Community association restores brownfields

As George H. Moses, executive director of the nonprofit Group 14621 Community Association Inc., explains, brownfield site clean up and remediation is something the City of Rochester commonly does, but that is unique for a community organization.

Rochester has a significant number of brownfields in areas that used to be used for industry, and remediation of that land is a carefully planned process the Department of State and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation help finance in a three-step process to those that qualify.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced the distribution of nearly $3.5 million in Brownfield Opportunity Areas support grants last week to 15 communities across the state, including Group 14621.

“We’re the only [community association] in Rochester to receive this award and we’re really excited to do something about this,” said Nancy Sung Shelton, Group 14621 Board of Directors president. “A lot of our area is underutilized. We still have some industry that functions but industries that have left have left contaminated sites.”

The 14621 ZIP code has approximately 82 potential brownfield sites in a 757-acre area near the Genesee River and along industrial corridors. The money Group 14621 receives from the Department of State will go towards step two of the BOA process in which revitalization and reuse potential of BOA are identified along with redevelopment recommendations. Phase one of the process consisted of a description of the brownfield sites and the prospect for revitalization.

“The board wants a clear process of building the capacity of residents,” Moses said. “We’re not looking for just another plan here. We’re looking for people to have at least language familiarity with environmental planning and housing planning.”

Bergmann & Associates is assisting Group 14621 in the process of educating residents to help.

“The problem in the past is a small group did the planning — our theory here is to have residents involved in all aspects of the planning process,” Moses said.

Moses said it helps to see what’s been done successfully in the past, such as the city’s brownfield remediation project at Newcroft Park.

Since many homes and buildings in the 14621 area have lead paint, Moses hopes Group 14621 will also be able to utilize monies given to the City of Rochester by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control Program.

Moses said the group will have about a year to come up with a remediation plan.

The DEC also awarded grant money to the City of North Tonawanda for remediation of abandoned buildings, and environmental contamination in a commercial-industrial zone around Tonawanda Island. In addition, funding was issued to the City of Auburn for riverfront and downtown redevelopment of brownfield sites along the Owasco River corridor.

“Turning brownfields into vibrant sites that attract investment and create jobs is another step in our mission to rebuild the economy of New York state,” Cuomo said in announcing the grants.