Brownfield FAQ

  • What is a brownfield?
    • A brownfield is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. It is estimated that there are more than 450,000 brownfields in the U.S. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties increases local tax bases, facilitates job growth, utilizes existing infrastructure, takes development pressures off of undeveloped, open land, and both improves and protects the environment and public health.
  • What is the Federal Boulevard Brownfields Initiative?
    • The Federal Boulevard Brownfields Initiative is a partnership between the City and County of Denver, the City of Sheridan, and the Urban Land Conservancy to deploy Brownfields grant funding into the Federal Boulevard corridor. In 2022, the partnership was awarded $500,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency. The funds will be used to conduct environmental site assessments (ESAs) of select  properties along Federal Boulevard between 6th Avenue in Denver and the southern boundary of the City of Sheridan.
  • What are the benefits of Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) and why are they being undertaken?
    • An ESA identifies if environmental contamination is present on a property and if so to what extent, and thereby can make possible the cleanup of contaminated land and buildings to promote community revitalization. By considering environmental effects and mitigation measures early in the project planning cycle, ESA’s can support better decision making, assist the revitalization process, and result in many benefits, such as:
      • Increased protection of public health
      • Expanded opportunities for public participation
      • New and better services for the community
      • Removal of blight and reduced incidence of crime
      • Increased employment and housing options
      • Healthier and more vibrant communities
      • Reduced project costs and delays
      • Reduced risks of environmental harm or disasters
  • What type of funding is available to a brownfield site located in the City and County of Denver?
    • In addition to the Boulevard Brownfields Initiative, please see Denver Brownfield Redevelopment website’s Financing webpage for additional information on CDBG, Section 108, NMTC, CBRLF, Colorado contaminated land tax credit, and TIF.
  • What are examples of eligible tasks and activities under Assessment Grants?
    • Phase I environmental site assessments
      • The Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) uses existing information to help a community understand the property conditions by examining current and historical uses of the site and potential threats to human health or the environment.
    • Phase II environmental site assessments
      • The Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is recommended if the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment results reveal known or potential contamination found on the property, sometimes called recognized environmental conditions (RECs). An environmental professional develops a sampling plan to evaluate the potential presence of contamination from hazardous substances and petroleum on the property and determines the sources and exposures.
        • Asbestos and lead-based paint surveys
        • Remediation feasibility studies
        • Cleanup plans
        • Remediation engineer’s costs estimate
        • Area wide planning
  • What are examples of ineligible uses of Brownfield ESA Grant funds?
    • Brownfield assessment grant funds cannot cover the costs of cleanup or remediation. However, there are a number of other potential sources for brownfield cleanup funding, e.g. EPA brownfields cleanup grants, community development block grants, Colorado Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund.
  • What are some of the benefits associated with assessing and cleaning up a brownfield site?
    • There are numerous economic, environmental, and social benefits that a community can expect upon the assessment and cleanup of brownfield sites. Examples include, but are not limited to, the benefits listed below.
      • Economic benefits
        • increased local tax base and new job growth
        • There is a tax incentive from the State of Colorado available for brownfields projects
      • Environmental/social benefits
        • Reuse of existing infrastructure
        • Development pressure taken off undeveloped land, greenfields
        • Prevention of sprawl
        • Cleaner air
        • Reduced natural habitat destruction
      • Up to 33% of assessments conducted with Brownfield Grants reveal that no cleanup is necessary and that the site is ready for development. This quick re-use is good for the developer, the local government which has been losing tax revenue, and the local community which has been living with a blighted site their neighborhood.
Back to top