Introduction

The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Brownfields Program empowers states, 

communities, and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and 

sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse 

of which may be complicated by the presence or the potential presence of a hazardous substance, 

pollutant, or contaminant. 

Community stakeholders across the country are formulating projects to sustainably revitalize 

brownfields. EPA supports projects that clean up contamination, preserve existing open space, reduce 

carbon footprints, reuse existing infrastructure, and revitalize communities. 

To encourage and promote sustainable brownfields revitalization, EPA’s Office of Brownfields and Land 

Revitalization (OBLR) funded 16 Brownfields Sustainability Pilots. EPA’s support provided site-specific 

technical assistance to integrate sustainability and brownfields redevelopment at projects across the 

country. 

The report describes each of the Brownfields Sustainability Pilots and provides findings and 

recommendations for future projects. It is intended for use by people, communities, organizations, and 

agencies helping make brownfields revitalization greener and more sustainable. 

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Table of Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. i 

Overview ..................................................................................................................................................... 1

Jackson Square – Roxbury, MA ...................................................................................................... 2

Moran Center at Waterfront Park – Burlington, VT ........................................................................ 4

The Waterfront – Allentown, PA ..................................................................................................... 6

Allen-Morrison – Lynchburg, VA ..................................................................................................... 8

Greenville Workforce Housing – Greenville, SC ........................................................................... 10

Langdale Mill – Valley, AL ............................................................................................................. 12

Green Streetscapes – Focus: HOPE - Detroit, MI ......................................................................... 14

Cleveland Resource Recovery – Cleveland, OH ............................................................................ 16

Houston Solar Project – Houston, TX ............................................................................................ 18

Community Center Rooftop Garden – Oklahoma City, OK ............................................................ 20

Laredo Recreation Center – Laredo, TX ........................................................................................ 22

Commercial Street Historic District – Springfield, MO ................................................................. 24

Anvil Mountain Neighborhood – Silverton, CO ............................................................................ 26

Samoa Peninsula – Humboldt County, CA .................................................................................... 28

June Key Delta House – Portland, OR .......................................................................................... 30

Tabor Commons – Portland, OR ..................................................................................................... 32

Findings and Recommendations ............................................................................................................... 34

Resources .................................................................................................................................................. 39

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Overview

EPA’s Brownfields Program provides grants and technical support to communities and other stakeholders that are cleaning 

up and reusing brownfields. In response to requests by grantees and other local stakeholders, EPA’s Brownfields Program 

considered ways to encourage sustainable activities at brownfields projects. In 2008, EPA asked its regional offices to 

recommend community project proposals for Brownfields Sustainability Pilots. Each applicant could request a maximum 

of $50,000 in technical support. Communities submitted proposals for a wide range of brownfields properties, including 

corner gas stations, a closed smelter, a former lumber company town, old textile mills, and an abandoned steel plant. 

Proposed sustainable activities at the brownfields projects were just as broad including green roof designs, stormwater 

management plans, green building analyses, parking lot design, solar energy feasibility plans, and reuse of materials 

from a variety of former operations. The proposals were reviewed and selected based on environmental benefit, project 

readiness, local capability, feasibility, sustainability, community need, and geographic diversity.

In July 2008, EPA announced 16 Brownfields Sustainability Pilots in 15 communities:

Roxbury, MA Valley, AL Laredo, TX

Burlington, VT Detroit, MI Springfield, MO

Lynchburg, VA Cleveland, OH San Juan County, CO

Allentown, PA Houston, TX Samoa Peninsula, CA

Greenville, SC Oklahoma City, OK Portland, OR (2) 

EPA provided each Brownfields Sustainability Pilot with a consulting team with specialized expertise to address each 

project’s characteristics. The consultants that provided support to the pilots included SRA International, Inc., Tetra Tech 

EMI, Inc., Vita Nuova LLC, International City and County Management Association, Brownfield Redevelopment Solutions, 

Inc., and Milestone Associates, Inc. 

The Brownfields Sustainability Pilots commenced in July 2008. Each project had an initial scoping period that lasted 

approximately two weeks, during which the consultants and community worked together to delineate the project scope. 

The consultants then developed a work plan over the course of a month, after which staff at EPA headquarters reviewed 

and approved the plans. The consultants made site visits and worked closely with the community and EPA through the 

pilot duration. The amount of time each pilot required—measured from the kickoff call to delivery of the report—ranged 

from five to 12 months, with an average pilot duration of nine months. National calls were held to provide pilots with 

opportunities to collaborate and share information on the projects. 

This report provides an overview of each pilot, and analyzes the background, implementation, challenges and 

considerations, and progress made to date since the project’s completion. The pilot summaries are snapshots of 

each project’s progress, reflecting status as of summer 2009. The term “project completed” refers to the Brownfields 

Sustainability Pilot, and not necessarily the entire redevelopment project. 

The report is intended to identify overall best practices and lessons learned, as well as obstacles that communities may 

have faced in pursuing sustainable redevelopment of brownfields. Many of the redevelopment projects are still underway, 

propelled by information gained from the Brownfields Sustainability Pilots. For more information on the pilots, including 

pilot-specific fact sheets and the final pilot reports, please visit www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/.
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Background

Jackson Square is a 14.5 acre brownfield redevelopment, formerly 

used for private residences, blacksmithing, gas tank storage, a parking 

lot, a plumbing warehouse, a correctional facility, and stables. Prior 

investigations identified lead, arsenic, petroleum, polycyclic aromatic 

hydrocarbons, non-aqueous phase liquid, antimony, copper, zinc, extractable 

petroleum hydrocarbon, and urban fill throughout the soil and, occasionally 

the ground water. 

Urban Edge, a community development corporation native to Roxbury, 

Massachusetts, developed a conceptual plan to install green roofs on each 

of the 15 buildings in the area. Green roofs have been linked with positive 

effects such as reducing building heating and cooling costs, extending the 

lifetime of roofing materials, and reducing the urban heat island effect. 

In addition, the conceptual plan called for a mixed use residential and 

commercial area emphasizing greenspace and sustainable street level 

practices. Finally, the plan also helped satisfy part of the city and state 

requirements for street level stormwater management. The construction 

was planned to be completed in four phases; at the time of the pilot, Urban 

Edge was in the design stage of Phase I.

Roxbury, 

Massachusetts

Region 1

(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, 

New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and 

Vermont)

At Jackson Square, 

Urban Edge plans to 

construct green roofs on 

each of the 15 buildings 

in the area. Through the 

Brownfields Sustainability 

Pilot, a comprehensive 

green roof planning report 

recommending technology, 

product, vendor, and 

cost was provided to the 

community development 

corporation.

View the final pilot report at: 

www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_

plts/factsheets/roxbury.pdf 

Jackson Square

Aerial view of Jackson Square with development potential for green roofs.
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Pilot Implementation

Urban Edge’s goal for the Jackson Square Redevelopment 

Initiative is to encourage community involvement and 

recreation, as well as provide a template for future green 

roof projects. After the initial site visit in December 2008, 

the EPA funded consultant evaluated green roof vendors 

to determine the most cost effective, viable option for 

Jackson Square. The consultant analyzed different types 

of green roofs (extensive versus intensive), considerations 

for each type of roof (stormwater regulations), roof 

components (drainage layer, filter fabric, growing 

medium, plant layer, and agricultural alternative), and roof 

accessories. Green roof vendors, including Roofscapes, 

Xero Flor, and Green Roof Inc., were compared based on 

their products, product performance, service traits, and 

cost estimates. 

The consultants presented Urban Edge with a 

comprehensive green roof planning report with 

recommendations related to technology, product, 

vendor, and cost. The four phases of redevelopment 

could potentially yield more than 95,000 square feet of 

green roof area when the project is complete. The report 

highlights the following considerations for green roofs at 

Jackson Square:

– The roofs should have a minimum retention 

requirement of 0.5 inches of rain.

– The roof configuration and structure be coordinated 

among architects and builders.

– Staging the green roof installation with construction 

will help minimize costs.

– An extended long term maintenance and warranty 

contract should be obtained.

– Native vegetation should be planted to attract local 

and migratory birds.

– Additional programming interests for the site should 

be set.

As recommended in the consultant’s report, Urban 

Edge should choose a full service vendor for the green 

roof installation. Even if Urban Edge selects the vendor 

offering the most complete array of services of the three 

vendors evaluated, it will still need to coordinate the roof 

contractor and vendor designs.

Challenges and 

Considerations

The pilot project team encountered the following 

challenges and considerations during the project: 

– New construction on sites larger than one acre 

must comply with the Massachusetts Department 

of Environmental Protection stormwater 

management guidelines. These principles define 

the quality and peak flow discharge of stormwater. 

Since green roofs reduce the need for stormwater 

treatment on the ground, they are a favorable 

alternative to traditional construction.

– Green roofs require substantial infrastructure 

reinforcement, so the green roof design and 

installation contractors must ensure the systems 

are installed with appropriate rooftop loading 

capacities, roof slopes, and space availability. 

The consultant considered relevant building 

characteristics in recommending the optimal green 

roof system and vendor.

Progress Since Pilot 

Completion

Since receiving the green roof planning report in May 

2009, Urban Edge completed structural analyses of the 

buildings onsite. Originally, Urban Edge assumed the 

green roof would cover about 70 percent of the roof space. 

When it conducted the structural analysis, it decided to 

be less conservative and assume 100 percent of the roof 

space would be covered with the green roof. The structural 

report revealed that covering the entire roof space would 

be cost prohibitive and require substantial structural 

reinforcement. It also verified the original assumption 

that the roof could support 70 percent green roof surface 

coverage. Installing the green roof as currently planned 

will require minor structural reinforcement. 

Since May 2009, Urban Edge issued a request for 

proposals from green roof contractors who use an 

extensive grid system, based on the consultant’s report. Of 

the five bids received, four bids proposed using extensive 

systems and one bid proposed using a tray system. Visit 

Urban Edge’s Web site at http://www.urbanedge.org/

green-housing.php for more information. 
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Moran Center at 

Waterfront Park

Background

The Burlington Electric Department operated a coal fired electric generating 

facility at the Moran Center site from 1953 to 1986. Railroad, lumber, and 

petroleum businesses also occupied the land. Using other EPA funding, 

the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission conducted Phase 

I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) that revealed 

trichloroethylene in the soil and ground water as well as polycyclic aromatic 

hydrocarbons, lead paint and asbestos in building materials. The Moran 

building was built with intake and outflow sluiceways to utilize lake water 

to cool the former power plant. Other EPA funds will be used to close off 

the sluiceways permanently separating the building from the lake, and to 

develop a cleanup plan for the interior of the Moran building.

The City of Burlington hired an architecture firm to develop detailed 

schematic drawings and estimate construction costs to repurpose the 

Moran building. In early 2008, the Community and Economic Development 

Office (CEDO) of Burlington issued a redevelopment plan, Moran Center at 

Waterfront Park: Guide to the Redevelopment of the Moran Plant, which 

proposes that the site be designed as an extension of the waterfront park 

with improved pedestrian, bicycle, transit, and vehicle amenities, and serve 

as a mixed use community center. Some of the proposed programming 

components include a children’s splash park, a skating rink, a remodeled 

Burlington, 

Vermont

Region 1

(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, 

New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and 

Vermont)

The Community and Economic 

Development Office 

(CEDO) of Burlington, 

Vermont, is revitalizing a 

brownfield as a sustainable 

community center. 

Through the Brownfields 

Sustainability Pilot, CEDO 

received assistance with 

green infrastructure design, 

green building design, and 

wetland restoration for 

the Moran Center at 

Waterfront Park.

View the final pilot report at: 

www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_

plts/factsheets/moran.pdf

The Moran Center, Burlington, Vermont.
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skate park, a rock climbing wall, the first indoor ice 

climbing wall in North America, the Green Mountain 

Children’s Museum, an expansion of the Community 

Sailing Center, and other community amenities. 

Pilot Implementation

On October 23, 2008, an EPA funded consultant team 

visited the site and worked with CEDO to develop green 

infrastructure, green building, and enhanced wetland 

design recommendations for the property’s revitalization. 

The consultants recommended over 15 site specific 

approaches for incorporating green infrastructure, 

including restoring and protecting shoreline buffer and 

wetland zones; separating vehicular, bike, and pedestrian 

circulation; using porous paving and tree structural cells 

to reduce runoff; and using native plants to minimize 

watering and mowing. The final report includes six 

technical diagrams highlighting site zones and parcels, 

a Phase I plan, a long range plan, roads and parking, 

pedestrian walkways, and a tree and bioswale plan.

The consultant team’s recommendations for green building 

design include over 30 approaches related to natural 

lighting and ventilation, incorporating a greenhouse, 

energy efficient mechanical heating and cooling, and other 

techniques for reducing the site’s carbon footprint. The 

consultants also recommended an approach for wetland 

restoration that balances the perspectives of ecological, 

engineering, planning, and user stakeholders: combating 

the common reed (Phragmites australis) by shading the 

area and establishing a swamp forest ecosystem. The final 

report describes and estimates a budget for a feasibility 

analysis, conceptual and schematic ecosystem restoration 

design, development of design and construction 

documents, and construction. 

Challenges and 

Considerations

The pilot project team encountered the following 

challenges and considerations during the project: 

– CEDO intends for the Moran Center to be known 

as a sustainable site and a community center. The 

consultants suggest developers and engineers 

use an integrated design approach to incorporate 

sustainable features in all phases of development. 

Cost effective and feasible sustainability strategies 

must be identified before construction begins.

– The final site plan must integrate and balance 

ecological, engineering, and development 

considerations. For example, the wetland 

restoration plan must balance the need for habitat 

creation with the need for water management. 

– Incorporating sustainable design features while 

maintaining the brick exterior and other historic 

qualities of the Moran Center will require additional 

planning (e.g., the building will be insulated from 

the inside). 

Progress Since Pilot 

Completion

The Moran Center project has received additional funding 

from the Burlington City Council ($46,000) to design, 

engineer and estimate the costs of improvements to 

the site around the Moran Center. The dams have been 

constructed permanently closing the “sluiceways” that 

once brought lake water into and out of the Moran building 

as part of the electric generating process. The U.S. Army 

Corps of Engineers worked with CEDO to dewater the 

Moran Center basement allowing assessment activities 

to be completed, and a $100,00 technical assistance grant 

from Vermont’s Department of Environmental Conservation 

funded the removal of debris and sediments inside the 

former electric generating station.

In August 2009, the City of Burlington received an 

additional $3 million in financial support from the U.S. 

Department of Housing and Urban Development to 

continue redevelopment of the Moran Center. Once 

all cleanup activities have been completed, CEDO 

plans to build an 8,000 square foot gravel wetland to 

process stormwater. The Moran Center plans to apply 

for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design 

certification.
6

Allentown, 

Pennsylvania

Region 3

(Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, 

Virginia, West Virginia,

and the District of Columbia)

A former steel plant 

is being revitalized as 

a publically-accessible 

waterfront site along 

the Lehigh River. 

Through the Brownfields 

Sustainability Pilot, low 

impact development (LID) 

stormwater management 

techniques were developed 

for the site. 

View the final pilot report at: 

www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_

plts/factsheets/waterfront.pdf

The Waterfront

Background

The Waterfront site is located on a 26 acre brownfield on the west bank of 

the Lehigh River, in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Formerly a steel plant, the site 

is now occupied by multiple tenants. The site developer is planning a mixed 

use redevelopment at the property, with site construction to begin when the 

current tenants’ leases expire, in approximately two years. 

Separate from the Sustainability Pilot, EPA sampled the soil and ground 

water and found volatile organic compounds, manganese, and iron in the 

ground water, as well as lead, cadmium, and zinc in the soil. 

The public does not currently have access to the riverfront via the property. 

Revitalization of the property would promote the historical, cultural, and 

environmental prominence of the Lehigh River. The developer plans to 

integrate low impact development (LID) stormwater management in the 

redevelopment plans, and is considering other environmentally sustainable 

systems such as demolition debris reuse.

Pilot Implementation

The EPA funded consultants visited the site in December 2008 to gather 

initial topographic information, collect field data, and meet with the site’s 

developer, the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, and 

Local developer Dunn Twiggar documents the current business operations at future 

Waterfront redevelopment site. Photo Source: Dunn Twiggar, LLC.
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officials from local agencies. Based on these meetings, 

EPA and local officials decided that the Brownfield 

Sustainability Pilot project would focus on incorporating 

LID techniques into the redevelopment plan and enhancing 

the riparian buffer along the Lehigh River. 

EPA’s consultants developed conceptual design drawings 

for LID practices accounting for four potential constraints: 

the site’s master redevelopment plan; soil and ground 

water contamination; floodplain construction; and 

riverbank limitations. The LID systems were categorized 

into erosion and sediment control practices, riverfront 

features, and site redevelopment features. 

Consultants recommended specific techniques for erosion 

and sediment control such as silt fences, turbidity barriers, 

sedimentation basins, inlet protection for controlling 

sediment during construction, and using an erosion control 

blanket and a buffer zone with temporary seeding. 

Because of the site’s location along the Lehigh River, the 

Waterfront property is considered ideal for recreation. 

The riverwalk is a prominent feature of the redevelopment 

plan and the consultants recommended riverbank features 

that include soil bioengineering techniques to naturally 

reinforce bank slopes, a living wall system, naturalized 

detention areas with wetland vegetation, infiltration 

trenches and filter strips, and a riverwalk with pervious 

pavement. 

Consultants also recommended three large scale 

sustainable site redevelopment features: pervious 

pavement, bioretention areas (rain gardens and vegetated 

swales), and green roofs, in addition to cisterns and rain 

barrels. These techniques will minimize the creation of 

impervious areas, maximize stormwater infiltration, and 

reduce stormwater runoff.

In their report, the consultants also suggested ways to 

enhance the project’s success, including: (1) a shoreline 

tree survey of vegetation species to determine which 

trees could be removed and the potential need for 

riverbank stablization; and (2) a geotechnical investigation 

of soil permeability and stability to identify technical 

requirements for constructing the LID stormwater 

management system.

Challenges and 

Considerations

The pilot project team encountered the following 

challenges and considerations during the project: 

– The existing ground water and soil contamination 

limits the LID stormwater systems that would 

be suitable for the property. In pursuing site 

cleanup, stakeholders should consider removing 

contaminants, installing a cap, or inserting clean 

soil into the current mix. 

– The master redevelopment plan was developed 

prior to the Brownfields Sustainability Pilot and 

includes one million square feet of residential, 

retail, and office use. None of the proposed LID 

stormwater techniques will require changes to the 

plan.

– A portion of the Waterfront property is located in 

the 100 year floodplain zone, thus development 

must address high water level conditions and 

permitting issues. To develop a stormwater 

system, the developer will have to obtain a 

water obstruction or encroachment permit from 

the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental 

Protection. 

– Although the riverbank is steep and narrow, it 

is currently stable due to the large trees and 

vegetation that are present. Future stormwater 

management will need to be designed to avoid 

disrupting this equilibrium and endangering the 

stability of the shoreline. 

Progress Since Pilot 

Completion

There is a large scale revitalization plan for properties 

along the Lehigh River, including the Waterfront property. 

In addition, the City of Allentown is considering potential 

sites for a planned hockey arena in this area, and has 

considered the Waterfront property. If used for a sporting 

complex, the Waterfront property will still be able to 

use many of the recommendations from EPA’s technical 

assistance.
8

Lynchburg, 

Virginia

Region 3

(Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, 

Virginia, West Virginia,

and the District of Columbia)

The City of Lynchburg 

plans to create a public 

park at the AllenMorrison site. Through the 

Brownfields Sustainability 

Pilot, the city developed 

a material reuse inventory 

tool and performed a 

deconstruction feasibility 

assessment for the AllenMorrison and Thornhill 

facilities.

View the final pilot report at:

www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_

plts/factsheets/allenmorrison.pdf

Allen-Morrison

Background

The Allen-Morrison site comprises multiple buildings previously used to 

manufacture goods such as wagons and metal signs, including the AllenMorrison facility (buildings totaling 87,800 square feet) and the Thornhill 

facility (buildings totaling 86,400 square feet). Since 1996 when the 

property was abandoned, Lynchburg has been planning to redevelop the 

area as a public park that includes a community center, playground, and 

picnic areas. The city also wants to facilitate citizens’ connections to the 

city stadium and Lynchburg Grows, a nonprofit urban farm, through this 

redevelopment. Lynchburg Grows hopes to demonstrate the importance of 

green, healthy living as well as local agriculture, through the project.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), through 

the Voluntary Remediation Program, conducted Phase I and Phase II 

environmental assessments on the Allen-Morrison site using EPA funding. 

The assessments revealed soil contaminated with metals and semivolatile 

organic compounds. Additional soil and ground water tests are currently 

being conducted utilizing EPA funding. Virginia DEQ will be instrumental in 

directing additional funding and support after the pilot is completed. 

One of the city’s primary goals for the project is to engage the community 

by providing an opportunity for education and community interaction at 

the park. The site redevelopment is intended to be a catalyst for similar 

Allen-Morrison facility in Lynchburg, Virginia.
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sustainable initiatives, revive the site history, and 

stimulate the local job and volunteer market.

Pilot Implementation

To pursue its sustainability goals, the City of Lynchburg 

sought technical support from EPA to conduct an inventory 

of site materials that may be appropriate for reuse and 

recycling. The EPA funded consultant visited the site in 

November 2008 and reviewed the existing due diligence 

resources including maps, site plans, and estimates of 

hazardous materials. A local lumber salvage company 

representative conducted a follow up visit. The AllenMorrison and Thornhill facilities were surveyed to 

determine the type and amount of reusable and recyclable 

materials. The EPA consultant also developed a material 

reuse inventory tool to collect information on material 

weight, quantity, and other measurements, as well as the 

approximate cost of lumber, metal for scrap use, and other 

available reusable items. 

The consultant performed a deconstruction feasibility 

assessment for each of the facilities to measure indicators 

such as building condition and safety; building dimensions, 

accessibility, and complexity; entanglement; asbestos 

and hazardous materials; materials and salvage potential; 

mobilization; garbage; and labor. 

The assessment determined that deconstruction of the 

Allen-Morrison facility would not be cost effective, and 

that demolition followed by mechanical separation of 

demolition debris into recyclable materials would be 

more appropriate. The assessment determined that 

portions of the Thornhill facility were more suitable for 

deconstruction, and that, in particular, building 7A had high 

potential for salvageable value. Some materials possess 

an industrial heritage and could be reused to revive 

citizens’ appreciation for the site’s history (e.g., onsite 

reuse of sliding doors, skylights, paint mixing vessels, 

sprinkler systems, metal signs, shelving units, as well as 

other equipment and machinery). The pilot report provides 

an approximate cost for these recommendations; however, 

local developers, engineers, industrial representatives, and 

vendors should further evaluate the reuse potential. 

Challenges and 

Considerations

The pilot project team encountered the following 

challenges and considerations during the project: 

– The city was not experienced in large scale 

deconstruction projects. The city developed 

innovative, creative solutions to plan for a 

deconstruction project of this magnitude and the 

city is now demonstrating the feasibility of future 

large scale deconstruction projects. 

– The EPA consultant originally planned to develop 

a deconstruction materials inventory for the AllenMorrison and Thornhill facilities, but the feasibility 

assessment results indicated that only one 

inventory was needed. 

– The consultants could not access and assess all 

of the materials in the facilities, so they could not 

determine the exact quantities suitable for reuse. 

– The consultant estimated the potential salvage 

value of materials based on discussions with local 

vendors and businesses. However, these values 

can change based on salvage markets and did 

not include transportation costs, lending some 

uncertainty to the analysis.

Progress Since Pilot 

Completion

The city asked EPA for additional assistance to prepare bid 

documents for deconstruction based on the consultant’s 

materials inventory and recommendations. EPA granted 

this request and the city is scheduled to complete the bid 

documents in late 2009. 

Virginia DEQ acquired funding from EPA to finish site 

assessment activities at the Allen-Morrison and Thornhill 

facilities, including soil and ground water sampling, which 

is expected to be completed by December 2009.
10

Greenville, 

South Carolina

Region 4

(Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, 

Mississippi, North Carolina, 

South Carolina, and Tennessee)

The City of Greenville 

plans to redevelop a 

brownfield into affordable 

housing units. Through the 

Brownfields Sustainability 

Pilot, the city developed 

sustainable design concepts 

for the site and will 

promote healthy living and 

sustainable redevelopment at 

similar sites.

View the final pilot report at:

www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_

plts/reports/GreenAvenueSites_

TechMemo_08_09.pdf

Greenville Workforce 

Housing

Background

The Greenville Workforce Housing project is a one acre brownfield, located 

on the corner of McLeod Street and Green Avenue, in Greenville, South 

Carolina. The vacant lot previously housed a gas station and a supermarket 

and had nine underground storage tanks (USTs), an above ground storage 

tank (AST), and a 6,250 square foot building containing asbestos. The USTs 

and AST were removed in 2009 and all structures were demolished. 

Soil and ground water sampling identified several contaminants at the site, 

including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes, methyl tertiarybutyl ether, ethylene dibromide, and naphthalene. Based on contaminant 

concentrations, monitored natural attenuation was selected as the remedy 

for the site. 

The city’s movement towards healthy, sustainable, and affordable workforce 

housing will reduce impacts from stormwater discharges and promote the 

project as a replicable model in other communities. Before requesting EPA 

assistance, the city formulated redevelopment goals and preliminary site 

plans. The city requested EPA assistance with recommending sustainable 

redevelopment features. In addition, the city hopes that by integrating 

sustainable features, the project will be more marketable to developers.

Site design with low impact development features for the Greenville Workforce 

Housing project.
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Pilot Implementation

During the site visit in May 2009, the EPA funded 

consultant evaluated existing city plans and observed 

site conditions. The consultant delivered a conceptual 

site design that included six detached, single family 

units. The homes are planned as two level, 1,000 square 

foot units, each with a parking space. In addition, the 

conceptual site design included sustainable development 

practices including: erosion and sediment control, 

infiltration trenches and filter strips, pervious pavement, 

rain gardens, bioswales, rain barrels, community gardens, 

solar panels, soil amendments, downspout disconnects, 

native landscaping, compost bins, curb and gutter cuts, 

planter boxes, and vegetated curb extensions to sidewalks 

and curbing. Where possible, these recommendations 

also came with specific guidelines and design details for 

optimally implementing the sustainable features. 

To facilitate more detailed design and full integration of 

green and sustainable design features, the consultant 

also recommended a geotechnical investigation for soil 

permeability and sizing green features for stormwater 

management. Using the site as a demonstration project 

and monitoring its benefits was also recommended.

Challenges and 

Considerations

The pilot project team encountered the following 

challenges and considerations during the project: 

– Because the city plans to construct a dry pond on a 

portion of the site, build new curbs and sidewalks, 

and expand sanitary sewer lines, the consultant 

developed the plan for the remaining portion of the 

site and avoided suggestions that would require 

changing the city’s plan. 

– The City of Greenville proposes similar 

redevelopment at the nearby Bell Furniture site, 

and at the time of the pilot project, the city was 

in negotiations to develop properties close to 

the Green Avenue site. Therefore, the consultant 

considered potential expansion and replication 

of the site plan when recommending sustainable 

techniques. 

– The city monitors 18 wells on the property as part 

of the natural attenuation remediation plan. The 

consultant developed a site plan that would provide 

continued access to these wells.

– During the pilot project, a key city representative 

who had originally spearheaded the project, left the 

city. The project’s progress slowed as the remaining 

city staff took over project responsibilities. 

– Due to environmental issues at the property, the 

city has had challenges with finding a developer. 

Equipped with the pilot report, the city hopes the 

project will be more enticing for developers. The 

city also hopes to increase home ownership in 

the neighborhood, and plans to identify buyers to 

purchase the units once the project is complete. 

– Often, local ordinances and lack of knowledge by 

stormwater management authorities can present 

obstacles when designing for and installing 

sustainable stormwater management features such 

as bioswales and rain gardens. 

Progress Since Pilot 

Completion

The city is in the process of identifying a developer for this 

small scale residential development. The city allocated 

funds for the project and once it finds a developer, will be 

ready to start construction within two weeks. The project 

could be completed as early as summer 2010. The city 

will work with the developer to determine which of the 

consultant’s recommendations to implement. The city 

also acquired other vacant properties in the surrounding 

area and is working to create a market for residential 

development. The city demolished a number of abandoned 

homes and is building new houses on the lots, which are 

located half a mile from the new baseball stadium.
12

Valley, Alabama

Region 4

(Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, 

Mississippi, North Carolina, 

South Carolina, and Tennessee)

The City of Valley is 

revitalizing the Langdale 

Mill to include mixed uses 

and recreational space. 

Through the Brownfields 

Sustainability Pilot, the 

city developed an inventory 

of potential reusable or 

recyclable materials at 

the Langdale Mill that 

may be used in the site’s 

redevelopment.

View the final pilot report at:

www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_

plts/reports/langdale.pdf

Langdale Mill

Background

Langdale Mill is a 500,000 square foot former textile mill. The mill 

operated in Valley from 1860 to the late 1990s as a textile manufacturing 

facility, employing many local residents. The property is located along 

the Chattahoochee River, half way between Montgomery, Alabama, 

and Atlanta, Georgia. Starting in 1999, the City of Valley held visioning 

charrettes and discussions to determine a redevelopment strategy for the 

mill site. Participants in these meetings suggested redeveloping the textile 

mill into a recreation site by building a canoe trail and other features. The 

city partnered with Auburn University and an architect to conduct feasibility 

studies and renderings. Students enrolled in the University’s economics 

classes consulted on ways to incorporate mixed use development into the 

mill site, such as building office space and a food co-op. 

The City of Valley received two EPA Brownfields grants: a 2007 Assessment 

grant and a 2008 Cleanup grant. Both address contamination concerns at 

the mill. The city consultants on these grants provided assistance to the 

Brownfields Sustainability Pilot. The city hopes the project will encourage 

sustainable development, as well as generate local jobs and promote the 

site’s history of industrial prowess. 

View from the roof of the Langdale Mill.
13

13

Pilot Implementation

The EPA funded consultants for the pilot project worked 

with the city to generate a material reuse inventory tool. 

The consultants worked with the city, Brownfields grant 

consultants, and local stakeholders to establish the scope 

of the field survey and reviewed existing development 

plans and maps. In October 2008 and February 2009, the 

EPA consultants surveyed several structures on the site 

including five warehouses, a rooftop air handling unit, and 

aboveground storage tanks. 

The inventory tool was used to document and organize 

survey findings, including quantities and potential value 

of the agreed-upon materials, including lumber, metal 

for scrap or reuse, brick, concrete, and other items with 

value or industrial heritage. The inventory demonstrated 

that with deconstruction of the mill facility, an estimated 

109,000 board feet of lumber, 290,000 pounds of metal, 

and 63,000 bricks could be recovered for recycling and 

reuse. Combined, these materials have an estimated 

value of $150,000. The consultants also conducted a 

mill deconstruction feasibility assessment, during which 

they assessed: building condition and safety; building 

dimensions, accessibility, and complexity; entanglement; 

asbestos and hazardous materials; materials and salvage 

potential; mobilization; garbage; and labor. 

After developing the inventory of materials and 

deconstruction feasibility assessment, the consultants 

suggested options for sale or onsite reuse of the materials. 

Because the inventory and pilot report discusses the 

potential resale value of each material and alternatives to 

selling the items, the city can consider alternative uses of 

the deconstructed materials before recycling or disposal. 

For example, lumber could be sold, but reusing the boards 

onsite could promote sustainable development or create 

jobs if reused in an onsite furniture shop. 

Challenges and 

Considerations

The pilot project team encountered the following 

challenges and considerations during the project: 

– The consultants asked local salvage vendors to 

help estimate costs and values, quantity conversion 

factors, and units. However, transportation costs 

and market fluctuations may change the potential 

value of the materials.

– Consultants had to use computer aided design 

site drawings to estimate the dimensions of 

some inaccessible materials and to supplement 

field measurements, adding uncertainty to the 

assessment. 

– The City of Valley may require additional funding 

to implement the consultants’ recommendations; 

however this cost may be partially offset by the 

potential value of the materials if they are sold or 

recycled. 

Progress Since Pilot 

Completion

The community used Brownfields grants to perform 

an inventory, remove above ground storage tanks, and 

stage future removal work. The city incorporated pilot 

recommendations into its redevelopment plan and into 

a request for proposal (RFP) to identify a contractor to 

deconstruct and redevelop the site. Located within an 

historic textile mill corridor, the city is working with 

Alabama’s tourist board to acquire funding for a Web site. 

It hopes the Langdale Mill will serve as a model for similar 

projects. The city started a Farmers Market at Langdale 

Mill, giving citizens access to locally grown produce, 

and drawing attention to the opportunity for mixed use 

redevelopment. 

Auburn University is interested in using the mill site for 

continuing education classes, conference space, and a 

hotel, and is negotiating with the city for use of the site 

for automotive job training with Kia Motors. The city 

plans to redevelop a mill house as a bed and breakfast 

as a prototype for redevelopment, and seek Leadership in 

Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. The 

city would like to conduct a green building analysis for 

additional buildings onsite. 
14

Detroit, 

Michigan

Region 5

(Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, 

Ohio, and Wisconsin)

Focus: HOPE is revitalizing 

a number of brownfields 

in Detroit, Michigan, 

along Oakman Boulevard. 

The nonprofit used the 

Brownfields Sustainability 

Pilot to develop stormwater 

management and sustainable 

streetscape designs to 

sustainably connect the 

brownfield revitalization 

projects.

View the final pilot report at:

www.epa.gov/brownfields/

sustain_plts/reports/Streetscapes_

Final_7_31_09.pdf

Background

Focus: HOPE, a civil and human rights organization based in Detroit, 

Michigan, is redeveloping several brownfield properties in the Central 

Woodward/North End neighborhood of Detroit. These properties were 

used for industrial and commercial purposes including metal fabrication, 

warehouses, and a service station, and are all located along Oakman 

Boulevard, an arterial road with existing utility infrastructure. Focus: 

HOPE plans to build a new park at the intersection of Oakman Boulevard 

and Woodrow Wilson Avenue. It also plans to build a new three story 

residential complex for afforadable housing and redevelop an existing 

historic commercial high rise into a mixed use building.

Focus: HOPE is acting both as the community organization and developer. It 

intends for this project to be a catalyst to revitalize the neighborhood and 

promote sustainability beyond individual brownfield properties. 

Pilot Implementation

EPA funded consultants visited the site and met with community 

stakeholders to refine the project scope and develop a work plan. They 

agreed that the pilot report would evaluate the application of green 

streetscape components at the brownfields located along Oakman 

Green Streetscapes – 

Focus: HOPE

Example of curb extension for Oakman Blvd.
15

15

Boulevard. Consultants defined green streetscapes as 

“those which adhere to well established standards of 

sustainable design” and included six design objectives 

in the pilot report: improve air quality; reduce heat island 

effects; improve water quality; enhance the urban forest 

and wildlife habitat; reduce light pollution; and mitigate/

rehabilitate brownfield conditions. The consultants 

then identified green streetscape design guidelines and 

prepared project concepts to meet the six objectives. The 

consultants surveyed the existing utility infrastructure, 

site features, remaining soil contamination, and existing 

stormwater management to inform the application of the 

green streetscape standards to the project site. 

The consultants developed a conceptual design for the 

project area along Oakman Boulevard that takes the 

environmental conditions of the property into consideration 

and includes specific construction guidance for areas 

where the planned redevelopment meets the street. 

The resulting stormwater management and streetscape 

designs serve as a prototype for other streetscapes 

in the area or streets elsewhere that reside within 

similar contexts. The pilot study also provides technical 

specifications and construction details, which help 

designers begin to develop construction documents for 

implementation within the Focus: HOPE redevelopment 

area.

The consultants’ design is expected to improve street 

conditions by reducing the quantity of stormwater and 

increasing the quality of stormwater leaving each site by 

incorporating permeable paving, stormwater planters, 

curbs extension, rain garden, curb inlet trench gate, and 

scored concrete. The consultants recommended three 

design concepts that modify the width of a new center 

median and use of a standard/infill crosswalk. 

Focus: HOPE plans to use the pilot report for site specific 

redevelopment, as well as a tool for presenting its 

proposal to the City of Detroit. Therefore, the consultants 

delivered two versions of the report. One version included 

introductory text and graphics of the proposed designs, 

which could be used for posting on the internet or other 

distribution medium. The second version recommended the 

specific site design plan, and will be used to move forward 

with project implementation. 

Challenges and 

Considerations

The pilot project team encountered the following 

challenges and considerations during the project: 

– The site’s redevelopment and stormwater systems 

must accommodate existing infrastructure such as 

cable vision and gas lines. 

– Nonprofit developers, such as Focus: HOPE, often 

have limited capital for community development 

and must combine different sources of funding 

to cover the entire project cost (e.g., government 

funding and private funding such as grants from 

foundations, equity investments, and market rate 

loans).

– At the community’s request, the consultants 

redefined the original pilot project scope from 

green building design to focus on stormwater 

management and green streetscape design. This 

change allows for sustainable connectivity between 

the proposed park and residential buildings, as 

well as connections with the broader fabric of the 

neighborhood. 

Progress Since Pilot 

Completion

Focus: HOPE shared the study with City of Detroit staff 

and is working to secure support from city officials for 

project implementation. Redevelopment on the four 

properties within the project scope is slowly progressing, 

despite a difficult affordable housing market. As the 

properties redevelop, Focus: HOPE intends to implement 

recommendations from the study for site stormwater 

management, native landscaping, and green streetscapes 

elements to the extent both financially and operationally 

possible.
16

Cleveland, Ohio

Region 5

(Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, 

Ohio, and Wisconsin)

Through its Deconstruction 

Initiative, the City of 

Cleveland deconstructs 

and demolishes buildings at 

vacant properties across the 

city each year. To improve 

sustainability and reduce the 

amount of waste generated 

through this initiative, the 

city used the Brownfields 

Sustainability Pilot to 

evaluate lessons learned 

from past deconstruction 

projects.

View the final pilot report at:

www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_

plts/factsheets/cleveland.pdf

Cleveland Resource Recovery

Background

There are a large number of vacant properties in Cleveland, Ohio. Since 

2005, demolition of vacant properties increased from 195 demolitions per 

year, to 1,139 demolitions per year in 2008. Continuing this trend, in 2009, 

approximately 1,700 abandoned buildings are slated for demolition. 

In Cleveland, demolition debris and construction waste are among the 

largest contributions to landfills. In response, in 2007, the city began its 

Deconstruction Initiative, which promotes deconstruction of buildings and 

the reuse of materials found in those buildings, rather than conventional 

demolition. The city is taking a proactive approach to increase the 

diversion of recyclable building materials from the waste stream through 

deconstruction.

The city is determined to improve on its past deconstruction projects 

and identify “lessons learned” to apply to future projects. Through the 

Brownfields Sustainability Pilot, the city requested technical assistance 

with identifying lessons learned for deconstruction at specific brownfield 

sites. The city will apply the lessons learned from these sites to its citywide deconstruction and demolition efforts. 

Deconstruction activities of a home in Cleveland.
17

17

Pilot Implementation

EPA funded consultants worked with the City of Cleveland, 

a materials reuse company, city contractors, a nonprofit 

workforce development program, and other stakeholders 

to establish project goals. They discussed opportunities to 

increase material reuse and to promote environmentally 

sustainable demolition and deconstruction practices. In 

the final pilot report, the consultants delivered a summary 

of Cleveland’s goals, five categories of lessons learned, 

and potential mitigating strategies for improving the 

Deconstruction Initiative. The categories of lessons 

learned are: procurement, contract specifications, 

participation, portfolio management, and materials 

marketplace. 

Consultants recommended that the city improve its 

procurement process, in part by establishing a construction 

and demolition (C&D) waste management plan, adopting 

improved C&D procurement regulation language, and 

integrating deconstruction goals and requirements into 

contracts. Among the lessons learned, consultants 

recommended that contract specifications be improved 

by ensuring all contracts and bid specifications include 

deconstruction requirements, allowing bundling of 

deconstruction projects to allow contractors to submit 

more competitive bids, and increasing the flexibility of 

permits and regulations.

Consultants also recommended increasing participation 

in the initiative through a variety of outreach and 

networking opportunities, and by providing incentives 

to local foundations and minority job training programs 

who participate in deconstruction. The lessons learned 

related to portfolio management included encouraging 

the immediate salvage of materials from vacant buildings 

to prevent vandalism, and recommendations related 

to establishing and managing “abandoned building” 

programs. Finally, recommendations specific to improving 

the deconstruction process were provided. 

The city plans to use the lessons learned at the growing 

number of vacant properties across the city. If successfully 

implemented, the city may demonstrate its growing 

experience in incorporating deconstruction techniques into 

demolition and brownfields redevelopment and improve its 

chances for securing additional funding for the initiative. 

To support long term success, the city intends to formulate 

performance targets for C&D debris diversion, educate 

residents on personal remodeling projects, and establish 

“design for deconstruction” criteria for new construction. 

Challenges and 

Considerations

The pilot project team encountered the following 

challenges and considerations during the project: 

– The city is seeking opportunities to better 

involve the general public and appeal to private 

innovators and investors. As discussed in the pilot 

report, some regulations could be amended to 

encourage deconstruction and provide incentives 

to developers. Though implementing the lessons 

learned and completing more deconstruction 

projects may take time, it will help the city collect 

needed data to demonstrate results.

Progress Since Pilot 

Completion

The city is determining how to integrate the lessons 

learned from the pilot report into its deconstruction 

activities and it hopes to incorporate some of the sitespecific recommendations into a program. Meanwhile, 

EPA Region 5 staff is developing a register of sustainable 

activities in the region, which may include the city’s 

Deconstruction Initiative, since it demonstrates a 

sustainable and proactive approach to vacant property. 

Cleveland’s approach could become a model for other 

deconstruction and vacant property programs.
18

Houston, Texas

Region 6

(Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, 

Oklahoma, and Texas)

The City of Houston is 

planning to build a 10 

megawatt solar farm 

on a former landfill. 

Through the Brownfields 

Sustainability Pilot, the 

potential environmental, 

economic, and engineering 

considerations associated 

with developing a solar farm 

site design were analyzed.

View the final pilot report at:

www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_

plts/factsheets/houston_solar.pdf

Houston Solar Project

Background

The Holmes Road Landfill comprises 300 acres near downtown Houston, 

Texas. The landfill was closed in the 1970s, and was subsequently capped. 

Over the past 30 years, developers and contractors proposed a variety of 

plans for the property, including a golf course and office space. 

The City of Houston believes the site to be an optimal location for a 

solar farm, as it is expected to improve environmental quality locally 

and regionally, improve residents’ safety, promote the site’s heritage, 

and highlight the city’s sustainability efforts at a highly visible location. 

Redeveloping the site will support local economic development objectives 

by providing Houston an opportunity to enter the emerging solar power 

market. 

The city is interested in purchasing thin film solar panels from Applied 

Materials or an equivalent production line, which produces panels four 

times the size of conventional processes. It requested technical assistance 

with recommending the optimal system and design of a solar farm.

Pilot Implementation

During the field visit to the landfill, an EPA funded consultant met with the 

city and other stakeholders. Consultants recommended that the solar farm 

Aerial view of proposed solar panels on the Holmes Road Landfill.
19

19

be built on the southern half of the landfill. Before building, 

the city must clear and grade the site, ensuring not to 

disturb the cap or expose any contamination. In addition 

to the site visit, consultants completed a regulatory 

assessment of all federal Resource Conservation and 

Recovery Act, state, and local solid waste requirements. 

Through the regulatory interpretation, consultants 

determined the proposed solar power farm is classified as 

a nonenclosed structure.

Consultants evaluated the system’s design, wind 

loading, and other characteristics that will be affected by 

conditions at the Holmes Road Landfill. They concluded 

that the landfill solar power farm should install fixed tilt 

(30 degrees) mounting structures with amorphous silicon 

thin film modules.

After determining the optimal system and type of panels, 

consultants considered the spacing, panel alignment, 

required inverters for conversion from DC to AC power 

to allow power to be transmitted into the grid, and 

photovoltaic (PV) equipment specifications. They conducted 

a PV generation output analysis and estimated that project 

could generate over 12,500,000 kilowatt hours annually, 

equivalent to 1 percent of Houston’s municipal electrical 

needs. Consultants estimated the construction and energy 

costs for the solar farm at between $4.40 and $5.90 per 

watt, with total project costs ranging from $44 to $59 

million. The consultants recommended specific strategies 

the city could use to pursue development of the solar 

power farm. After a third party develops the solar power 

farm, the city plans to purchase the solar power that is 

generated through a power purchase agreement with a 

local electricity supplier. 

Challenges and 

Considerations

The pilot project team encountered the following 

challenges and considerations during the project: 

– The landfill is only visible on three sides from the 

road, has overgrowth that prevents walking the 

site, and is mostly inaccessible by foot. However, 

the field visit provided the information to develop 

requirements for the project.

– Developers must use extreme caution to not disrupt 

the landfill cap, especially when clearing and 

grading the site. Since photovoltaic systems vary in 

weight, foundation, and structure, developers must 

choose equipment and installation methods least 

likely to penetrate the cap.

– Developers must consider the differential 

settlement of the landfill surface.

– A park borders a portion of the landfill and the 

Regional Brownfields Program proposed expanding 

the park into part of the landfill. The site is large 

enough to sustain both uses. 

Progress Since Pilot 

Completion

Since the pilot report, the city distributed a RFP and 

received bids from 11 companies. In September 2009, the 

city selected NRG Energy Inc. to develop the solar farm. 

After designing and building the solar power farm, NRG 

will enter into a long term power purchase agreement with 

the city where it will sell the solar generated power. 

In addition to the RFP and power purchase agreement 

negotiations, the city is developing a master plan for the 

Holmes Road Landfill to include three primary uses: the 

solar farm, the park expansion, and a botanical garden. 

The EPA funded consultants originally suggested 150 

acres would be needed for the solar farm, but the city 

believes that only 100 acres are needed based on recent 

technological advances. 

Building from this project, the City of Houston identified 

other locations with potential to develop 10 megawatt 

solar farms. The city believes a project at a waste water 

facility may be cost effective, since generating the power 

onsite will reduce its energy demand and provide the 

facility with power in the event of a hurricane or other 

emergency when all other power sources are shut down. 

Community 
20

Oklahoma City, 

Oklahoma

Region 6

(Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, 

Oklahoma, and Texas)

The Latino Community 

Development Agency 

(LCDA) is constructing 

a new headquarters 

building and was planning 

to incorporate a rooftop 

garden to help connect 

local residents to nature. 

LCDA used the Brownfields 

Sustainability Pilot to 

evaluate the feasibility of 

building a green roof.

View the fact sheet for this project at: 

www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_

plts/factsheets/com_ce_spfs.pdf

Community Center 

Rooftop Garden

Background

The Latino Community Development Agency (LCDA) provides community 

programs for children, youth, and adults in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The 

city helped LCDA acquire a property with a former retail building for its 

new headquarters. LCDA requested EPA assistance with incorporating a 

green roof into the reconstruction of the building, which was vacant since 

the1980s. 

LCDA wants to expand its current programming. It plans to use the new 

headquarters building to provide community services such as healthcare, 

daycare, senior services, and social services. Because the facility is 

expected to be heavily used, LCDA sought support to develop a rooftop 

garden that could incorporate some of the program activities while 

providing people with a greater connection to nature.

Pilot Implementation

EPA funded consultants met with city stakeholders, LCDA, a professor at 

Oklahoma University, an architect, and a contractor to assess the feasibility 

of installing a green rooftop on the new LCDA headquarters building. As 

a first step, a local green roof expert evaluated wind and sun conditions 

to determine the building’s constraints. The consultant also analyzed the 

Example of a green roof. Photo source: Green Grid Roofs.
21

21

potential for installing a blue roof, which is a roof that 

stores water to eliminate stormwater runoff and cool the 

building.

Through these early discussions facilitated by the EPA 

consultant and LCDA, and the initial constraints analysis, 

experts determined that the building was unsuitable for 

a rooftop garden, as well as a blue roof, due to structural 

constraints. The building and existing roof structure was 

not able to support the additional weight associated with a 

green or blue roof.

Challenges and 

Considerations

The pilot project team encountered the following 

challenges and considerations during the project: 

– LCDA originally considered using the rooftop garden 

for daycare activities. Stakeholders did not want 

a daycare facility to be on the top of a building, 

so LCDA altered its plans to include programs for 

seniors on the rooftop garden. 

– Consultants and a group of experts visited a 

local museum with a rooftop terrace. The rooftop 

terrace has experienced operational issues, mostly 

due to the severe winds and high temperatures 

experienced in the region. Many days, it is too 

windy for people to use the terrace, and due to 

the weather conditions, the maintenance costs 

are high. Based on this information, LCDA altered 

its plan to have senior programs on the roof and 

instead considered that middle school students 

could plant some of the vegetation and participate 

in habitat vegetation on the rooftop. 

– An architect surveyed the building and determined 

the building and roof structure were unable to 

support additional weight. Experts found that the 

cost of retrofitting the building to be able to support 

a rooftop garden would be prohibitive, especially 

given the limited activities and programs that could 

be operated on the roof. The anticipated energy 

cost savings from the natural cooling features of the 

proposed green rooftop were estimated to be less 

than the costs. 

Progress Since Pilot 

Completion

Through the Brownfields Sustainability Pilot, LCDA 

determined that a green roof is not a viable option on 

its new headquarters building. Because it was able to 

determine this early in the development process, it saved 

significant time and resources that would have otherwise 

been used to plan the space. LCDA also avoided putting 

staff or citizens in danger. LCDA continues to explore 

options regarding the building’s construction and use.
22

Laredo, Texas

Region 6

(Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, 

Oklahoma, and Texas)

The City of Laredo is 

planning to incorporate LID 

features in the construction 

of an alternate parking lot 

for the Haynes Recreation 

Center. The city used the 

Brownfields Sustainability 

Pilot to develop design 

options and concept plans for 

the LID parking area.

View the final pilot report at:

www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_

plts/factsheets/laredo.pdf

Laredo Recreation Center

Background

The City of Laredo plans to develop a community recreation center adjacent 

to former contaminated wetland brownfields site. The Haynes Recreation 

Center is being designed as a place where citizens can interact with nature 

and learn about sustainable, green design. The center will incorporate 

a variety of green building techniques, including a green roof. The city 

also plans to incorporate LID features in an alternate parking lot for the 

recreation center. The parking lot is planned to accompany a “hike and bike” 

trail adjoining the recreation center. The city requested technical assistance 

to develop comprehensive designs and conceptual drawings for the 

alternate LID parking lot for the Haynes Recreation Center. The city needed 

assistance evaluating and designing for all of the sustainable parking lot 

components, including alternative building materials, construction debris 

management, and stormwater management. 

Pilot Implementation

Through the technical assistance provided by the Brownfields Sustainability 

Pilot, the city originally wanted to develop an LID design template that 

could be used at sites across the city. The city also considered using an 

LID design template that could be used at two parking lots at the Haynes 

Recreation Center. After the EPA funded consultants worked with the city 

Site plan for the Chacon Hike and Bike Trail including the Haynes Recreation Center. 

Image source: Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc.
23

23

and local stakeholders, the project scope was narrowed to 

include developing a design for an alternate parking lot for 

the recreation center. This LID parking lot is planned to be 

built by the City of Laredo so that city employees can gain 

experience with building sustainable designs. 

The consultant developed conceptual design drawings 

incorporating LID techniques at the parking lot adjacent 

to Haynes Recreation Center. The consultant evaluated 

design criteria such as landscaping, irrigation, lighting, 

and stormwater management techniques in developing 

the parking lot plans. The design drawings incorporate 

the site’s layout, detail applicable LID strategies, and 

specify potential materials to be used. Some of the design 

features that were incorporated in the conceptual design 

for the parking lot included:

– Porous pavers and pervious concrete to allow for 

stormwater absorption below parking and walking 

areas

– Bioswales and bioretention swales featuring native 

plants to absorb stormwater runoff

– Tree locations for additional bioabsorption of 

stormwater runoff

The consultant provided estimated project costs along with 

the conceptual design drawings. The city can use the cost 

estimates and technical specifications when requesting 

and evaluating bids for contractors.

Challenges and 

Considerations

The pilot project team encountered the following 

challenges and considerations during the project: 

– The city originally requested technical assistance 

to develop a design template that could be used at 

two parking lots at the Haynes Recreation Center, 

but later limited the pilot project’s scope to a 

single parking lot adjoining the community gardens 

and open area. This helped alleviate funding 

complexities and further define the scope of both 

the recreation center’s design and the design of the 

alternate parking area. 

– Construction of the Haynes Recreation Center will 

be funded with a mix of federal, state, and local 

funds. The city ensured that oversight authority and 

funding would not be mixed between the recreation 

center project and the parking lot project by 

separating the project scopes. The city plans to fund 

the parking lot construction directly.

Progress Since Pilot 

Completion

The city is scheduled to begin construction in November or 

December 2009. It projects that the LID parking lot project 

will be complete before the Haynes Recreation Center 

opens, which is expected to be in April 2010. 
24

Springfield, 

Missouri

Region 7

(Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska)

The owners of three 

businesses in the Commercial 

Street Historic District 

wanted to use green 

design techniques in their 

buildings’ redevelopment. 

They used the Brownfields 

Sustainability Pilot to 

identify sustainable design 

features that could be used 

in each building.

View the final pilot reports at:

www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_

plts/reports/springfield_fr.pdf and 

http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/

sustain_plts/reports/Final_Workshop_

Report_Springfield.pdf

Background

The owners of three properties along Commercial Street in Springfield, 

Missouri, want to incorporate green building designs into their 

redevelopment efforts. The sites include a microbrewery, a day spa, and 

an historic city owned property. The microbrewery site previously housed 

a feed mill, coal yard, peanut butter plant, automotive repair shop, gas 

station, and an iron company. Prior uses at the day spa included a print 

shop and gasoline filling station. The owner of the day spa plans to expand 

into an adjoining 5,000 square foot building and seek LEED certification as 

a way to brand the spa as green. The Commercial Club is a 10,400 square 

foot historic building. The site was used for a community club, police 

substation, gas tank operations, and offices. The City of Springfield now 

owns the property.

At the microbrewery, EPA funded Phase I and II ESAs identified 

aboveground and underground storage tanks, as well as floor tiles 

containing asbestos, which have been cleaned up. EPA funded Phase I 

and II ESAs identified petroleum and petroleum related contaminants and 

materials that potentially contained asbestos at the other two properties, 

but the levels do not exceed nonresidential standards. 

The city requested technical assistance to develop green design strategies 

for each building. 

Commercial Club building in Springfield, Missouri.

Commercial Street 

Historic District
25

25

Pilot Implementation

EPA funded consultants visited the sites in December 

2008. The consultants developed green design 

recommendations for adaptive reuse of the buildings. The 

primary recommendations included: 1) establish green 

design goals based on cost effectiveness and performance; 

2) use an integrated design team approach to building 

design; and 3) facilitate a Commercial Street design peer 

consult/workshop to advance the projects and spread 

the initiative to other Commercial Street properties. 

The consultants recommended green design strategies 

based on the costs and benefits specific to each building, 

and pinpointed which green design strategies would 

have a short term payback of five to seven years. Of the 

18 sustainable design features analyzed, consultants 

recommended 12 for the microbrewery, 12 for the day spa, 

and eight for the Commercial Club. These features include 

HVAC systems, cool roof, daylighting, recycling, community 

environmental health promotion, energy management 

systems, and water conservation/greywater systems. 

In addition, the consultants suggested other green design 

features each owner could choose to install if pursuing 

LEED certification. The consultant estimated that LEED 

certification may increase a project’s cost from 0 to 4 

percent. 

EPA technical assistance also included a Sustainable 

Design Workshop held on June 25, 2009 to bring together 

the project teams from the Commercial Street projects, 

architects, engineers, and other stakeholders. The 

workshop stressed “green value engineering” and peer 

consultation and helped the building owners evaluate 

the recommended green design elements and answer 

any remaining questions about their cost and function. A 

report summarizing this workshop was prepared by the 

consultants.

Challenges and 

Considerations

The pilot project team encountered the following 

challenges and considerations during the project: 

– The Commercial Club building is historic and 

developers must preserve the exterior brick. The 

consultants considered this requirement in its 

recommendations for insulation and green design.

– The consultants were able to make cost-effective 

recommendations for the green design elements 

because the architectural and engineering plans 

were not completed for the buildings.

– Through EPA’s and the city’s discussions with the 

consultants, the project scope was clarified to 

include a cost benefit analysis of the green design 

elements. The Brownfields Sustainability Pilot 

helped reverse the building owners’ perceptions 

that green design features are more expensive than 

standard design elements. Architects and engineers 

worked to find the most suitable, affordable green 

design elements for each building. 

Progress Since Pilot 

Completion

The microbrewery is currently under construction. A 

contractor has installed skylights for daylighting and a light 

reflective roof material, which will decrease heating and 

cooling costs. The owners are also moving ahead with the 

consultants’ design for the exterior brickwork. The owners 

are considering whether to apply for LEED certification.

The day spa owner has acquired the adjacent building 

and initiated construction. Prior to the Sustainable Design 

Workshop, the owner planned to build an extensive green 

roof; however, an expert at the workshop explained that 

the existing roof structure would essentially need to be 

replaced. Experts demonstrated how other techniques, 

such as skylight atrium garden areas in the interior, could 

be installed at a significantly lower cost and still provide 

daylight and green benefits. The owner of the day spa 

described the workshop as “transformative.” 

Other nearby property owners expressed interest in using 

the recommendations of the pilot report. A property on 

the same street is being planned with a dance studio, 

retail space, and loft apartments on each of the floors. 

The owner read the final pilot report and discussed green 

design options with a contractor and a LEED certified 

architect. 
26

San Juan 

County, 

Colorado

Region 8

(Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, 

South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming)

The Town of Silverton 

plans to redevelop a mine 

scarred brownfield into 

a sustainable affordable 

housing neighborhood. The 

town used the Brownfields 

Sustainability Pilot to 

develop an optimal green 

design.

View the final pilot report at:

www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_

plts/factsheets/anvil_mountain_

brownfields_report_final.pdf

Anvil Mountain 

Neighborhood

Background

The Town of Silverton, in San Juan County, Colorado, plans to build an 

affordable, low income housing project at the former location of the Rose 

Walsh Smelter site, a mine scarred brownfield, comprising 12 acres. 

The property is owned by San Juan County and two nonprofit housing 

organizations. This project is planned as part of the Anvil Mountain 

Neighborhood development, which will include up to 49 housing units 

ranging from 1,800 to 2,200 square feet. 

The town began site investigations using EPA regional Targeted Brownfields 

Assessment support. Site cleanup is being accomplished using an EPA 

Brownfields Cleanup grant and other matching and leveraged funds. 

The town plans to integrate green design and construction with affordable 

housing throughout this project. To accomplish this, the town requested 

technical assistance to develop a green design for the residential 

development. The property’s redevelopment will preserve the town’s mining 

legacy and promote historic preservation. This project will also strengthen 

the tourism dependent community, as year round residents will be able to 

transition from renters to homeowners. 

A typical home in Silverton, Colorado.
27

27

Pilot Implementation

EPA funded consultants met in October 2008 with officials 

from the town, the county, and other stakeholders. The 

project team determined that the pilot would focus on 

energy efficient housing, systems efficiency, architecture 

standards, and land planning to support sustainability. 

Consultants recommended and evaluated energy efficiency 

options as well as suggested additional resources and 

funding sources. 

EPA Region 8 staff received assistance from the 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) through a 

separate Technical Assistance Project funded by the U.S. 

Department of Energy. NREL evaluated solar conditions 

and determined the Town of Silverton possesses high 

potential for solar energy collection. NREL also evaluated 

options for energy efficient building design. The EPA 

consulting team further evaluated design options based 

on NREL’s energy modeling results. It analyzed orientation, 

neighboring structures, various wall designs, ceilings, 

roof material, radiant barriers, slabs, wall mass, ceiling 

mass, window area, window type, infiltration, heating 

and cooling systems, major appliances, and lighting. The 

consultants evaluated the cost and expected life of each 

option, to be used by the town in designing buildings. 

The most important design options were categorized 

into varying house orientation, glazing (window) type, 

and window area options. Consultants evaluated four 

design scenarios to identify those with the least cost 

and maximum energy savings cases. The consultants 

recommended taking advantage of the high solar 

potential by designing homes with passive solar systems. 

Consultants determined developers should orient the 

homes to the east or east-southeast and suggested 

increasing the window area from 16 percent to 18 to 20 

percent, with most windows facing south. The consultants 

made many additional detailed design, contracting, and 

funding recommendations in the final pilot report to ensure 

the community implements the best and most appropriate 

green design possible.

Challenges and 

Considerations

The pilot project team encountered the following 

challenges and considerations during the project: 

– The county expected that site cleanup would be 

completed in time for housing construction to begin 

in 2009; however, additional soil remediation was 

required, pushing the construction start date to 

2010. 

– The county expanded the planned repository area, 

due to the additional volume of contaminated 

soils. At least one lot, that was planned to be a 

multifamily unit, will now be used as part of a 

consolidation area. 

– Consultants used information from Leadville, 

Colorado, which is the most comparable weather 

location, for the solar calculations. 

– The county serves as the developer in the project. It 

encountered issues such as funding shortfalls and 

lack of expertise. The consultants suggested that 

the county work with experienced developers when 

pursuing the project in the future. 

– The county originally planned to use funding from 

the State of Colorado; due to state budget issues, 

the state can now only provide part of this funding 

and the project faces a funding shortage between 

$326,000 and $764,000. Consultants assisted in 

identifying grants with other prospective sources to 

fund supplemental pieces of the project. 

Progress Since Pilot 

Completion

The county plans to focus on the remediation aspect of the 

project, specifically soil cleanup, for the duration of 2009. 

It hopes to begin constructing the residential units in 2010. 

San Juan County is moving forward with implementing 

recommendations from NREL’s energy modeling. 

Specifically, it is adjusting the plans for orientation, 

window types (glazing), and window area.

Visit the San Juan Development Association Web 

site at http://www.sanjuan2000.org/housing.htm for 

more information and updates on the Anvil Mountain 

Neighborhood redevelopment effort. 
28

Humboldt 

County, 

California

Region 9

(Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, 

and the territories of Guam and 

American Samoa)

In Humboldt County, a former 

lumber company town is being 

revitalized as a sustainable 

community. The Brownfields 

Sustainability Pilot was 

used to evaluate the Master 

Plan against recognized 

sustainability criteria and 

develop recommendations for 

incorporating green design 

elements into the rehabilitation 

of historic buildings.

View the final pilot reports at:

www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/

factsheets/samoa.pdf and 

www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/

reports/green_home_guide_final.pdf

Samoa Peninsula

Background

The Town of Samoa, California, is a former lumber company town located 

on the 171 acre Samoa Peninsula in Humbodlt County. Prior uses for the 

site included saw mill operations and residential development for company 

housing. The Samoa Pacific Group purchased 65 acres including the town 

with 99 existing houses and several commercial structures and public 

facilities at auction in 2001. EPA funded Phase I and Phase II Environmental 

Site Assessments found 18 potentially contaminated parcels in the town. 

Two cleanup projects are in progress to remediate lead contamination. The 

developer plans to apply to Humboldt County’s Brownfields Revolving Loan 

Fund for further remediation. 

The developer completed a Master Plan and Environmental Review, which 

is currently under review. The Master Plan zones areas for public recreation, 

residences, industry, a business park, commercial, recreation and 

conservation, public facility, and natural resources. The Design Guidelines, 

developed in March 2007, include an inventory of existing buildings and 

features, and guidelines for new construction, and the Secretary of Interior’s 

Standards for Rehabilitation. All development plans prepared prioritize 

careful rehabilitation and preservation. The developer and Humboldt County 

sought EPA technical assistance to evaluate the town’s Master Plan for 

sustainable options and to assist homeowners with identifying sustainable 

upgrades for historic homes. 

Street view of historic Victorian homes in Samoa, California.
29

29

Pilot Implementation

EPA funded consultants visited the site in December 2008, 

working with the developer and Humboldt County as 

well as other stakeholders. The consultant evaluated the 

Samoa Town Master Plan against the Leadership in Energy 

and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development 

(LEED-ND) rating system and the Land and Natural 

Development (LAND) Code. Samoa Peninsula scored 

well against LEED-ND for brownfields redevelopment, 

restoration of wetlands and habitats, walkable streets, 

access to public spaces, and stormwater management, 

among other criteria. The Master Plan scored well against 

the LAND Code for an integrated development that avoids 

a delicate ecosystem (dunes) and includes compact lots, 

low impact parking and plantings, and access to public 

transit. For both rating systems, the EPA consultant 

recommended ways to increase the score. 

Using the above standards, the consultant recommended 

improvements to the development plans. Some of the 

recommendations include that the developer should 

complete remediation before subdividing lots into parcels; 

on private lots, the developer should address minor 

site design issues (e.g., stormwater runoff, capturing 

rainwater) up front; the Master Plan should be augmented 

to include improvements to the design of the public 

area stormwater management system; the Master Plan 

should include the planting of native tree species along 

streets; renewable energy options should be investigated 

for the commercial buildings if funding is available; 

and a Community Service District and/or Homeowners 

Association charged with maintaining all public spaces 

and enforcing codes should be established. 

EPA technical assistance also included a voluntary green 

code and green rehabilitation guide for the historic 

Victorian homes in the town. This guide was created 

as a companion piece to the Master Plan analysis. It 

provides guidance to homeowners on choosing sustainable 

strategies to restore and rehabilitate many of the smaller, 

Victorian style, wood framed houses built in Northern 

California during the late 1800s and early 1900s, such 

as those in Samoa. The guide instructs homeowners on 

maintaining the historic aesthetic and safely dealing 

with lead paint, rust damage, windows, entryway and 

porch details, and finishes. It provides considerations 

for upgrading heating, ventilation, plumbing, electrical, 

and lighting systems to improve energy efficiency and 

sustainability. It also discusses sustainable materials for 

interior finishes as well as landscaping. 

Challenges and 

Considerations

The pilot project team encountered the following 

challenges and considerations during the project: 

– The redevelopment area is in the coastal zone, 

and under the jurisdiction of the California Coastal 

Commission. The Master Plan must follow 

regulations outlined under Coastal Act of 1970. 

– The town is located on a peninsula, flanked by 

Humboldt Bay and the Pacific Ocean. The cool 

climate makes it difficult to maintain a consistent 

temperature within homes. The consultant 

considered the most efficient energy upgrades to 

the houses, taking into account the climate and 

structure sensitivity. 

– Local expertise was invaluable. The developer 

and county assembled a number of contractors, 

historians, woodworkers, and others who have 

preserved Samoa houses over time to consult 

on the project. The green rehabilitation manual 

included information from local contractors, which 

helped fill the gap on local building materials and 

climate considerations. Local staff were able to 

participate with support from an EPA Assessment 

grant for the area.

Progress Since Pilot 

Completion

The project is on hold pending approval of the Master Plan 

by the California Coastal Commission and site cleanup. 

Humboldt County and EPA sent copies of the reports to the 

Coastal Commission and will be distributing copies of the 

green rehabilitation manual to the general public, including 

the renters of the historic homes. 
30

Portland, 

Oregon

Region 10

(Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and 

Washington)

Delta Sigma Theta 

Sorority, Inc. is 

redeveloping a former gas 

station into a community 

and mentoring center. The 

Brownfields Sustainability 

Pilot was used to develop 

an enhanced stormwater 

management system, 

including a rainwater 

harvesting system, and 

sustainable landscaping.

View the final pilot reports at:

http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/

sustain_plts/reports/June_Key_Delta_

final_report.pdf and www.epa.gov/

brownfields/sustain_plts/reports/

Rainwater_Harvesting_System_

Design_8_3_09.pdf

June Key Delta House

Background

Delta Sigma Theta owns a site in Portland, Oregon. Formerly a gas station, 

the property is 15,090 square feet and contains fuel storage tanks. The 

redevelopment plan will almost triple the functional area of the June Key 

Delta House, provide meeting space for up to 120 people, expand the 

usable landscaped exterior, and allow for future site development. 

Delta Sigma Theta is planning the development to qualify for the Living 

Building Challenge. The Challenge uses development criteria to encourage 

responsible site selection, promotion of inspiration and education, net zero 

energy and water, and limitation of construction waste. Some of the design 

components Delta Sigma Theta plans to use to meet the challenge include: 

reusing metal cargo containers as rain and stormwater management 

harvesting systems; using energy conservation and photovoltaic 

technologies; and ensuring 50 to 70 percent of the building materials are 

from recycled sources. Delta Sigma Theta requested technical assistance 

with designing custom sustainable landscaping approaches and a rain/

stormwater management system. 

Pilot Implementation

EPA’s consulting team developed a Phase I report that recommends 

landscape design and stormwater management that meet the requirements 

of Portland’s 2008 Stormwater Management Manual (SWMM). The 

Groundbreaking ceremony at the June Key Delta House.
31

31

design plans include vegetated swales and a hybrid 

planter that are hydrologically connected to distribute 

water runoff. The eastern section of the site will be 

landscaped and remain permeable. A trench drain will 

collect runoff from the parking lot, and planting strips 

along sidewalks will manage that runoff. No stormwater 

will reach the sewers, and any overflow will be distributed 

to the drywell facilities. Under this plan, the June Key 

Delta House will exceed compliance requirements in 

Portland. The consultants recommended landscape design 

considerations, including planted swales and water 

retaining cells at tree basins, a rainwater retention system, 

native planting, tree planting, structural soil cells, and 

porous paving. 

During the pilot, consultants determined the site is also 

suitable for stormwater reuse. EPA gave additional 

assistance for this portion of the project, completed after 

the Phase I report. The consultants designed a rainwater 

harvesting and reuse system for the June Key Delta 

House that will use the stormwater for irrigation and 

flushing toilets. The rainwater reuse portion of the plan is 

designed as a “clip on” to the stormwater management 

and landscaping plan, therefore it can be added after 

construction begins. 

The Phase II report was developed in accordance 

with State of Oregon and City of Portland Code Guide 

regulations on residential properties. Consultants engaged 

with the city’s Office of Planning and Development Review 

as well as the commercial plumbing inspector assigned to 

evaluate rainwater harvesting plans. Delta Sigma Theta 

may use these performance specifications and design 

schematics when moving forward with approval by the city 

and state. 

Challenges and 

Considerations

The pilot project team encountered the following 

challenges and considerations during the project: 

– Delta Sigma Theta will need expertise to implement 

the design for the basins, swales, and planters to 

meet Portland’s SWMM guidelines. 

– Though the site has received a no further action 

determination from the state, the City of Portland 

funded additional assessments to show that 

stormwater reinfiltration would not mobilize 

contamination left onsite. Delta Sigma Theta must 

ensure that stormwater does not infiltrate the soil 

when installing the stormwater management and 

reuse systems. 

– Stormwater reuse triggers a different type of permit 

review from the city than stormwater management. 

Delta Sigma Theta must submit all site plans before 

selecting a contractor. 

– Delta Sigma Theta does not currently have 

sufficient funding for the recommended landscape 

and stormwater systems. 

– Delta Sigma Theta is negotiating with the Oregon 

Department of Transportation regarding adding 

sidewalk improvements to the plan and the effect of 

parking requirements on local residents. 

– The Living Building Challenge limits buildings to 

using local materials as well as non-polyvinyl 

chloride (PVC) piping material. There is no local 

non-PVC piping vendor, so Delta Sigma Theta and 

the contractors must acquire an exception from the 

Living Building Challenge. 

Progress Since Pilot 

Completion

The City of Portland offered ways to simplify the landscape 

and stormwater management design to meet city criteria. 

Delta Sigma Theta distributed the design plan to bidding 

contractors, anticipating that the selected contractor will 

finalize the stormwater system design and subcontract the 

landscaping piece. 

The June Key Delta House was featured in an article 

by the Daily Journal of Commerce. Delta Sigma Theta 

promotes the project and conducts fundraising. Delta 

Sigma Theta and the City of Portland are applying for 

grant funding for implementation; the city will assist with 

installation. Delta Sigma Theta initiated project work in 

early August 2009 and a groundbreaking at the site took 

place in October 2009. Completion is expected in January 

2010. 
32

Portland, 

Oregon

Region 10

(Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and 

Washington)

Three nonprofit 

organizations are working 

together to redevelop 

a brownfield into a 

community center. Oregon 

Tradeswomen used the 

Brownfields Sustainability 

Pilot to develop the 

curriculum for a green job 

training program. 

View the final pilot report at:

www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_

plts/reports/Tabor_Commons_Green_

Jobs_Training.pdf

Tabor Commons

Background

The Tabor Commons site in Portland, Oregon, formerly housed a gas station, 

used car dealership, convenience store, and coffee shop/deli. The deli was 

seized by the U.S. Marshals Service because its owner was distributing 

illegal narcotics. After the criminal case was finalized, the property was 

donated to Southeast Uplift Neighborhood Coalition, an independent 

nonprofit organization serving 20 neighborhood associations in inner 

southeast Portland. 

After community meetings, stakeholders determined that the Tabor 

Commons site would be best used for a community space. Café au Play, 

a nonprofit in Portland, Oregon, is developing Tabor Commons into a 

coffeehouse for community members. The coffeehouse will be family 

friendly, providing a place for all generations to interact. Current site plans 

include a south facing trellis, greenspace, onsite stormwater management, 

farm stand, and large meeting area.

In 2007, underground storage tanks were removed from the Tabor Commons 

site using funds from EPA, Oregon Economic and Community Development 

Department, and City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services. 

Oregon Tradeswomen is a nonprofit organization that provides training 

in building, construction, mechanical, technical, and utility fields. Oregon 

Tabor Commons site during on-site stormwater management implementation.
33

33

Tradeswomen is assisting Southeast Uplift and Café au 

Play by bringing job training participants to the Tabor 

Commons site. The job training is a seven week program 

in which participants enroll in free, pre-apprenticeship 

classes that prepare them to enter the workforce. Each 

week, participants attend one day in the classroom, one 

“hands on” field day, and one field trip day where they 

apply their newly acquired skills.

Oregon Tradeswomen requested technical assistance to 

incorporate a green jobs component into their job training 

curriculum. Students applied these green job skills at Tabor 

Commons and are prepared to begin applying their new 

skills at other sites as well. 

Pilot Implementation

EPA funded a consultant who assisted in developing a 

green job training curriculum for Oregon Tradeswomen. 

The curriculum includes case studies, examples, and 

resources on green jobs and green building, as well as 

defines key terms. 

It covers topics such as energy efficiency, passive solar, 

solar panels, green roofs, solar thermal panels, stormwater 

management, the effects of water pollution, natural 

resource conservation, and building life cycle. Job training 

participants are also instructed on a variety of green 

building certifications. They learn about green building 

elements such as recycled materials, installing energy 

efficient heating and cooling, weatherization, and avoiding 

volatile organic compounds. 

The curriculum covers necessary job skills, potential 

employers, as well as information on how to identify 

sources of financial support for integrating green features 

into site planning. Workers can apply their skill set across 

multiple green job fields, including green building, green 

remediation, deconstruction, stormwater management, 

ecoroofs, solar roofing, and weatherization. 

An innovative component of the green job training program 

is that it uses the Tabor Commons site as a case study. 

Redevelopment plans for Tabor Commons demonstrate 

brownfields redevelopment, deconstruction, green building 

techniques, and passive solar design with south facing 

glass, concrete floor to retain heat, and minimal glazing on 

the west side. The site is also planned to include a water 

garden, new curbs, and bump outs to redirect stormwater 

from 57th Street. Visit http://www.cafeauplay.org/index.

html for more information, updates, and pictures of the site 

renovation.

Challenges and 

Considerations

The pilot project team encountered the following 

challenges and considerations during the project: 

– Preliminary discussions were necessary to better 

define the scope of the project and specific project 

needs. The EPA technical assistance team convened 

the Oregon Tradeswomen and other project 

stakeholders, which led to a decision to use the 

Tabor Commons site as a case study for designing a 

green jobs curriculum. 

– During the pilot period, Oregon Tradeswomen 

received a separate EPA Brownfields Job Training 

grant. Consultants funded through the Brownfields 

Sustainability Pilot developed the green job 

training portion of the curriculum. After receiving 

the curriculum, Oregon Tradeswomen used the 

Job Training grant to implement the program 

and enhance the Tabor Commons site and other 

properties. 

Progress Since Pilot 

Completion

After receiving the curriculum, Oregon Tradeswomen 

incorporated the green jobs training into its suite of 

training offerings. The eight hour green job curriculum 

includes handouts, PowerPoint slides, lectures, and 

hands on components. Oregon Tradeswomen piloted this 

curriculum immediately after receiving the consultants’ 

curriculum. Over 20 people participated in a pilot job 

training program that incorporates the green jobs 

component. Currently, 16 people are enrolled in the second 

class. During the training, participants practice their skills 

on nonprofit sites such as Tabor Commons. For example, 

students have recently installed sheetrock and built an 

ecoroof on an existing informational kiosk. 
34

Findings and 

Recommendations

The Brownfields Sustainability Pilots serve a dual purpose: furthering site specific brownfield projects 

as well as promoting general sustainable approaches across the United States. By assessing the land, 

removing contamination, and redeveloping the property, communities are stimulating the local economy 

and reducing threats to the environment. Overall, the Brownfields Sustainability Pilots give communities 

the tools they need to better evaluate and move forward with the sustainable redevelopment 

of brownfields. This report discusses five findings from the Brownfields Sustainability Pilots and 

subsequent recommendations for future projects.

Finding 1: Communities need both site 

specific support and broader community wide 

sustainability assistance.

The sustainability pilots provided technical assistance at specific brownfield properties. This was done 

both to keep the pilots focused and to fit within the authorities of the EPA Brownfields Program. Several 

of the communities with Brownfields Sustainability Pilots sought to expand beyond the initial pilot 

scope to provide information on sustainable redevelopment to other property owners and developers in 

the area.

For example, the City of Springfield held workshops with local property owners to share information on 

the green building designs from the pilot sites. In another example, the green design recommendations 

for the Samoa Peninsula pilot were included in a report that could be used at other properties with 

similar regulatory and climactic conditions. The resource recovery pilot in Cleveland was designed 

to use information from specific deconstruction projects to improve the city wide program. Program 

changes and community roundtables are anticipated to transfer the experience from the pilot sites to 

more projects in the area.

Recommendation: Public assistance for sustainable brownfields development should reflect site 

specific and community wide needs. To get the most local benefit, brownfields sustainability support 

should include both property specific assistance and community sustainability planning. Partnerships 

with other organizations and agencies may be needed where statutory limits restrict EPA’s ability to go 

beyond individual site assistance. 
35

35

Finding 2: Sustainable brownfields projects can 

take many forms requiring flexible tools and an 

array of technical expertise.

At the outset of the sustainability pilots, EPA was uncertain about the range of support for greener, 

more sustainable brownfields projects that communities would need. The pilots demonstrated that 

sustainable redevelopment needs a range of techniques and approaches including green building 

design, energy efficiency, greenhouse gas reduction, materials reuse, stormwater management, 

landscaping, and others. Several pilots required consultant teams with varied skills that reflected the 

multifaceted needs at a particular site.

For example, the Jackson Square project in Boston focused on green roofs and required consultation 

between building designers, roofing contractors, stormwater management experts, and landscape 

designers. The team for the green streetscapes project in Detroit required expertise in brownfields 

cleanup, transportation design, green building design, stormwater management, and park design. 

The Tabor Commons project in Portland brought sustainability consultants together with workforce 

development experts to development a sustainable redevelopment curriculum.

Recommendation: Programs supporting sustainable brownfields projects cannot be limited to 

narrow specialties. The pilot projects succeeded by offering communities access to professionals from 

a variety of disciplines. Integrated design approaches can bring experts together during initial project 

development. Public sector tools should be flexible enough to allow project teams to be assembled 

based on the individual needs of particular projects and communities, including local and national 

consultants. One size fits all approaches do not draw on the diversity of skills needed for sustainable 

brownfields projects.

Finding 3: Plans change.

Brownfields project plans can be affected by both site conditions and broader economic and social 

forces. Several of the pilots needed to make midcourse corrections due to events that occurred while 

the pilots were underway. Some changes require adjustment in project direction. Other situations 

required a shift in the makeup of the consultant team. In some cases, the work changed significantly 

enough that the contractual agreements between EPA and the consultants needed modification. Since 

it is likely that some changes will occur between proposing and implementing a project, the assistance 

tools need to have flexibility to adapt to changed circumstances. 

For example, the Anvil Mountain pilot sought EPA assistance with green building design anticipating 

that the State of Colorado would fund up to two thirds of the project costs. Due to economic conditions, 

the state did not provide the expected funding, slowing the project pace. In another example, the City of 

Greenville initially planned to seek developers to develop green affordable housing. Environmental and 
36

economic concerns created challenges with finding a developer, so the city altered its plans and started 

the project itself and will seek developers later in the process. Changing prices for recycling markets 

affected pilots with materials reuse components such as the Cleveland, Lynchburg, and Valley projects.

The Oklahoma City pilot went through several reconsiderations in evaluating feasible uses for a building 

rooftop. Severe winds and high temperatures rendered many uses untenable and engineers determined 

the structure inadequate to support roof activities. Ultimately, the entire project was reconsidered and 

the owner is exploring future reuse options.

Recommendation: Communities, organizations, and agencies engaged in sustainable brownfields 

projects should be prepared for plans to change. New environmental and engineering information 

can cause design changes. Economic changes at the local, regional, and national level can affect 

cost calculations and impact project feasibility. Projects and plans need to be flexible in order to 

accommodate changes. Funding and technical assistance tools needed to be able to handle shifting 

priorities and project needs.

Finding 4: There is high interest and strong 

support for greener, more sustainable 

brownfields projects.

The pilots were EPA’s initial effort to support local projects needing sustainability assistance. It was 

uncertain how much local interest and support the pilots would receive. During the course of these 

pilots, EPA and communities found that the pilots provided heightened visibility for the particular 

projects receiving help and support for broader sustainability efforts. EPA received many requests to 

assist additional projects and plans to continue to offer such technical assistance in the future. EPA 

also heard from the pilot communities that they would like more help with communicating their results 

locally and nationally.

For example, the Houston Solar project received numerous inquiries from other communities that 

are considering locating solar energy facilities on brownfields and other contaminated sites such as 

landfills and mine scarred lands. The Allen-Morrison site in Lynchburg, Virginia has been presented at 

conferences as an example of inventorying materials for reuse and recycling. The pilots in Springfield, 

Missouri and Valley, Alabama held community meetings to discuss and share the pilot results with the 

rest of their communities. 

Recommendation: EPA should continue to provide assistance to communities interested in 

pursuing greener, more sustainable brownfields projects. Project plans should include consideration of 

how to share information locally and more broadly. Information sharing through presentations and Web 

sites should be a priority to get the maximum benefit from successful projects.
37

37

Finding 5: Project status affects the type and 

effectiveness of technical support.

Some pilots requested technical assistance with specific system designs or detailed site plans. In these 

cases, the projects were generally further along and already had detailed architectural or engineering 

plans for the site. In these situations, the sustainability consultants were tasked with specific goals with 

shorter scoping periods that could be plugged right into the project. For example, the green roof designs 

for the Jackson Square project, the green infrastructure for the Moran Center in Burlington, Vermont, 

the sustainable parking lot for the Laredo Recreation Center, and the landscape design for the Tabor 

Commons project in Portland required shorter scoping periods because the projects were further along 

in the site design process. 

Other pilots sought broader conceptual plans to help guide project development. This support came 

earlier in the project’s timeline, allowing for a broader consideration of sustainable approaches. 

The scoping periods tend to be longer and results come later because a wider range of options was 

evaluated and there is much work still to be done. Community involvement can play a larger role in 

such pilots in order to refine options and gain acceptance. Consultant assistance in these cases can 

be significant due to the ability to provide communities with help identifying and narrowing choices. 

Examples include the Waterfront pilot in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where a developer requested help 

making his redevelopment project more sustainable, and the Green Avenue pilot in Greenville, South 

Carolina where the local government sought help with designing green, affordable housing on its former 

supermarket and gas station site.

The lesson here is that the type of assistance should reflect the status of the project. Each project 

is different with a unique history and site conditions. The consultants providing assistance and the 

communities receiving help need to be clear on the project goals and objectives, and make sure that 

they are consistent with the development stage of the project. Some projects need focused design 

assistance, others projects need help evaluating options.

Recommendation: EPA and its consultants need to work closely with communities to make sure 

that the tools being used are appropriate to community needs. Flexibility is needed to allow support to 

include both broad sustainability planning and more focused site designs.
38

Conclusion

The Brownfields Sustainability Pilots fulfilled an invaluable role. Properties are being cleaned up and 

reused in greener, more sustainable ways. Materials are being reused, buildings constructed in energy 

efficient ways, and water managed more effectively. There are many lessons to be learned for future 

EPA and community efforts to increase sustainable redevelopment. There are also challenges and issues 

to be addressed. Stakeholders should consider these findings and recommendations when designing 

a program around sustainability, brownfields, or other redevelopment initiatives. The pilot program 

facilitates projects that educate city staff, developers, citizens, and other stakeholders. The process 

itself is an educational tool, as those involved in the project develop new knowledge and skills that can 

be applied to future endeavors. Once the projects are complete, residents and other stakeholders can 

interact with each site and learn about sustainability. 

The Brownfields Sustainability Pilots assisted communities that are transforming past infrastructure into 

innovative, cutting edge developments. These pilots are one way EPA is assisting in building a better 

future, by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, lessening the carbon footprint, and supporting innovative 

technology. Promoting sustainability, especially sustainable redevelopment of brownfields, will affect 

the climate, national security, as well as economic and community development.
39

39

Resources

An index of all information related to the EPA’s Brownfields Sustainability Pilots can be found at the 

following address: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/index.htm

The final pilot reports can be accessed using the links below.

– Jackson Square - Roxbury, MA 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/factsheets/roxbury.pdf)

– Moran Center at Waterfront Park - Burlington, VT 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/factsheets/moran.pdf)

– The Waterfront - Allentown, PA 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/factsheets/waterfront.pdf)

– Allen-Morrison - Lynchburg, VA 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/factsheets/allenmorrison.pdf)

– Greenville Workforce Housing Project – Greenville, SC 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/reports/GreenAvenueSites_TechMemo_08_09.pdf)

– Langdale Mill - Valley, AL 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/reports/langdale.pdf)

– Green Streetscapes (Focus:HOPE) – Detroit, MI 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/reports/Streetscapes_Final_7_31_09.pdf)

– Cleveland Resource Recovery – Cleveland, OH 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/factsheets/cleveland.pdf)

– Houston Solar Project - Houston, TX 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/factsheets/houston_solar.pdf)

– Laredo Recreation Center - Laredo, TX 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/factsheets/laredo.pdf)

– Laredo Recreation Center (cost estimates) - Laredo, TX 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/factsheets/laredo_ci.pdf)

– Commercial Street Historic District (Recommendations Report) - Springfield, MO 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/reports/springfield_fr.pdf)

– Commercial Street Historic District (Workshop Report) - Springfield, MO 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/reports/Final_Workshop_Report_Springfield.pdf)
– Anvil Mountain Neighborhood – Silverton, CO 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/factsheets/allenmorrison.pdf)

– Samoa Peninsula (Master Plan Analysis) - Humboldt County, CA 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/factsheets/samoa.pdf)

– Samoa Peninsula (Green Home Guide) - Humboldt County, CA 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/reports/green_home_guide_final.pdf)

– June Key Delta House (Recommendations Report) – Portland, OR 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/reports/June_Key_Delta_final_report.pdf)

– June Key Delta House (Rainwater Harvesting Report) – Portland, OR 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/reports/Rainwater_Harvesting_System_Design_8_3_09.pdf)

– Tabor Commons – Portland, OR 

(http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/reports/Tabor_Commons_Green_Jobs_Training.pdf)

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization

EPA-560-F-09-500

October 2009

www.epa.gov/brownfields