GRANT IMPLEMENTATION:

We helped establish a Brownfield Advisory Committee (BAC), developed a Community Engagement Plan (CIP), prepared a Brownfield inventory, and ultimately the aided in the selection of priority sites to be assessed. In addition to these tasks, a city-wide strategic planning task has been sub-contracted to CityVisions Associates. In prior grants, we successfully completed all grant activities, including community education and outreach, technical workshops, a targeted forum for the historic district, Phase I and Phase II ESAs, UST removals, and subcontracting a strategic plan for the Downtown Historic District to promote economic redevelopment. The focus of prior grants was the Holmes Street corridor, an area that has been plagued by high unemployment, due in large part to the presence of many abandoned manufacturing facilities, dry cleaners, gasoline stations, and service facilities. We completed the inventory of petroleum sites using Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, state and federal databases, city directories, USEPA file reviews, historical aerial photographs, and numerous in-person surveys. All information was incorporated into a user-friendly GIS database that quickly allows city personnel to easily access and review site data. We have conducted presentations to the city commissioners and the Holmes Street Brownfields Advisory Committee.