Redeveloping brownfields improves public health by cleaning up contamination, turns former blight into new opportunity, saves undisturbed land from development, and more. Get inspired by browsing our brownfield success stories below!
We are working with the Grays Harbor Historical Seaport Authority to clean up the Weyerhaeuser Sawmill Aberdeen site to create a local and regional recreation and tourism destination and a homeport for the Lady Washington tall ship. Read the full story.
Formerly a railyard, Kendall Yards is now a vibrant addition to Spokane, with small businesses, restaurants, public art, and housing, all in a walkable setting with spectacular views of the Spokane River below. Read the full story.
When Kittitas Valley Fire and Rescue needed a new home for their District Headquarters, they used an Integrated Planning Grant from Ecology and a local bond to clean up petroleum contamination at the Mackner Transport property and build a state-of-the-art facility in an ideal location to serve Ellensburg. Read the full story.
The Palouse Producers site had been abandoned for years. Former Mayor Michael Echanove explains how the town turned the site around through positive local leadership, a supportive community, and help from Ecology and other organizations. Watch the video.
By leveraging government, tribal, and community partnerships and federal and state grants, the Northern State Multi Service Center cleanup site is transforming into the Sedro-Woolley Innovation for Tomorrow Center, a mixed-use campus focused on technology and innovation. Read the full story.
Why redevelop brownfields?
When communities clean up and redevelop brownfields properties, they can:
- Stimulate a community's economy, create more jobs, and increase local tax base.
- Provide healthy sites for community priorities such as affordable housing.
- Turn their community's perceived problem into an asset and improve their image.
- Enable efficient land use and minimize the construction of new service infrastructure.
- Facilitate the resolution of environmental justice issues.
- Protect human and environmental health, and mitigate public health and safety concerns.
- Provide opportunities for habitat restoration, parks, or other public spaces.