City of Rochester – March 18, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Mayor Lovely A. Warren released details of the $200,000 Brownfields Area-Wide Planning (AWP) grant recently awarded to the City by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the “old Delco” site (Orchard-Whitney brownfield site) in the Jay and Orchard Street area.
“This grant will help us continue Rochester’s transformation by turning vacant and blighted areas into positive resources for the community,” said Mayor Warren. “Turning brownfields into viable and developable properties will help create jobs, vibrant neighborhoods and better schools. We are proud to continue our partnerships with Charles Settlement House and Charles House Neighbors in Action on this project. I would like to thank the EPA for its continued support for Rochester.”
Rochester’s status as a U.S. Department of Commerce “Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership” (IMCP) designee—which Mayor Warren obtained last year—played an important part in securing the EPA grant award. The City will look to further utilize the designation during the redevelopment feasibility study for the site.
“The funds will be used to study the feasibility and economic impact of redevelopment alternatives,” said Kathleen Washington, “This redevelopment strategy will help us leverage additional funds and interest for site redevelopment.”
Mayor Warren and City Councilmember Carla Palumbo thanked officials with the EPA for 20 years of support of the City and recognized the efforts and advocacy of Senator Charles Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congresswoman Louise Slaughter on behalf of Rochester and was joined by Acting Commissioner of the Department of Neighborhood and Business Development Kathleen Washington, Mark Gregor, Manager of the City’s Division of Environmental Quality, officials with the EPA and community members at the Orchard-Whitney site.
The Orchard-Whitney brownfield site has been home to numerous industrial entities since 1900, including Northeast Electric, Delco-General Motors and Sykes Datatronics. Demolition activities are underway at the site and are expected to conclude this summer.
“This is another piece of good news for the neighborhood,” said Scott Benjamin, President and CEO of the Charles Settlement House. “This site has great redevelopment potential and it comes at a time when the neighborhood is on an upswing. We already have new housing construction underway, lower crime rates and more resident engagement. The EPA grant is one more piece to the puzzle.”
Rochester is one of 20 communities across the country selected by the EPA to receive a Brownfields Area-Wide Planning (AWP) grant. The AWP grant program recognizes that successful, sustained community revitalization, particularly in economically distressed communities, occurs when neighborhood stakeholders, local governments and the private sector are provided resources to develop a shared plan for redevelopment and community-wide improvement.
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer said, “This federal investment is a down payment for a new, reinvigorated Jay and Orchard Street area. This is a huge shot in the arm to transform a now-dilapidated site into a springboard for new development that will move this neighborhood forward.”
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “Redeveloping brownfields sites is a proven and effective way to revitalize communities and boost the economy. These federal funds will help Rochester prepare to transform a vacant brownfield site into a property that can be redeveloped, helping the neighborhood and local economic development.”
“Clean and safe neighborhoods are important for every family in Rochester, and essential if we want to attract new businesses and residents to our area,” Rep. Louise Slaughter said. “I’m glad that the EPA has given us the resources to make our neighborhoods more livable, and I look forward to seeing progress on cleaning up abandoned properties and rebuilding this area.”
“Every region of the country from the Pacific Northwest to the deep south to the Midwest Rust Belt and New England has communities that are new AWP recipients, ranging from a community of just over 1000 people to large urban neighborhoods,” said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “The selected grantees have demonstrated a strong vision and partnership to catalyze brownfield redevelopment as a pathway to transform their communities into vibrant destinations for housing, manufacturing, and transit-oriented development.”
Two recent community-driven land use plans highlighted the significance of the Orchard-Whitney site to the revitalization in this area. These land use plans included the Lyell-Lake-State Street Corridor Brownfield Opportunity Area Revitalization Strategy and the Jay Orchard Street Neighborhood Association (JOSANA) Master Plan.
“By partnering and working together at every level of government, we are cleaning up this brownfield and turning it from a blighted area to one with potential for job creation,” said Mayor Warren. “We will continue the push and replicate this effort throughout the city.”
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