Author(s)

S Ellen Walkowiak

Abstract

Brownfields redevelopment is driven by a desire to increase the tax base, create jobs and improve the quality of life for community residents. These goals are often met. Success is evident based on the new investment and improvements made relative to initial blighted conditions. However, are community redevelopment expectations high enough? This presentation will explore how communities can build on their brownfields redevelopment expertise to generate higher quality projects. Communities will be challenged to examine their expectations. They will be invited to develop a new approach that creates economic, environmental, political, social and cultural value by becoming attuned to the spirituality of time and place, the interconnectivity of resources, and the multipurpose functions the landscape can serve. It is intended that the brownfield redevelopment projects of the 21st century will not be viewed merely as independent real estate transactions, but as meaningful community investments that will enhance an area's overall capacity to meet its lifelong needs. 1 Introduction Within the last several years, the redevelopment of brownfields has shifted from an emphasis on environmental remediation to addressing the overall real estate development challenge. Cleanup costs are only one

Keywords