New “How To” Guide for Brownfield Redevelopment

Most cities have brownfield properties – vacant, abandoned, and often unsightly spots. But those properties are sometimes diamonds in the rough and can be safely transformed into private businesses, housing developments, city parks, and more.

A safe building site is truly the foundation of development, redevelopment, or expansion. With that in mind, the Kentucky Brownfield Program (KBP) created a new tool to help city officials understand how vacant, abandoned, and underutilized properties can offer a number of opportunities when addressed correctly.

Part of the challenge is rethinking how local officials view these properties and their potential, even former sites of gas stations, factories, or other spots where chemicals (or asbestos) were once present.

The Local Official’s Guide to Brownfield Redevelopment provides guidance on the redevelopment process and addresses misinformation and perceived liability where they often do not exist. The easy-to-use and succinct digital guide was created at the request of the Kentucky League of Cities to help local officials get the most out of KBP’s outstanding services and learn how to access state and federal funding and resources. 

There are a lot of properties that can be remediated or “cleaned up,” and there are steps cities can take to make these properties desirable locations for development. The Local Officials Guide to Brownfield Development outlines what local officials need to do to identify and get the ball rolling on a property and how to work through local laws, code enforcement, property owner accountability, and other key considerations. As with other projects, city officials can think about using brownfield properties through local partnerships, which the guide also covers. 

The guide is free to download, and because it is digital, it will be updated as needed. For more information on the guide or other resources, contact KBP.

Companion webinar! 

Funding and Resources for Brownfield Properties – May 1, 2024 

This webinar is for any city official who would like to learn how to address abandoned, vacant, and underutilized properties and get information about current federal and state funding sources for eligible brownfield properties. 

Kentucky Brownfield Program experts will also review the new Local Officials Guide to Brownfield Redevelopment, a “how to” guide that outlines the basics of identifying and assessing properties, resources, and ways to get started with a project. 

Presenter:
Environmental Education Specialist Kiersten M. O’Leary
Department for Environmental Protection 
Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet