Builders and planners are gathering in Detroit to discuss funding options for brownfield redevelopment and learn from region's experience transforming these community eyesores.
"Stanley Rich remembers when ash fell from the sky like snow, coating his car and house with gray powder.
The trash incinerator that spewed ash in Clinton Township was shut down in 1999. All that's left are a vacant field and questions about what chemicals may lurk beneath the surface.
"It was ugly," said Rich, 80. "I would love to see something go in there."
Rich and his neighbors near Quinn Road may get their wishes as a nonprofit group aims to turn the property into affordable housing for seniors and grandparents raising grandchildren. A golf course also is planned.
The site is among hundreds of parcels, built upon in the distant past and often left polluted, called brownfields. These properties are found throughout metro Detroit, but they are being cleaned up and put back into productive use thanks, in part, to a variety of tax credits, government grants and other aid aimed at revitalizing older urban areas."
FULL STORY: Brownfields of dreams
From Brownfields to Community Assets: A Conference on Land Revitalization
The 2025 California Land Recycling Conference (CALRC) will convene experts in Carson, CA, from September 16-18 to discuss brownfield redevelopment, sustainability, and equitable land reuse, with session proposals open until March 31, 2025.
National Brownfields Training Conference: Driving Sustainable Redevelopment
The conference will bring together diverse stakeholders to share knowledge, strategies, and resources for the remediation and sustainable redevelopment of contaminated properties, fostering economic growth and environmental restoration.
Shifts in Shopping: Transforming Malls Into Parks
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Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs
Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands
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Building Age-Friendly Homes
Designing for the unique needs of elderly people can help them maintain social connections and mental acuity.
Nightlife and the 15-Minute City
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Mississippi Aims to Abolish Income Tax — and Replace it With Gas Tax
The new gas tax would fund MDOT and the Strategic Multi-Modal Investments Fund.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
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