New Partners for Community Revitalization

Brownfields Forum January 17, 2012: More than 200 people gathered for NPCR's 4th Annual Brownfields Forum, held on January 17th in New York City, coincident with NPCR's Ten Year Anniversary (see press release). Kicking off the Forum were written remarks from Secretary of State Cesar Perales (read remarks). The BOA EXPO, a centerpiece of the Forum this year, was designed to strengthen alignment between the redevelopment projects emerging from communities in the Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) program and the public and private sector resources connected with Governor Cuomo's ten Regional Economic Development Councils (REDCs). Representatives from the NYSDEC, NYS HCR, NYSDOS, conventional and community lenders, and environmental risk experts, designated as "Resource People," responded to the presentations with suggestions for advancing priority projects.

NPCR Forum Presentation Following the EXPO Dialogue was an EXPO Open Session that gave community development leaders the opportunity to build connections with public and private experts and practitioners and identify potential projects and deals. NPCR also distributed its first Resource Directory to foster connections between BOA communities in need of planners, lawyers, engineers and other consultants.

Keynote Speaker Mathy Stanislaus The Keynote speech was delivered by USEPA Assistant Administrator of the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response Mathy Stanislaus, who travelled from Washington, D.C. to participate in the Forum. The Assistant Administrator provided an update on the USEPA's brownfield programs and said, "We at the EPA congratulate you on your success in leading the use of the community-led area-wide planning approach to spark brownfields cleanups and neighborhood renewal. I strongly believe that area-wide planning is a key tool to revitalize economically distressed communities and America's downtowns. We see New York's Brownfield Opportunity Areas program as a national model for the type of area-wide strategies that other cities, states, and community-based organizations should consider as they seek to promote public health and economic revitalization in their own cities and towns." In addition, he confirmed that the EPA would soon entertain a second round of its own area-wide planning grants.

The BOA EXPO was followed by a discussion of emerging federal, state and local initiatives, which included the debut of a film commissioned by NYC OER about brownfields and environmental justice, a presentation by NYSERDA on new Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) resources for regional sustainability plans and an energetic discussion by former regulators and lawyers about needed and pending legislation on brownfield tax credits, the brownfield cleanup program and the Navigation law. State Senator Mark Grisanti, who has Excellence in Public Service Award just introduced legislation to strengthen the BOA program, also provided written remarks (see remarks).

At the reception following the forum, NPCR recognized Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone's leadership in the Wyandanch BOA and more widely in the NYS BOA program with NPCR's first "Excellence in Public Service" award. NYS Assemblyman Robert Sweeney sent congratulations to Steve Bellone on receiving the award (see written remarks).

New Partners New Connections Event October 12, 2011: New Partners New Connections was the theme of a landmark event that took place in midtown Manhattan at the first NPCR Pipeline & Networking breakfast roundtable (see NPCR press release). Sixty participants, including developers, community organizations, as well as lawyers, planners, consultants, insurers and government officials, all interested in advancing redevelopment projects, gathered to learn about opportunities emerging in communities across the five boroughs. Community leaders from Harlem, Greenpoint, Sunset Park, Jamaica, Staten Island and the South Bronx made presentations, New Partners New Connections Event which included specific information about sites – acreage, ownership, site assemblage, market and feasibility analysis, and end uses. The sites have emerged from work being conducted by 17 New York City community groups that over the last several years have been awarded $9.4 million from the NYS Brownfield Opportunity Areas program to conduct pre-development, planning and feasibility studies. A networking session that fostered one–on- one exchanges followed the presentations. This extraordinary event helped build trust between community leaders and developers and began to lay the groundwork for new cooperative development projects in NYC neighborhoods.

NPCR's 5th Annual Albany Summit June 6 - 7, 2011: Over 120 participants and representatives of 50 BOA communities from around the state participated in the 5th Annual Albany Summit, a two-day event which included a series of roundtable discussions and a networking dinner. The focus of this year's Summit was tools and resources for BOA implementation of the area–wide revitalization strategies that are emerging from the 110 NY communities participating in the BOA program.Roundtable discussions were held about Land Banking and Tax Increment Financing as new revenueneutral tools, USDA resources, transportation planning and resources, economic development and climate adaption. The Summit also included a discussion with Senator Mark Grisanti, the newly elected Chair of the Senate Committee on Environmental Conservation, where he heard directly from BOA representatives across the state about the importance of BOA in achieving neighborhood revitalization goals.

NPCR held an Albany press conference calling on the Governor, the Senate Majority Leader, and the Assembly Speaker to begin taking the steps necessary to complete a Memorandum of Understanding to access additional funding, or find new sources of revenue to keep the redevelopment and jobs creation momentum moving forward in many New York neighborhoods. More than three dozen additional BOA projects have completed their applications and are ready to be admitted to the program. NPCR issued a press release voicing non-profits' urge to Albany leaders to keep up the momentum with the BOA program. The Legislative Gazette wrote an article about the press conference.

As part of the event, NPCR also released the report, "The Brownfield Opportunity Areas Program: Smart Investment Laying the Groundwork for Economic Development." It revealed that BOA is already making a significant contribution to job creation and economic development across the state, with the potential to provide an even greater boost. The report found that New York's $34 million investment in 110 BOA projects will create from 30,000 to 50,000 jobs across urban, suburban, and rural areas of the state.

NPCR December 2010 Forum December 1, 2010: NPCR held its 3rd Annual Brownfields Forum entitled: “Evolution of Brownfields: From Policies to Partnerships.” The full day event was hosted by National Grid and attended by nearly 200 community development leaders representing 50 communities, including BOA grantees, developers, lenders, consultants and local, city, state and federal agency representatives. The day started with discussions about NYC brownfield initiatives and what is on the horizon for Mayor Bloomberg's PlaNYC 2.0. It also included an animated discussion about the future of the NYS Brownfield Tax Credits, and one about how the BOA program is being used by upstate and downstate communities in urban, suburban and rural areas. The day concluded with presentations about national tools that could be used to imple NPCR December 2010 Forum ment NY's area-wide approach to community revitalization. The Forum was also the official kick-off of the NYC BOA Community Resilience Initiative East River Industrial Corridor Pilot. The launch of the Pilot included a video that provided background and a green ribbon-tying ceremony symbolizing the extraordinary community-city-state-federal partnership upon which the Pilot is based. National Grid hosted a buffet lunch, which provided a lively networking opportunity for the participants. Click here to see NPCR's press release about the launch of the Pilot.

NPCR May 2010 Summit May 10 & 11, 2010: NPCR's annual Albany summits have been highly successful in providing opportunities for BOA grantees to share lessons learned and advance ideas for tweaking the BOA program. NPCR continued the tradition with Albany Summit IV on Brownfields. On May 10-11, 2010 over 100 community leaders, local officials and other stakeholders from across New York State attended NPCR's two-day Brownfields Summit IV entitled New Opportunities for New York: BOA Spotlight Communities, and Place-Based Regional Collaboration. This was NPCR's fourth convening of stakeholders involved in the BOA program in Albany. Speakers included local, city, state and federal agency officials, as well as community and municipal leaders participating in the Brownfield Opportunity Area program. Participants engaged in an energetic and informative dialogue on many of the issues and challenges facing community revitalization in communities most impacted by brownfield sites. Secretary of State Lorraine Cortez-Vasquez also announced the selection of the East River Industrial Corridor in Brooklyn as the location of one of DOS's Place-Based Regional Collaboration Pilots. The Project Team for the pilot includes UPROSE from Sunset Park, GMDC from Newtown Creek and NPCR.

Proclamation December 2, 2009: NPCR hosted its Second Annual Brownfields Forum entitled “New Directions in Brownfields: Building Sustainable Communities through Stronger City, State and Federal Partnerships.” The Forum was hosted by National Grid and attended by over 250 brownfield stakeholders who heard from community development, environmental justice and government leaders involved in sustainability and neighborhood renewal. The event achieved national recognition when Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes Vazquez announced the Place-Based Regional Collaboration Pilot, a new NYS partnership with federal agencies to advance community revitalization. Forum Panel #1 focused on ways in which the EPA-HUD-DOT Partnership for Sustainable Communities could be connected to the NYS DOS Brownfield Opportunity Area Program. Panel #2 discussed the NYS Brownfield Cleanup Program and shortcomings in the NYS law that affects eligibility and limits the ability to use brownfield tax credits to advance the construction of affordable housing projects on brownfields.The last panel focused on the NYC Brownfields and Community Revitalization Act signed by Mayor Bloomberg on May 11, 2009 with a particular focus on the significant support it offers to NYC BOA grantees. Statements on the importance of brownfields revitalization, efforts to revitalize brownfields in low- and moderate-income communities and legislative proposals, were received from several invited speakers including State Senator Antoine M. Thompson, Assemblyman Robert K. Sweeney and US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

APRIL 27 & 28, 2009: NPCR held its Brownfield Summit III in Albany on April 27 – 28, 2009. Over 100 brownfields stakeholders participated in the two-day event which included a Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Roundtable discussion and reception on the afternoon of the 27th, presentations by two Spotlight BOA Communities on the morning of the 28th, an intensive workshop on resources for site assessment and remediation, and a panel presentation by state agency officials on significant brownfield projects they have undertaken. The Summit also included presentations from several keynote speakers, including senior elected and government officials.

KEY THEMES:
There is new momentum for the BOA program - There was a lot of energy at the Summit inpart because of a shared sense that the BOA program is beginning to mature. DOS is thought to be an increasingly effective partner and stakeholders are finding that the delays that plagued the program during its first years are being resolved programmatically. Communities are moving through Step 2 and gearing up for Step 3 and are beginning to see the enormous potential of the BOA program to accomplish community revitalization objectives. Nevertheless, there was interest in ensuring that contract reviews and reimbursements are expedited, and that additional awards are provided in a timely manner.

More flexible and increased resources are needed for Site Assessment – There was universalagreement that communities need multiple options and resources for site assessment. Recognizing this need, NPCR issued a White Paper on Site Assessment Resources, which covers both NYS and federal resources as well as the obstacles to utilizing those resources. The need for site assessments is also inspiring communities and their government partners to find new and innovative ways to use NYS and federal site assessment funds. Although BOA resources have yet to be used, a number of strategies were discussed with DEC and DOS for effectively using BOA funds and for developing more expedited programmatic procedures.

The State's Other Brownfield Programs need improvement –The Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP)/Brownfield Tax Credits must be fixed to relieve the state of an enormous financial liability and to open up the program to the sites that need regulatory oversight, liability relief and financial incentives. There were several communities, including Long Island and Kingston who felt it was important that Class 2 superfund sites be allowed into the BCP. There was also strong support for re-financing the Environmental Restoration Program. Tax Increment Financing (TIF) was also suggested as an important potential resource for brownfield re-development.

LESSONS LEARNED FROM BOA PRACTITIONERS IN THE FIELD

There is value in seeking to promote a culture of revitalization at all levels of government;
Good BOA practice means creating partnerships;
Hire good consultants and complete as much quality analysis upfront as possible;
Identifying high impact projects or anchors that can spur area wide revitalization makes BOA plans more effective;
BOA participants should take advantage of synergies that arise in areas that have begun to “ripen;”
The BOA program is an opportunity to develop a comprehensive, holistic approach that lifts the whole community, rather than cleaning up a couple of sites.

PRESS CONFERENCE
NPCR and representatives from across the State called on the Governor and legislature to sign a legislative Memorandum of Understanding that would authorize the award of 14 new BOA grants totaling $6.7 million. The group also called on Albany leaders to open up the eligibility for the Brownfield Cleanup Program and to target the brownfield tax credits to projects that are in need of subsidies. (Learn more: WAMC coverage of April 30, 2009 Brownfields Advocates Summit in Albany and April 29, 2009 press coverage, Group wants $7 million released for brownfields.)

DOS FEEDBACK SESSION ON ITS BOA TRAINING
DOS suggested more advanced training courses, such as marketing, financial strategies and smart growth and sustainable development and participants expressed interest in training on negotiating access agreements and strategies for the implementation phase. An important theme that emerged was the need for training tailored to CBO grantees and break-out sessions during trainings were suggested. DOS also asked for feedback on the different media/approaches: including online, indexed sessions, web casting, and more traditional in-person sessions.

November 17, 2008: Over 180 people attended NPCR's BrownfieldsForum 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.

The Forum included presentations by high level City and Stateagency representatives and practitioners about brownfield resources and the programs impacted by the July 2008 amendments to the NYS Brownfields Law, with a particular focus on the Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) program. At the Forum, NY Secretary of State Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez launched the Brownfields Smart Growth Spotlight Communities Initiative. Governor David Paterson was quoted in the State's press release issued that day, “Even in these economically trying times, we must remain aware of the need for us to invest in New York's future. The Brownfields Smart Growth Spotlight Communities Initiative helps us to achieve that goal by building on our commitment to the smart growth principles of sensible, balanced development in town and city centers in need of revitalization. The partnership between BOA community participants and my Smart Growth Cabinet will ensure that the improvements we make create jobs and generate growth as we protect our environment.” (Read the entire press release.) Over the last few years, BOA program funds have been fueling the planning, market studies, environmental analysis, infrastructure design and other activities needed to attract private investment, get projects built and for neighborhoods to grow smart. Linking the innovative BOA program with the Governor's Smart Growth strategy will build momentum in neighborhood value-creation efforts and ensure that investments already made, are not jeopardized. This announcement marks a turning point for the 100+ communities participating in the BOA program and firmly positions New York State as a national leader in urban smart growth.

In addition, NPCR used the Forum to unveil three brownfield initiatives:

NPCR released its report, “Addressing the Risk: Making Environmental Insurance Available for Brownfield Sites in New York City.” (Download a copy of the Report.)
NPCR kicked off its 2009 Brownfields Training, announcing sessions scheduled for February 11th, April 28th, September 17th and December 2nd; and
NPCR issued its updated Analysis on the State's re-structured Brownfield Tax Credits, reflecting the July 2008 amendments. (Download a copy of “Draft Analysis on the Use of Brownfiield Tax Credits by Not for Profit Organizations, November 2008.) This will be finalized and covered at the February 2009 Training session.

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

Summit May 20, 2008: The success of the March 3 and 4, 2008 summit and the need to continue to press for reforms to the BOA Program prompted NPCR to organize the Second Brownfields Summit on May 20, 2008 in Albany. BOA grantees gathered for a brownfields breakfast at which the Secretary of State spoke and Assemblyman Sweeney and Senator Marcellino discussed their respective Brownfields bills and reform approaches. In addition, NPCR organized a press conference, a meeting with Senator Antoine Thompson (ranking minority member of the Environmental Conservation Comm.) and a roundtable hosted by the Department of State to discuss implementation of the BOA program and in particular expanding the eligible activities in the program. The Second Brownfields Summit was well attended and the afternoon roundtable with DOS generated many interesting ideas for the BOA program. NPCR subsequently prepared a report for DOS with a summary of the recommendations that came out of the roundtable discussion. NPCR will continue to press for changes to the Brownfields Legislation and to garner support for both consolidating the BOA Program under one agency and providing a 20% tax credit to developers who build projects consistent with BOA plans.

Summit March 3 & 4, 2008: NPCR held a Brownfields Summit in Albany and invited all current and pending BOA grantees. Municipal and community development leaders from all over NYS attended the roundtable (hosted by NYSDEC), press conference, and evening reception and held meetings with key legislators. The agenda included a request for commitments to release BOA funding, elimination of the requirement for MOUs, consolidation of the BOA program under one State Agency and creation of a link between tax credits and projects built consistent with a BOA plan. The summit was an overwhelming success and helped break the 3-year logjam that resulted in the award of $7 million in BOA funds that had been held up by bureaucratic procedures. The event received excellent press coverage both upstate and downstate. Mayor Bloomberg issued a press release in which NPCR was acknowledged for their continued advocacy and the release of $2.7 million in BOA Funds for NYC alone. Read press release.

July 2007: NPCR hosted a roundtable with BOA grantees and pending grantees in NYC entitled: “Roundtable Dialogue about the Brownfield Opportunity Area Program, NYC”. The focus of the morning session was what the City can do to advance the BOA program; and the focus of the afternoon session was what the State can do. Representatives from New York City and New York State government participated; as did representatives of BOA communities in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens and Nassau County. City of New York attendees included representatives from Deputy Mayor Doctoroff's Office, NYC Economic Development Corporation, NYC Department of City Planning and NYC Office of Environmental Coordination. New York State attendees included representatives from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and NYS Department of State.

June 2006: This BOA Roundtable, held on June 12, 2006, focused on the opportunities associated with the BOA program with an eye towards identifying strategies to help ensure the program reaches its full potential. Participants in this meeting included: Assemblyman Vito Lopez, Senator Carl Marcellino, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, NYS Department of State, NYC Office of Environmental Coordination, UPROSE, YMPJ, Sustainable Long Island, City of Syracuse Economic Development Corporation, and True Bethel Baptist Church/True Community Development Corp., Buffalo. Information obtained during the roundtable was subsequently incorporated into NPCR's report- Brownfields Breakthrough A Report on the State of New York's Community Revitalization Tool for the Future.

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