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Blighted Land Througout State to be Redeveloped

Four blighted sites throughout California are the target of the California Center for Land Recycling (CCLR, pronounced "see clear"), a nonprofit organization recently formed to convert these abandoned, underused, or contaminated properties (called brownfields) into productive use.

A project of the Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national land conservation organization headquartered in San Francisco, CCLR works with community organizations, lenders, and regulators to redevelop brownfields throughout the state. Their renewal revitalizes neighborhoods in already urbanized centers, thereby preserving open space and habitat in surrounding rural areas.

"The responsible redevelopment of brownfields is the greatest land-use challenge facing California and the nation," said CCLR's Executive Director, George Brewster. "The redevelopment of these sites will have a positive impact on the environment, local economies, and the people who live in these communities."

In collaboration with community groups, CCLR has selected the following projects:

South Fork Timber Industries, Mill Site, North Fork, CA

The North Fork Community Development Council, Inc., a coalition of community groups, proposes to cleanup and redevelop an abandoned lumber mill and convert it into mixed use development, public open space, and light industrial use. The project provides much needed economic diversification in a community devastated by the mill closure in 1994. CCLR will play an advisory role in creating a sustainable, environmentally responsible, and economically feasible plan for redevelopment as well as providing grant funds for planning. Barrio Logan Metal Plating Shop Relocation, San Diego, CA

The Environmental Health Coalition proposes to relocate and cleanup a two lot parcel now used for chrome plating in one of San Diego's oldest and most historic residential neighborhoods. To date, there have been over 150 environmental violations at this site. Conventional zoning practices allow this use to continue to co-exist in a residential area. CCLR will provide seed funding and advisory services relative to relocation and remediation issues.

Union Point Site, Oakland, CA

The Trust for Public Land and the Spanish Speaking Unity Council in conjunction with other local community groups, including the Beacon school, are working with the Port and City of Oakland and the University of California Friends of Cal Crew to develop a nine-acre park on the Oakland waterfront. Substantial interest on the part of residents of the Fruitvale and San Antonio neighborhoods has driven the effort to create needed recreational open space and public access to the waterfront. The development of a park at Union Point will provide an important resource for the entire city. The contamination issue at the site is a significant barrier to the completion of the project. CCLR will help resolve the dispute over liability for remediation of the site, facilitate and assist in the development of the remediation process workplan, and build capacity with local groups involved in the project.

Pemaco Chemical Plant Site, Los Angeles, CA

The Pemaco, Inc. site is a former chemical blending facility which sits on 1.14 acres along the 51-mile Los Angeles River. The city of Maywood is working with the Trust for Public Land to try to acquire the site as part of the development of a river-side park, which will be a part of the Los Angeles River Greenway. The river park is much needed in this densely populated area. CCLR will make available consultants and attorneys to assess environmental data and help the land steward entity in understanding the liability, as well as other advisory services.

"CCLR brings a wealth of expertise and support to the table. We look forward to their assistance in bringing our project to fruition for the benefit of the community," commented Ginnie Sterling, Executive Director of the North Fork Community Development Council. "Without CCLR, we would be unable to move forward."

CCLR provides services tailored to the needs of each project including: facilitation, convening, technical assistance, grants, and advisory services in the field of development feasibility, financial, remediation and regulatory approvals, problem solving skills, seed funding, and referrals. CCLR collaborates with communities, developers, builders, financial partners, and project managers on residential, mixed-use, commercial, and open space projects.

California is home to at least 30,000 brownfield sites existing throughout the state. An estimated 500,000 of these properties exist nationwide.