SUCCESSFUL BROWNFIELD AREA-WIDE PLANNING PROPOSAL

Last year, EPA selected the City of New Bern as a Brownfields Area-Wide Planning Pilot Program recipient. New Bern is targeting the Five Points neighborhood, an area adjacent to the city’s downtown historic district. The area is home to 7,726 people. Once a vibrant area of residential and commercial activities, Five Points has experienced years of disinvestment, and many properties have been abandoned.  More than 30 percent of residents live below the poverty level. The Five Points neighborhood contains at least 39 brownfields, including abandoned gas stations, former dry cleaners, and many underutilized buildings.

More than 30 percent of the retail space is vacant. The area-wide plan for the Five Points neighborhood will identify best uses for brownfields based on environmental data and community input, and assess current infrastructure needs to support reuse. Development of the plan is expected to facilitate community involvement in brownfields assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment, connect brownfields reuse to new job opportunities, and increase transit opportunities for the community.

If you're looking to apply for an Area-Wide Grant, this proposal may help you understand what EPA is looking for.  To view this successful proposal, click <HERE>.