BDC’s Brownfields Program

BDC’s Brownfields ProgramBDC’s Brownfields Program

Gary SuskauerDirector of the Brownfields Initiative

The Baltimore Development CorporationIMLA Mid-Year Seminar, April 21, 2009

BDC’s mission

Retain and expand existing businesses

Attract new businesses

Expand the tax base by created new real estate development opportunities

Promote thriving commercial districts

Support cultural resources

BDC’s Brownfields Initiative

Provides assistance to businesses considering potentially contaminated sites.

Staff acts as an ombudsman to help overcome impediments to redevelopment.

Leveraging Investments

BDC looks to fund projects where the City’s funds will encourage/enable additional private investment.

EPA tracks investment resulting from projects receiving funding.

Since 1996, Baltimore has completed more than 30 brownfields projects

These projects resulted in more than 3,000 new and retained jobs; and leveraged $300 million in new investment.

Impact of redevelopment

EPA’s competitive grants programs

Assessment In 2006, BDC received its second assessment

grant for $200,000. Funding is used to offset costs of Phase I & II

environmental site assessments. Funds provided to developers as a grant,

provided that the site is enrolled in Maryland’s Voluntary Cleanup Program within 12 months.

EPA’s competitive grants programs

Cleanup BDC has a $200,000

cleanup grant for an 18 acre landfill site.

Revolving Loan Fund A $1.25 million

revolving loan fund, provided by an EPA grant and a city match, is available for cleanup of brownfield sites.

Other local brownfields incentives

City bond funds The City of Baltimore has a bond fund that

provides yearly funding for brownfield projects. Tax credit program

Baltimore has enacted a tax credit program which provides up to a 70% credit on the incremental increase in assessed value for brownfield projects.

Other local brownfields incentives

State funding sources The State of Maryland has a Brownfields

Revitalization Incentive Program (BRIP) that provides some funding for assessment and cleanup of sites.

BDC attempts to match state contributions where appropriate.

Assessment success story

Turning an abandoned factory into a $19 million office and housing project

Miller’s Court

Building is located in a neighborhood in need of redevelopment

The City is trying to spur development away from the waterfront

Miller’s Court history

Constructed in the 1890s, site was used as a can manufacturing facility until 1953

Other than a few intermittent tenants, the building has been underutilized since that time.

Miller’s Court: BDC/EPA investment

BDC provided $38,090 for assistance with: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment ($5,190); Phase II Environmental Site Assessment ($28,400); and Enrollment into the Maryland Voluntary Cleanup

Program ($4,500)

Miller’s Court: environmental issues

A fairly typical Baltimore brownfield “story”

A large underground storage tank was removed, and soil excavation was required

Cannery Square: environmental issues

Building contained a large amount of asbestos and lead-based paint

A vapor barrier was needed under the basement slab in order to address soil gas issues.

The greening of Miller’s Court

Section demolished for courtyard & additional light

On the verge of completion

Developers are targeting a LEED Gold rating

Renovation will restore access to some of the building’s greatest assets – its large windows and skylights

On the verge of completion

Area where tank removed now site of utility room.

From eyesore to asset

Revitalized space to be ready for new residents June 5, 2009.

For more information:

Gary SuskauerDirector of the Brownfields InitiativeBaltimore Development Corporation36 South Charles St., Suite 1600Baltimore, MD [email protected]