Baltimore Brownfields Program: Revitalizing Communities Through Environmental Redevelopment

1. BDC’s Brownfields Program Gary Suskauer Director of the Brownfields Initiative The Baltimore Development Corporation IMLA Mid-Year Seminar, April 21, 2009

2. 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

3. BDC’s Brownfields Initiative • Provides assistance to businesses considering potentially contaminated sites. • Staff acts as an ombudsman to help overcome impediments to redevelopment.

4. 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.

5. Impact of redevelopment • 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. Assessment success story • Turning an abandoned factory into a $19 million office and housing project

11. Miller’s Court • Building is located in a neighborhood in need of redevelopment • The City is trying to spur development away from the waterfront

12. 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.

13. 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)

14. Miller’s Court: environmental issues • A fairly typical Baltimore brownfield “story” • A large underground storage tank was removed, and soil excavation was required

15. 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.

16. The greening of Miller’s Court • Section demolished for courtyard & additional light

17. 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

18. On the verge of completion • Area where tank removed now site of utility room.

19. From eyesore to asset • Revitalized space to be ready for new residents June 5, 2009.

20. For more information: Gary Suskauer Director of the Brownfields Initiative Baltimore Development Corporation 36 South Charles St., Suite 1600 Baltimore, MD 21201 410-837-9305 gsuskauer@baltimoredevelopment.com