Dirt blog

A Natural Way to Green Brownfields

With more than 11,000 acres of brownfield sites in New York City sitting underused due to contamination, officials there want to get things cleaned up and reused. Urban designer Kaja Kühl offers this field guide to small-scale bioremediation to help.

November 7, 2010 - Urban Omnibus

Halloween Costumes for Urban Planners - 3rd Edition

It's Halloween time again, the day when dressing up in silly costumes is required of every conscionable person. Some opt for the scary ghost or the sexy nurse, but others, more thoughtful others, make more of this opportunity.

October 25, 2010 - Nate Berg

New York City Given Power to Clean Up Brownfields

New York City has garnered new powers to institute cleanups on moderately contaminated sites, which could help revive hundreds of spots in the city that have sat empty or unused for years.

October 5, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

Warehouses to Urban Farms

Yesterday's infrastructure can become tomorrow's agriculture, says Ed Harwood, by converting underused industrial warehouses and factories to hydroponic and aeroponic growing.

September 27, 2010 - Ed Harwood

The Essential Principles of Brownfields Regeneration

With "brownfield" (former industrial or commercial sites) development on the rise, it is essential for planners to have a clear process for approaching this tricky development type, say Justin B. Hollander, Niall G. Kirkwood and Julia L. Gold.

September 20, 2010 - Justin B. Hollander

How Fungi Can Restore the Land

Mycologist Paul Stamets believes that mycelium, a fungi, could be integral to restoring damaged soil, repairing habitats, and even cleaning brownfields.

April 5, 2010 - Design Under Sky

Putting Good Energy with the Bad

Facing resistance when siting green energy projects like wind turbines, energy companies are considering brownfields like the Leviathan Mine in California's Alpine County.

March 5, 2010 - Next100 (PG&E blog)

Huge San Francisco Redevelopment Project Underway

It's the largest redevelopment project since the great earthquake of 1906: 702 acres, 10,500 residential units, a shipyard brownfield cleanup, and a new stadium (hopefully) for the 49ers. The Environmental Impact Report has just been released.

November 19, 2009 - San Francisco Chronicle

Great Brownfield Redevelopments

The Canadian Urban Institute presented its yearly 'Brownie' awards last week, honoring the best brownfield redevelopment projects in the nation.

November 4, 2009 - Daily Commercial News and Construction Record

"Polluted and Dangerous" Abandoned Properties

Tufts urban planning professor Justin Hollander appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal to answer questions about his new book, Polluted & Dangerous: America's Worst Abandoned Properties and What Can Be Done About Them.

September 14, 2009 - Washington Journal

Slow and Steady Survives the Recession

Pittsburgh's strategy of slow, steady growth has made it the front runner for sustainable building. The city now boasts the most LEED-certified square footage in the country.

April 2, 2009 - The New York Times

The Promise of New Industrial Jobs

Bethlehem Steel left 25 years ago, but a new, mysterious energy company is brining a glimmer of hope to Lackawanna, New York. The proposed plant, to be built on Bethlehem's brownfields, would convert petroleum coke into synthetic gas.

June 18, 2008 - The Buffalo News

Brownfield Becomes Urban Farm in Philly

"Honey from the Hood" is one of the home-grown prodcuts from a Kensington neighborhood garden. To avoid soil contamination from this former industrial site, plants are grown in raised beds or hydroponically.

May 30, 2008 - The New York Times

How To Encourage Brownfield Redevelopment

Builders and planners are gathering in Detroit to discuss funding options for brownfield redevelopment and learn from region's experience transforming these community eyesores.

May 9, 2008 - Christian Madera

Infill Projects Set To Connect Cities, Transform Region

Urban infill developments are slated to transform the vast industrial land between Charleston and North Charleston, South Carolina, known as "the Neck" area, into live-work communities that stitch the two cities together.

April 22, 2008 - Charleston Business Journal

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