KC Filippino, Senior Water Resources Planner & Sara Kidd, Senior Regional Planner
HRPDC, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), hosted an informative two-day workshop in Hampton Roads on August 21-22, 2024, aimed at addressing the pressing issue of brownfield redevelopment. Brownfields are underutilized or abandoned properties, often former industrial or commercial sites, that may be contaminated but hold great potential for redevelopment and revitalization.
Experts provided insight and strategies for transforming these neglected properties. The workshops, attended by community leaders and local stakeholders, emphasized the environmental, economic, and community benefits of brownfield redevelopment. They explored topics such as DEQ’s technical assistance, grant opportunities like the Virginia Brownfields Restoration and Economic Redevelopment Assistance Fund (VBAF), and success stories from across Virginia.
Brownfields include a wide array of sites such as vacant warehouses, abandoned railroads, former service stations, and landfills. The VA DEQ team, led by Brownfields Coordinator Karen Weber, discussed how revitalizing these areas can lead to improved property values, neighborhood aesthetics, and new economic drivers. They stressed the importance of community engagement in the process, with support available for identifying, assessing, and planning the reuse of these sites.
A significant focus of the event was on the resources available for local governments, including grants for site assessments, remediation planning, and hazardous material removal. For example, VBAF grants offer up to $500,000 for site remediation, helping to stabilize or restore historic structures and remove hazardous materials. The workshops also introduced tools like the DEQ Open Data Portal, which allows access to vital environmental data for planning and decision-making.
The message was clear: with the right strategies, brownfield sites can be transformed from liabilities into community assets. By tapping into state resources and planning carefully, municipalities can redevelop these sites, conserving greenfields, promoting safety, and stimulating local economies.
For more information or assistance, stakeholders are encouraged to contact the VA DEQ Brownfields team, who can provide further guidance on technical assistance, grants, and site-specific strategies. The VA DEQ’s ongoing outreach underscores the importance of turning brownfields into vibrant spaces that benefit both the environment and local communities.
This month’s map shows potential brownfields redevelopment sites in Hampton Roads, utilizing data compiled by DEQ. While not an exhaustive inventory of sites, it includes superfund sites, inactive underground storage tanks, solid waste facilities, and more. The map has an interactive legend to easily toggle the visibility each type of site.
View the map below or open in a new browser tab