ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Regional Brownfields Coalition

Regional Brownfields Coalition

In 2019, the U.S. EPA awarded MACOG and the Regional Brownfields Coalition a grant to conduct environmental site assessments on potentially contaminated properties over the next three years. MACOG invites the public to participate by submitting sites of interest and attending public meetings to provide input on cleanup and site reuse.

Updates

Benefits of Brownfields

A brownfield is “real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.” ("Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act”, PL 107-118, 11 January 2002.) In layman’s terms, a brownfield is a property that is difficult to develop because it is contaminated or because of a perception that it may be contaminated.

If a property is not actually contaminated, assessment can remove the uncertainty and barrier to development. The cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields can put properties back to productive use and utilize existing infrastructure. Many blighted properties are located near core areas and residential neighborhoods and present opportunities for green space, affordable housing, and new jobs in close proximity to a potential workforce. The reuse of existing infrastructure is more efficient for local government budgets than expanding infrastructure to new areas.

Learn More

Request for Sites of Interest

MACOG is requesting input from communities and stakeholders on sites of interest in the region to develop and prioritize an inventory of potential brownfields in need of assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment. Examples include:

  • Abandoned industrial sites, former dry cleaners, old gas stations, vacant schools, former hospitals
  • Properties at community gateways and Main Street areas
  • Abandoned or tax delinquent properties
  • Privately owned properties where potential environmental issues are a barrier to the sale and redevelopment of the property
  • Sites identified for acquisition by local governments to satisfy due diligence requirements
Submit Sites of Interest

Upcoming and Past Meetings

MACOG encourages the public and other local stakeholders to provide input into the reuse of priority brownfields enrolled in the grant. All community engagement will be conducted without in-person meetings throughout 2020. Virtual meetings will be held for specific priority areas and sites, and there will be opportunities to participate through surveys and virtual charettes.

Inclusive Participation: Please contact MACOG if you face challenges participating online. Printed surveys can be mailed by request. If English is not your first language, ask someone to contact the MACOG office to request an interpreter or translated materials. (Si el inglés no es su primera lengua, pida a alguien que contacte a la oficina de MACOG para más información o solicitar un intérprete que le pueda asistir durante la reunión).

Upcoming Meetings: None scheduled at this time.

Survey and Upcoming Meeting Sign-Up

Ward Bakery Building Redevelopment, October 29, 2020: Meeting Recording Meeting Slides

Regional Meeting, September 22, 2020: Meeting Recording Meeting Slides

C.G. Conn Reuse, Elkhart; Part 1 - August 2021: Meeting Slides

C.G. Conn Update, Elkhart; Part 2 - December 2022: Meeting Slides FAQ Update, Feb. 2023

Policy Board Grant Update 2023 Meeting Slides

Regional Brownfields Data Portal

MACOG has expanded the South Bend Coalition Brownfields Data Portal to cover the four county region: Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall, and St. Joseph Counties.

The data portal includes:

  • Sites assessed under current and previous grants
  • Current Sites of Interest inventory
  • Historic brownfields inventories
  • Reports from grant-funded Phase I, Phase II investigations (See IDEM Virtual Filing Cabinet for all public documents for a site).
  • IDEM Brownfields Program sites (See IndianaMAP Environment/Remediation layers for the latest version)
  • Fire Insurance Maps (under development)
  • Potential sites from South Bend city directories
Go to Data Portal

Resources

For more information about the MACOG Regional Brownfields Coalition and brownfields, see the resources below: