City of Springfield Brownfields Redevelopment Program

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE/ANUNCIO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT (En Español)

FINAL Application Submitted on 11/28/11 - Click Here

The City of Springfield intends to apply for a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants.  The grant will be used to conduct environmental site assessments.

The City will have a draft of the grant application available for review and public comments and a public hearing will be held on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 5:30 p.m. at 70 Tapley Street, Springfield, MA (See meeting agenda).

Comments will be recorded and can be submitted verbally at the public hearing on in writing before the comment period ends. 

Draft of applications will also be posted and available for download on this website. Deadline for public comments is November 25, 2011 at 5:00 p.m.

Please address your written comments to:

c/o Ms. Samalid Hogan

City of Springfield

Office of Planning and Economic Development

70 Tapley Street

Springfield, MA 01104

OR
by email at shogan@springfieldcityhall.com

Background on EPA Grants

EPA grants provide funding for a grant recipient to inventory, characterize, assess, and conduct planning and community involvement related to brownfield sites. An eligible entity may apply for up to $200,000 to assess a site contaminated by hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum) and up to $200,000 to address a site contaminated by petroleum.

Cleanup grants provide funding for a grant recipient to carry out cleanup activities at brownfield sites. An eligible entity may apply for up to $200,000 per site. Due to budget limitations, no entity should apply for funding cleanup activities at more than five sites. These funds may be used to address sites contaminated by petroleum and hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants (including hazardous substances co-mingled with petroleum).  The performance period for these grants is two years.

Brownfields Redevelopment Program

GENERAL INFORMATION

Program Manager: Ms. Samalid Hogan, Project Manager (Economic Development)

Program’s Goals:

This program was created in 1995 with the goal to promote the sustainable reuse existing brownfields and preventing the creation of additional ones. Redeveloping brownfields shifts development pressures away from undeveloped land, improving and protecting the environment.  Further, brownfields redevelopment returns non-productive real estate assets to productive use, promoting economic development.

The City of Springfield’s Brownfields Program is managed by the Office of Planning and Economic Development. The Office of Community Development also plays a critical role by managing the funds for the program. 

Environmental Site Assessments:

The City of Springfield's Brownfields Program facilitates Phase I/II Environmental Site Assessments and Phase III Cleanup Plans on priority redevelopment sites. The site assessments have been primarily funded through the City’s EPA grants, or from Targeted Brownfields Assessments performed by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection or EPA.

Current Redevelopment Projects:

• 225 Goodwin Street - Indian Orchard Business Park (formerly known as Chapman Valve)
• Central Street - Gemini Site link to Gemini site page
• Hall of Fame Avenue - York Street Site link to York Street site page

Successful Brownfield Redevelopment Projects in Springfield:

• Springfield Smith & Wesson Industrial Park - Springfield Performance Food Group moved into this site after environmental remediation was completed
• 126 Memorial Drive. Redeveloped for a new Astro Logistics facility.
• Former Springfield DPW yard, Taylor Street.  Redeveloped for the new Hampden-Zimmerman showroom and expansion of Springfield Foods facility.
• Former Carew Street School, Carew Street.  Redeveloped for a new Head Start facility.
• Plainfield Street Soccer Facility, Plainfield Street.  Formerly a junk yard, this site has been cleaned and is now a soccer facility for the Brightwood Neighborhood.
• Bing Theater, Sumner Avenue.  Formerly a gasoline filling station and auto repair shop, the theater will be redeveloped as an arts center.