On May 8, 2013, the City of Arlington received two Brownfields Assessment grants totaling $400,000 from theEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support redevelopment efforts, becoming the only Texas municipality to receive funds this grant cycle.
"It's important that we continue to focus on redevelopment opportunities as the City nears build-out, and these funds can assist in initiating those redevelopment efforts," said Arlington Planning Project Manager Douglas McDonald. "The grants have funded environmental assessments, cleanup plans, and redevelopment plans for more than70 sites in the City. We are excited to be partnering with the EPA for another three years and appreciate its continued support."
Brownfield sites are locations that have the potential to contain some sort of hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant. Examples include places with asbestos or sites that previously stored petroleum underground.
Through Arlington's Brownfields Grant Program, the City connects property owners or developers to much-needed capital to make sure the site is properly assessed for contaminants and, if necessary, create a cleanup plan. A qualified third-party consultant conducts the assessments and develops the plans.
What's the best part about the program? There's no cost to property owners or developers for the assessments.
Additionally, environmental assessments can make the financing process easier on developers or increase the attractiveness of a location to a potential buyer. The City has even created a searchable online database of all properties and their assessment reports if one has been conducted, a tool that has proved helpful for developers.
The two EPA assessment grants awarded this year consist of two $200,000 grants, one designated for hazardous substances and the other for petroleum sites. The grants will help the City complete unfinished projects left over from the last grant cycle and begin new projects in October, the start of the next fiscal year.
Assessments start with an examination of historical land uses and records as well as a visual inspection of the property. If deemed necessary, the second phase includes collecting soil and water samples across the site. Based on the findings, the consultants subsequently map out a cleanup plan. It is then up to the property owner or developer to execute the cleanup.
The City was awarded its first Brownfields Grant in 2006 and received grants in the following two application cycles in 2010 and 2013 for a collective total of $1.2 million.
McDonald attributes the success of the program to the support and hard work of the Brownfields Advisory Committee, which is made up of citizens from different organizations such as Downtown Arlington Management Corporation and East Arlington Renewal. "They're our cheerleaders who educate the community," he said.
McDonald also emphasized that the Brownfields Grant Program is open to anyone who wants to improve a site in Arlington. To see if your property qualifies, look at the Brownfields Grant Program brochure.
Additional Resources:
Questions? Contact Douglas McDonald at 817-459-6566 or [email protected].
Highlights, News, Planning & Development Services