Preserving Communities: Brownfield Redevelopment to Minimize Displacement & Uplift Legacy Residents

Date: Thursday, December 12^th, 2024

Watch the webinar here!

Webinar Description:

Brownfields redevelopment can bring social, economic, and public health benefits to overburdened communities experiencing historic disinvestment. At the same time, rising rents and property values from redevelopment can displace legacy residents.

In this panel, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-funded Brownfields Revitalization Anti-Displacement Strategies (BRADS) program will discuss what resources and tools are available to help local governments and community leaders minimize gentrification and displacement when redeveloping brownfield sites. BRADS will present a series of brownfields case studies on gentrification patterns of the past and showcase tools to identify relevant anti-displacement policies.

Then, the panel will highlight stories of anti-displacement and community uplift in action. Gail Montplaisir of the Taurus Development Group will talk about Salina 1st, a $15 million investment in mixed-use community development in the South Salina Street Gateway Corridor in Syracuse, NY. Syracuse’s first minority-led community development, the project will combine mixed income residential and retail space with a full-service incubator for workforce development, training, entrepreneurial support, and scaling service.

Alexander McClean of the City of East Orange will talk about his past experiences, including relevant projects in Jersey City, New Jersey and how the city is combating displacement.