A brownfield, as defined by the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), “is a property the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.”  Brownfields are often abandoned or underutilized sites due to the presence of contamination or suspected contamination. 

Brownfields have a direct impact on the economy of cities and states. The presence of brownfields:  

• decreases the tax base,  
• lowers property values on adjacent properties,
• increases crime and blight,
• eliminates jobs, and  
• weakens the K-12 education system by encouraging residents to move to neighboring communities. 

Once brownfields are reused, revitalized, and remediated, the local community experiences:

• elimination of unacceptable risk from environmental contamination,
• rejuvenated tax base,
• economic development including housing, businesses and greenspace,
• job creation,
• reduction in crime and blight related issues.

BSEED-Environmental Affairs (EA) has facilitated many redevelopment projects, such as clean-up activities located along the Detroit Riverfront.  

Some recent revitalization projects include;  

• The Brooke on Bagley  
• Meijer Rivertown Market
• AB Ford Community Center
• Riverside Park  

Brownfield redevelopment is accomplished through collaboration, partnerships, compliance assistance and mechanisms of enforcement. BSEED-EA actively collaborates with the EPA and the Michigan Department of Environmental, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), Brownfield Redevelopment Programs  as well as other city departments, private entities and local agencies. EA has procured millions of dollars for brownfield assessment and clean-up through EPA and EGLE.

Recent Brownfield activity funded by USEPA or EGLE includes the following:

• FY24 USEPA Community-Wide Assessment (CWA) Grant for $500,000 Targeting commercial corridors in Campau/Banglatown, and Corktown/North Corktown. More information on this grant can be found at FY24 USEPA CWA Grant 
• FY19 USEPA Community-Wide Assessment (CWA) Grant for $300,000 targeting commercial corridors in Campau/Banglatown, Islandview/Greater Villages, and Jefferson Chalmers.
  • Through this assessment grant, the City of Detroit BSEED-EA assessed fourteen properties. These activities included Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, cleanup planning, and development of a brownfield inventory. At closeout in December 2022, outcomes of the grant included: 6 housing projects, a mixed-use development, and a cultural center. The City and its consultant built a searchable database with customizable queries where site history, reports, and other brownfield data are stored. The database will be expanded as new brownfield sites are identified. The brownfield inventory assists with management, tracking, reporting, prioritizing and marketing of brownfields throughout the City of Detroit.  
• FY15 USEPA Site Specific Assessment grant for $350,000 and a FY19 Cleanup grant for $436,742 to assess and cleanup Riverside Park.
  • These funds were used to remove contaminated soil on parcel 3 of the park making it safe for public use. This in turn has allowed the Detroit General Services Department to re-open, expand and redevelop the park into a state-of-the-art recreational asset for all Detroiters!

Additional Brownfield Programs

• Since 2022 Environmental Affairs (EA) has worked with EPA on 5 TBA projects.
• EA has managed a number of EGLE Brownfield grants since 2018 totaling over $4 Millon and revitalizing neighborhoods across the city. Five projects are currently underway.
• EGLE Brownfield Site Assessment program--a total of eighteen projects have been assessed through the EGLE program since 2018.

Questions? contact us!

Anita Harrington: [email protected] or (313) 628-2459

Riverside Park 2017 (Before)

Riverside Park 2022 (After)