New Partners for Community Reviatilization

Thank you for visiting New Partners for Community Revitalization's (NPCR) new website.

June 10, 2009: Co-Director Mathy Stanislaus has left NPCR to assume his new position in Washington, D.C. as Assistant Administrator of EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER), a position that among other responsibilities includes EPA's Brownfields Program. NPCR wishes Mathy the best of luck in his new position and looks forward to the new focus at EPA on low income areas burdened by environmental injustices and community engagement in environmental issues and programs.

May 27, 2009: NPCR and others have been working to develop proposals to help solve the fundamental problems that prevent New York's Brownfield Cleanup Program from achieving its full potential. The linked memo is a work in progress as we develop a new NPCR proposal that addresses these inequitable funding issues. As a leader in state government, or in the redevelopment community, we are seeking ideas and comments from brownfield stakeholders on our proposal. Please download the memo, make your suggestions, and send them to Jody Kass as soon as possible.

May 22, 2009: On May 22, 2009, Speaker of the New York State Assembly Sheldon Silver recommended to Governor Patterson that Jody Kass of New Partners for Community Revitalization, Inc. be appointed to the New York Brownfields Advisory Board created by the June 2008 amendments to the BCP. The purpose of the Board is to serve as a working forum for the exchange of views, concerns, ideas and recommendations relating to the State’s Brownfield Cleanup Program.

NPCR Events
• Please save the following date for the 2nd Annual NPCR Brownfields Forum:
December 2, 2009 (information now available)

Other Events
• November 16-18: Brownfields 2009: Sustainable Communities Start Here. For conference information and information on ICMA travel scholarships visit: www.brownfields2009.org.

• Using Public Dollars for Brownfield Site Assessment, April 2009 (MS Word)

• Analysis on the Use of Brownfield Tax Credits by Not-for-Profit Organizations, February 2009 (MS Word)

• Addressing the Risk: Making Environmental Insurance Available for Brownfield Sites in New York City, November 2008 (PDF)

• Missing the Target: Making Brownfields Tax Credits work for Communities, May 2007 (PDF)

• Brownfields Breakthrough: A Report on New York’s Revitalization Tool for the Future, January 2007 (PDF)

MAYOR SIGNS NYC BROWNFIELD AND COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION BILL

On May 11, 2009, Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed legislation developing a comprehensive program for the remediation and reuse of brownfields. Watch the video which also features NPCR's Co-Director Jody Kass. Read the Mayor's press release.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BROWNFIELDS FORUM- NOVEMBER 2008

On November 17, 2008, over 180 people attended NPCR’s Brownfields Forum entitled: “Urban Revitalization 2009: Building the Smart Growth Link Between Redevelopment and Sustainable Communities.” Participants included nonprofit and for-profit lenders and developers, community based organizations, environmental justice representatives, environmental groups, environmental insurance industry representatives, State and municipal officials, lawyers, and consultants. Read on.

Watch Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez’s announcement at the Forum

DOS ANNOUNCES BROWNFIELDS SMART GROWTH ‘SPOTLIGHT COMMUNITIES’ INITIATIVE - NOVEMBER 2008

On November 17, 2008, Governor David Patterson and Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez announced the Brownfields Smart Growth Spotlight Communities Initiative which links the State’s BOA Program with the Governor’s Smart Growth Cabinet and signals a renewed commitment to the revitalization of New York State’s towns and city centers. Learn more.

UPDATE FROM ALBANY - SUMMER 2008

Legislation (S.8717/A.11768) was signed by Governor Paterson on July 23, 2008 that contains several important provisions for reforming the State’s brownfield tax credits and streamlining the Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) program. Learn more.

MAYOR BLOOMBERG - MARCH 2008

In March, NYC Mayor Bloomberg issued a statement on the Brownfield Opportunity Area MOU and thanked NPCR for its work on behalf of the BOA program. Read the statement.

UPDATE FROM ALBANY - SPRING 2008

Advancing good public policy is a critical focus for NPCR and in March and May 2008, with an eye towards the pending reforms to the Brownfields Legislation, NPCR convened a series of summits in Albany that were attended by current and pending BOA grantees, municipal and community development leaders from all over NYS, representatives from DOS and DEC and elected officials. Learn more.

ATLANTIC TERRACE, BROOKLYN, NY - APRIL 2008

On October 22, 2007, two years after being accepted to NPCR’s START-UP Program, the not-for-profit Fifth Avenue Committee (FAC) celebrated the groundbreaking for the largest affordable green building in Brooklyn, Atlantic Terrace. Learn more.