News Release from: City of Beaverton
BEAVERTON RECIEVES U.S. EPA BROWNFIELDS GRANT
Posted: May 8th, 2013 4:55 PM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2013-05/1786/64100/Beaverton_OR.pdf
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2013-05/1786/64100/list-of-awardees-arlfarc.pdf
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2013-05/1786/64100/Ava_Roasteria_After.jpg (The redevelopment of the former Texaco gas station and brownfield site has helped reinvigorate the surrounding area in Beaverton. Ava Roasteria is now a popular spot for both visitors and residents. To learn more about the transformation of Ava’s, visit)
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2013-05/1786/64100/Ava_Roasteria_Before.jpg (The current site of the popular Ava Roasteria in Beaverton was formerly a brownfield. The quarter-acre site was formerly a Texaco gas station and had been vacant since 2000. Ava Roasteria is now a popular spot for both visitors and residents.)
The City of Beaverton was notified today that it will receive two U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants totaling $400,000 for Phase I and II assessments on brownfield sites. A brownfield site is a portion of industrial or commercial property that is often contaminated, especially one considered for redevelopment.
This is the first grant Beaverton has pursued for EPA Brownfields resources and officially launches the city's new Brownfields Redevelopment program. The successful grant application was developed by the city's Economic Development Division in the Community and Economic Development Department.
Beaverton facilitated a Revitalization Roundtable on Feb. 14, 2013, where federal, state, and local officials converged in Beaverton for the first in a series of 100 visits across the country where brownfields redevelopment was a key topic.
In April, Representative Read toured several brownfield sites within Beaverton and discussed pending legislation and resources to help property owners remedy contamination issues to make sure employment land remains in productive use.
"Our goal in seeking these funds is to be proactive in helping business and property owners properly handle site challenges," said Mayor Denny Doyle. "This funding will help us with that effort."
The city sought Brownfields Assessment funding from EPA to redevelop vacant, idled brownfields and foster the growth of manufacturing and technology-based businesses.
The city and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) identified nine initial properties located downtown--specifically in The Round and Creekside District areas and within a new state-designed Enterprise Zone--that were contaminated from previous uses and required Phase I and Phase II assessments.
Additional former industrial properties with suspected environmental contamination have also attracted developer attention following the designation of Beaverton's industrial core as an Enterprise Zone. Beaverton supports the cleanup and revitalization of these sites, and plans to provide incentives to property owners to address brownfield challenges.
"Not only do we have a primary goal in mind of making sure employment land is preserved and maintained," said Alma Flores, economic development manager, "we also want to make sure we have a healthy, livable community that addresses land use and economic development issues equitably."
A first-tier suburb in the Portland metro area, Beaverton is working with businesses to locate and expand existing uses on brownfields, including companies in the software development, scientific and medical device manufacturing, electronics manufacturing, and food processing sectors. Brownfield revitalization will make these sites more attractive for development, boost economic development potential, increase property values and tax revenues, and protect public health and the environment.
EPA's support will help build on Beaverton's sustainability strengths, including a HUD Sustainable Communities Challenge Grant to revitalize these same Creekside District and redevelopment areas at The Round as well as a Center for Disease Control (CDC) Community Transformation Grant for a new community health clinic that will improve medical access for low-income populations.
"Beaverton has never had a brownfields program," said Amy Koski, economic development project coordinator. "We're looking forward to working with the community--business owners, property owners, residents, and local and regional partners--to develop a program that addresses the environment, equity, and economics
The city's Economic Development Division oversees the Brownfields Redevelopment program. For more information, please visit www.BeavertonOregon.gov/Brownfields.
In 2013, Beaverton was again recognized as the safest city in Oregon. Since 2007, Beaverton has been named one of the safest cities in the Northwest. In 2012, the city was awarded the Mayors' Climate Protection Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. It was one of just four cities of its size recently recognized as a "Smarter City" energy leader by the Natural Resources Defense Council and one of the 100 Best Places to Live in America by Money magazine. In addition, Beaverton was named one of the best places to raise kids by BusinessWeek magazine, an All-America City finalist, as one of the top 25 Suburbs for Retirement by Forbes.com, one of the 100 Best Walking Cities in America by Prevention magazine, the Recycler of the Year from the Association of Oregon Recyclers, a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, a Bronze Award Bicycle Friendly Community designation by the League of American Bicyclists and as one of the Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Communit
ies, the Beaverton Community Vision program was named Public Involvement Project of the Year--Best Planning Project by the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Cascade Chapter. Beaverton also enjoys one of the most diverse populations in Oregon. For more information, please visit www.BeavertonOregon.gov or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CityofBeaverton.
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