Brownfields

The Environmental Protection Agency defines brownfields as:

“abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination.” 

The Johnstown Redevelopment Authority has an extensive history in redevelopment of brownfield sites, beginning with the reuse of the former Griffith-Custer Steel site in the late 1980’s. At that time, unknown environmental conditions raised many liability concerns that made reuse of former industrial buildings nearly impossible. With the closing of Bethlehem Steel in 1992, the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority was compelled to react to the reuse of brownfields to re-invent and re-energize the Johnstown economy.

The development & implementation of the PA Land Recycling Program in 1995 provided a streamlined approach to undertaking brownfield redevelopment in the Commonwealth. Through passage of the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act, effective polices regarding brownfields were passed into law. The Brownfields Law expanded EPA’s assistance by providing new tools for the public and private sectors to promote sustainable brownfields cleanup and reuse.

Cleaning up and reinvesting in brownfields increases local tax base, facilitates job growth, utilizes existing infrastructure, takes development pressures off of undeveloped open land, and improves and protects the environment. Brownfield redevelopment is particularly critical in Johnstown because of the City’s unique geography as a landlocked municipality. Adaptive reuse of Johnstown’s limited available sites prevents urban sprawl and the destruction of one of Pennsylvania’s biggest assets, its natural landscape.

In 1998 the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority received their first Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Association Grant for $200,000. The Authority identified the Cambria Iron Works Site as a potential pilot site and since then has performed assessment and remediation on a majority of the vacant land and buildings in the Lower Works, which was acknowledged by the EPA as a Brownfield Best Practices.

Thus far, the Redevelopment Authority has been awarded several grants from the Environmental Protection Agency, including $1.26 million in Stimulus Funds received in 2009. In addition to EPA brownfield funding, the Redevelopment Authority has had great success in utilizing Department of Community and Economic Development Industrial Sites Reuse funds towards the assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of many citywide properties. The cleanup of the Johnstown Corporation was selected by PA Department of Environmental Protection as a “Showcase Brownfield Project” in 2000. The Johnstown Redevelopment Authority’s success has also been featured in the EPA report, Revitalizing America’s Mills in the year 2006.

The Johnstown Redevelopment Authority has recently initiated the Greater Johnstown Brownfield Revitalization Program, made possible from $1.9 million in grants from the US EPA to eligible brownfield property owners seeking to cleanup and reuse their sites. Program application information is available by contacting the JRA office or click here to download the form. This revolving loan fund provides low interest loans or grants.

The reuse of local derelict brownfields is a “Smart Growth Initiative.” It utilizes existing infrastructure, discourages urban sprawl and protects the environment while creating a more attractive and healthier place to live & work. Qualified brownfield sites are abandoned, idled, or under-utilized facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by environmental contamination. Both public and private property owners are eligible to receive funding for environmental assessment. For more information on funding for development projects please contact the Redevelopment Authority office.

By one estimate, for every one acre of redeveloped brownfields, we save 4.5 acres of open space!

The Johnstown Redevelopment Authority recognizes that land recycling and brownfield redevelopment are vital components for smart growth and economic recovery. The revitalization of our brownfield sites can attract new and diversified development that will complement our goals of recycling existing industrial sites and buildings, preserving greenspace and removing any potential health and environmental threats.

The Redevelopment Authority can help you find the right location for your new or growing business. Check out our available Brownfield sites and consider the many opportunities afforded by brownfield redevelopment such as:

• Ready-to-go sites that have been remediated of environmental concerns.
• Redevelopment incentives, including low-interest loans and grants
• Cost advantages of reusing existing solid facility
• Existing infrastructure reuse
• Several properties with rail access