The Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR) has been awarded a grant by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide technical assistance to brownfields-impacted communities. CCLR seeks to augment team capabilities with contractor expertise that reflects services that can be delivered virtually in this covid environment or adds new dimensions or talents to our existing contractor pool.

17 de marzo de 2020
Por David Southgate, M.P.A.

A raíz de las tormentas y de otros desastres naturales, las islas de todo el mundo están trabajando para integrar medidas para aumentar la resiliencia y combatir la dependencia en las importaciones de alimentos, energía y otros suministros básicos de supervivencia. Los desafíos del cambio climático están perturbando la actividad económica, dañando la infraestructura crítica y deteniendo los servicios esenciales, especialmente en las islas.

Report on Second Climate Strong Islands Dialogue

In the wake of destructive climate storms and natural disasters, islands across the world are working towards integrating measures to build resilience and combat a dependency on imports of food, energy, and other basic life-sustaining supplies. The challenges of climate change are disrupting economic activity, damaging critical infrastructure and halting critical services, especially on islands.

17 de marzo de 2020
Por Yelena Tolstopyatova, Gerente de Programas y Operaciones, CCLR 

Entre el COVID-19 y los terremotos, el 2020 tuvo un comienzo inusual por no decir otra cosa. El año pasado, el equipo de asesores ejecutivos de CCLR en Puerto Rico, David Southgate y Sonia Cosme, estuvieron promoviendo oportunidades de revitalización de la tierra con el Programa de Evaluaciones de Brownfields (TBA, por sus siglas en inglés) de la EPA. Bajo el TBA, la EPA contrata, paga y dirige a expertos ambientales que completan las Fases I y II de las evaluaciones ambientales de posibles brownfields. En 2019, ayudamos a Rescate Playa Borinquen, The Americas for Conservation + Arts y otras organizaciones a lo largo de Puerto Rico a eliminar el estigma de los obstáculos ambientales para sus proyectos de desarrollo comunitario en sitios de la misma comunidad.  

CCLR’s Puerto Rico team makes a difference

Between the Coronavirus and the earthquakes, 2020 is off to an unusual start to say the least! Last year, CCLR’s Puerto Rico team of Senior Advisors, David Southgate and Sonia Cosme, continued to evangelize opportunities for land revitalization with EPA’s Targeted Brownfields Assessments program (TBA). Under TBA, EPA hires, pays for and manages environmental experts who complete Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments for suspected brownfields.  In 2019, we helped Rescate Playa Borrinquen, The Americas for Conservation + Arts and other organizations across Puerto Rico to remove the stigma of environmental obstacles for their site-based community development projects.

Written by Claire Weston, Program Associate

Posted March 20, 2020 

How do we work together to build a better, stronger Virgin Islands? Dr. Clanicia Pelle from the VI Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) and Schenine Mitchell from the U.S. EPA grapple with this question on a daily basis. Ahead of the *It Takes a Village: Working Together for Revitalization Summit, organized by the U.S. EPA, Center for Creative Land Recycling, and VI DPNR, I took some time to speak with these experienced practitioners to learn more about the VI’s unique redevelopment challenges, the strides they’ve made thus far, and what’s next in land reuse and community development.

*Due to the developing health crisis, this event has been postponed. A replacement date is being considered.

Written by Claire Weston, Program Associate

Posted on February 13, 2020

There’s always a flurry of activity at CCLR and we want to make sure we’re keeping you current with CCLR’s activities. For years, CCLR has internally shared a list of five noteworthy bits of info or updates every Friday to help keep our bicoastal staff and Board current and informed. In 2020, we’ll be sharing the juiciest info bits with you! Check out our first CCLR Noteworthy News and stay tuned for more!

Written by Sarah Sieloff, Executive Director

Posted on January 22, 2020

At the National Brownfields Training Conference in December, CCLR honored three outstanding brownfield redevelopment practitioners with National Brownfields Leadership Awards. For many years, these awards have recognized land reuse luminaries who have made significant contributions to our field. Given only every two years at the National Brownfields Conference, the National Brownfields Leadership Awards honor practitioners who have distinguished themselves as problem solvers and innovators, and whose work is helping make the built environment more livable, sustainable and equitable.  

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 Brownfields 2019! 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.