If you already own, or you’re thinking about buying, a property that might be a brownfield, you no doubt have a lot of questions about brownfields redevelopment. The first is probably, “Where do I start?”

 

Here’s a brief description of the stages you would likely go through to take a property from useless to useful…

 

This is the fun part, when you can envision whatever you want. What will you do with that land? Maybe you’re simply trying to sell it, but you need to clean it up first. Maybe you’ve got grand visions of a resort or a housing development or a shopping mall?

 

Funding and technical assistance are available to those who qualify, but determining your eligibility is both critical and tricky. Your property and you as borrower must meet the requirements. So making sure you qualify is an important first step.

 

Your next step is to find the money to make this redevelopment real. The Brownfields Coalition funds brownfields cleanup primarily through a revolving loan fund, but we can help you locate other funding sources too.

 

Before any cleanup can happen, you first have to know just what you’re dealing with. That’s the assessment phase: assessing the type and severity of the contamination. You might think you’re dealing with a straightforward cleanup, but surprises are the norm when it comes to brownfields. Knowing what you’ve got upfront helps cleanup later. There are funds available to help with this stage. Ask your Brownfields Coalition partner.

 

Local communities have a vested economic and social interest in brownfields redevelopment, and government statutes require you to involve the community. You’ll need an open process and opportunities for public involvement for a BLF project. But this is also an opportunity to involve the community make sure your project addresses their needs and has their support.

 

Now down to the dirty work: Getting rid of that mess and preparing the property for new life. The Brownfields Coalition provides funding for cleanup through the Brownfields Loan Fund (BLF). And don’t worry. You won’t get stuck with figuring out how to do the cleanup all by yourself. The Department of Ecology’s Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) offers technical assistance for assessments and cleanups. Ecology can also give you a “no further action” letter so you can show lenders that you have dealt with the contamination…and lenders will be more likely to lend!

 

Tackling a brownfield is a huge challenge, but you don’t have to go it alone. The Brownfields Coalition is here to help you make the redevelopment a reality. Working together, we make brownfields work.