Filed Under: Environmental Issues | New York City | Land Use | Land Use

Abandoned Lot

Brownfields are abandoned, idle or underused industrial and commercial properties often located in low-income, urban areas that can be redeveloped. Such sites often have some level of environmental contamination, although they are less tainted than state or federally-designated Superfund sites. With the increased demand for development space, government and private industry are turning toward brownfields for potential land use.

Cleaning up brownfields puts unproductive land back into use, creates jobs, increases the real estate tax base and reduces urban blight. However, it is often an expensive, risky undertaking for developers and municipalities who must bear the cost and responsibility of environmental remediation. Revitalizing urban brownfields is critical to New York City’s strategies for economic development. Their size and access to transportation, public infrastructure, work force, and government financial incentives, should make brownfields attractive investments.

In 2006, the NYC Independent Budget Office prepared a report review of recent city funding and spending on brownfields-related projects (1996-2005). Click here to review the report.