Written by Sarah Sieloff, Executive Director

Posted on November 25, 2019

You can learn more about federal policy and the National Brownfields Coalition at Brownfields 2019 this December in Los Angeles. Join our panel “Brownfields Policy Breakdown” on Friday, December 13 at 11:45am for a dive into what’s happening in D.C., how it affects brownfield redevelopment, and what the Coalition is doing about it.  

Written by Jean Hamerman, Deputy Director

Posted on November 20, 2019

Dust off your hat, grab your boots and saddle up, because the Redevelopment Rodeo rides again at Brownfields2019! The Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR), New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Kansas State University (KSU) and Brownfield Listings are partnering to bring you another thundering herd of rough and ready brownfields.  The  Rodeo rides in room 515A on December 11th from 2:15pm to 4:30pm .

Written by Claire Weston, Program Associate

Posted on November 18th, 2019

CCLR convened over 175 land-reuse and community development practitioners from the non-profit, public, and private sectors for “Urban Redevelopment: Building Stronger Communities” this November in Brooklyn. Attendee turnout and participation exceeded expectations for CCLR’s first ever conference in New York City. Speakers came from every corner of the redevelopment world to address waterfront development, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and redevelopment planning and financing. Individual panels (see panels and presentations below) were distinct in content, but patched together provided attendees with a well-rounded understanding of the leadership, vision, and resources needed to promote community-led, sustainable redevelopment 

Written by Sarah Sieloff, Executive Director & Ignacio Dayrit, Program Director

Published on November 11, 2019

Sustainability, resilience and livability are prominent issues in our daily lives, and are important in how and what we plan for our communities. Climate change is at the root of these issues. In order for communities to sustain economies and environments, be resilient to natural disasters, and improve quality of life, we need to anticipate the effects of climate change. At Brownfields2019, CCLR is facilitating two sessions that address climate change from different angles.

Fecha de Publicación - el octubre de 31 del 2019

Por David Southgate

No se puede negar que los subsidios federales para los programas ambientales y la transmisión de las experiencias profesionales son catalizadores de todo cuanto hacemos como profesionales en el área de los “Brownfields” (terrenos baldíos, abandonados o contaminados). Sin embargo, la mayoría de nosotros no tenemos injerencia en las legislaturas federales y estatales con respecto a la toma de decisiones que finalmente hacen posible nuestro trabajo. Como profesionales que implementamos programas de políticas públicas en nuestras propias comunidades de origen, tenemos importantes ideas y perspectivas que pueden lograr que los próximos programas y leyes que se implementen a futuro sean más efectivas.

Written by Claire Weston, Program Associate

Posted on October 17, 2019

Have you bought your ticket to LA yet? This year’s National Brownfields Conference (NBC) is shaping up to be informative, impactful, and inspiring. CCLR will have a strong presence at NBC, and an incredible line-up of panels and events!  

This blog was prepared by the author in his own individual capacities. The opinions expressed in this blog are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the Center for Creative Land Recycling, its Board or its staff.  

This blog was prepared by the authors in their own individual capacities. The opinions expressed in this blog are the authors' own and do not reflect the views of the Center for Creative Land Recycling, its Board or its staff.  

Published on October 4, 2019

Guest post by Peter Trio & Robert Ungar

Modernism was meant to provide a fresh approach to the way in which we design our cities. Free from the constraints of historic precedent, design was no longer an aesthetic, it was function. With Modernism as their new tool, architects now had the ability to shape the life of those living between their walls. Suburbs sold Americans the promise of light, air, and space, but relocating required them to leave behind the community of the urban core. Austrian immigrant and architect Victor Gruen would introduce to America a cure for the social isolation caused by suburbia: the shopping mall. In 1956, the first mall of its kind opened in Southdale, Minnesota, promising community, commerce, and a palette of native California landscape. The idea spread like wildfire. By 1990, thousands of indoor shopping centers had sprouted up across the United States.  Prairies, forests, and wetlands were exchanged for asphalt parking lots and big box department stores. The need for community in suburbia was the bait for consumerism.  For the first time in history, the civic center of town would be under a privately owned roof and thus at the mercy of a capitalist system. The relationship was symbiotic, as the landlords provided a healthy tax base for the region in return for the subsidization of automobile infrastructure.

Fecha de Publicación - el septiembre de 25 del 2019

Por David Southgate

Ahora es momento para colaborar con el Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambientales de Puerto Rico (DNRA) en la creación de un inventario de Brownfields. Como proveedor de asistencia técnica para Brownfields, el Centro para el Reciclaje Creativo de Tierras (CCLR por su signas en inglés) ayudó al DNRA de Puerto Rico para diseñar una petición de propuestas cuyos objetivo fui reclutar un equipo para inventariar todos los Brownfields en los 78 municipios del país.  La mismo publicarán en la página del DNRA. En solo tres meses, el consultor autorizado de DNRA, Marlin Environmental, completó un inventario de 12 municipios: Aguadilla, Aguada, Cabo Rojo, Cayey, Cuamo, Guayama, Jayuya, Hatillo, Mayagüez, Ponce, San Germán y Yauco.

Published on September 20, 2019

By Sarah Sieloff, Executive Director, with thanks to Brahm Ahmadi and David Greensfelder for background information and their reflections

Retail is a notoriously complex component of real estate.  Boost your knowledge and demystify retail by joining CCLR for a free webinar on September 25 featuring David Greensfelder, retail expert, developer, and CCLR Board member.  Every redevelopment practitioner needs to know what questions to ask about retail, so don’t miss out – this is a unique opportunity to hear directly from an expert who regularly wrangles retail in tough redevelopment projects, including one of the toughest out there, a grocery store in a historically marginalized neighborhood.  Read on, and register here.