By Derrick L. Coley
June 23, 2003

Conference President Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced the release of "Recycling America's Land: A National Report on Brownfields Redevelopment, Volume IV". The survey found that 153 cities successfully redeveloping 922 sites, totaling 10,594 acres. Also 45 cities have generated $90 million in tax revenue, with 74 cities creating more than 83,000 jobs on former brownfields sites. Yet, the potential for job and tax revenue creation is far greater. Menino said, "Redeveloping brownfields holds tremendous economic potential for our cities and our nation." He continued, "Congress should respond to mayors and increase funding for assessment and clean-up to help stimulate hundreds of thousands of new jobs and potentially billions of dollars in new revenues, at a crucial time for the economies of our cities." This is the fourth report that the Conference has compiled documenting brownfields and redevelopment work around the country. Brownfields are parcels of land, whose reuse may be hindered by real or perceived environmental contamination.

Several mayors joined Menino at a press conference following the release. Conference Vice-President Hempstead (NY) Mayor James A. Garner stated, "Brownfields redevelopment will continue to be an integral part of the Conference's overarching mission to realize smart growth because my agenda will include sustainable development and part of that is the reuse of land and existing infrastructure." Conference Advisory Board Chair Akron Mayor Donald Plusquellic said, "The ongoing brownfields redevelopment work in Akron has removed the eyesores of abandoned buildings in communities, contributing to more public involvement and sense of vision." Elizabeth (NJ) Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, who co-Chairs the Conference's Brownfields Task Force said, "Brownfields redevelopment is the key to smart growth and by recycling brownfield sites, we ease development pressures on farmland and neighboring communities." Miami Mayor Manuel Diaz and Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf continued, "Brownfields redevelopment in has allowed us to realize several projects from mixed-use development to needed commercial and retail space and creating museums for the arts."

The complete report can be accessed online at usmayors.org.