The strategy of the Cuyahoga County Department of Development, Brownfield Redevelopment Division is to provide assistance and expertise in returning brownfield sites to viable community and economic assets in the near future and protect the County’s remaining open spaces. The Brownfield Redevelopment Division works to achieve the following objectives:
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Create and Retain Jobs
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Generate New Sources of Revenue for the County, Schools, and Local Governments
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Encourage and “Jump-Start” Brownfield Redevelopment
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Promote the Cuyahoga County Greenspace Plan
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Protect County Residents and the Environment
Cuyahoga County is the largest county in the State of Ohio with over 1.3 million residents; 444,313 persons reside in the city of Cleveland. A 1996 USEPA-funded study was completed by the
Cleveland State University Great Lakes Environmental Finance Center
, which indicated there were approximately 4,623 acres of brownfields in Cuyahoga County with the majority of that land located in the City of Cleveland and its surrounding inner ring suburbs. Cleveland, alone, has approximately 350 brownfields and an estimated 1,000 to 2,000 condemned structures. Additionally, the Cuyahoga County Planning Commission found that 40,000 acres, or 14%, of the County’s land, has at some time been devoted to an industry that has historically been known to be a higher risk for environmental contamination. Many of the brownfields that do exist in the County are quite sizable, blighted, obsolete, and/or have no prospect of redevelopment without public support and intervention because of the environmental and financial risks and liabilities inherent in their redevelopment.
Land use statistics generated by the County’s Planning Commission reveal that very little undeveloped land remains in Cuyahoga County. Nearly 95% of available land has been developed at least once. At some point during this decade, Cuyahoga County will become the first fully developed county in the State of Ohio. If Cuyahoga County is to continue to sustain viable neighborhoods, healthy commercial areas, and employment opportunities for its citizens, it must find the resources to address the environmental issues that accompany land reuse. Clearly, brownfields assessment and cleanup are key components in this endeavor.
Accomplishments
The Brownfield Redevelopment Division has been working hard to achieve the desired program outcomes. Highlights of the accomplishments and activities of the Brownfield Redevelopment Division over the past year are summarized below.
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The Cuyahoga County Brownfield Program Public Education Video,
Taking a Lead in Brownfield Redevelopment
, won a 2007 NACo Achievement Award for Civic Education and Public Information.
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The County has appropriated $17.2 million in Brownfield Redevelopment Funds for 25 projects. The Return on Investment, which is generated from income, property and sales taxes, is projected to exceed $30 million
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The County has provided Community Assessment Initiative funding to 45 projects.
Partners
The Northcoast Brownfield Coalition
The Northcoast Brownfield Coalition (NBC) is a unique partnership between the Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners, the City of Cleveland, the Cleveland-Cuyahoga Port Authority and the Northeast Ohio First Suburbs Consortium. The coalition was formed to build a strong alliance and focus limited resources on brownfield redevelopment in Cuyahoga County. Because of this partnership, the NBC can apply for larger federal grants that may be more successful in attracting redevelopment funds to the region than if the partners acted alone.
The City of Cleveland Department of Economic Development, First Suburb communities and other development partners will refer potential projects for consideration. The formation of the coalition has laid the foundation for a collaborative approach in returning brownfield sites to viable community and economic assets in the near future. The Cuyahoga County Department of Development looks forward to the NBC’s future success.
The Health and Development Team
The Cuyahoga County Department of Development Brownfield Redevelopment Division has joined efforts with the City of East Cleveland, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health, and the Ohio State University Extension Office to promote the sustained revitalization of East Cleveland through healthy land use development and design by empowering residents, community leaders and partnering organizations to promote health, as well as environmental, economic and social well-being. In assistance with this mission, the Brownfield Redevelopment Division will provide expertise and funding for the assessment and revitalization of vacant and abandoned property in East Cleveland.
