"Brownfield" is a term that is used to describe
the approximate 450,000 former industrial and commercial sites throughout
the United States that have been abandoned and are contaminated from
industry. This is an integral part of the Smart Growth initiative. The
pollution of these sites prohibits their use without substantial clean
up and remediation. These areas present environmental and economic problems
for the areas in which they are located. Brownfield sites are ugly,
they reduce the property value of an area, and they encourage people
to leave the cities and migrate elsewhere.
When brownfield sites are cleaned up and returned to
use, tax revenue is increased, jobs are created, the environmental impact
of the site is lessened, and the unsightly property is made more attractive.
The Brownfield initiative encourages developers to build in abandoned
sites instead of attempting to develop open space.
In Lehigh and Northampton counties, the Lehigh Valley
Land Recycling Initiative (LVLRI) is responsible for identifying and
categorizing brownfield sites as well as helping municipalities and
private investors obtain federal and state grants for the cleanup of
brownfield sites. The Bethlehem Steel site in south Bethlehem is the
largest brownfield site in the Lehigh River watershed. It is currently
in the process of being cleaned up and redeveloped. There are approximately
16 brownfield sites in the watershed that are available for redevelopment.
By reinvesting in these areas, investors would be helping to restore
economic vitality to the area and maintaining the historic character
of many towns throughout the Lehigh Valley. Furthermore, renewed interest
in downtown areas, where many brownfield sites exist, will maintain
the historic character of the region and encourage people to remain
in cities when they may have otherwise chosen to move away.
