u o Assessment Pi Lakewood'DevelopmentCorporation, NJ BACKGROUND EPA has selected Lakewood Township for a Brownfields Assessment Pilot. Lakewood Township is located in east central New Jersey, approximately 30 miles east of Trenton. Under the Pilot, the township plans to integrate all brownfield sites into the township's master economic redevelopment plan. Historically, the township' s economy focused on diverse businesses, including iron works and poultry farming. Currently, many brownfield sites are a barrier to redevelopment efforts within the local Urban Enterprise Zone. Preliminary studies estimate that more than 25 acres of brownfields exist at nine locations throughout the township, with approximately half of this acreage in the downtown area. Public perception of contamination at these sites inhibits redevelopment within the township and encourages development of outlying greenspace. Approximately 16 percent of the township' s total population of 60,352 live belowthe poverty level, and 21 percent are minorities. In addition, forover20percentofthepopulation, English is a second language. Although it is ranked among New Jersey's most economically distressed local jurisdictions, the township is a growing community with redevelopment underway in several quarters. However, a chronic stumbling block to this renewal has been the presence of brownfields, especially in the downtown area. OBJECTIVES The township' s obj ective is to incorporate brownfield sites into the township's redevelopment strategies and to reuse these sites in ways that create employment and enhance economic growth. To accomplish this objective, the Pilot will inventory brownfields and establish an all-volunteer brownfields task force to collaborate on site selection, plan community involvement activities, and initiate plans and designs for site response. PILOT SNAPSHOT Lakewood Development Corporation, New Jersey Date of Announcement: May 2002 Amount: $200,000 Profile: The Pilot targets brownfields throughout the 24 square miles of Lakewood Township for integration into the township's master redevelopmentplan. Contacts: Lakewood Development Corporation (732) 364-2500, ext. 5256 Regional Brownfields Team U.S. EPA Region 2 (212)6374314 Visit the EPA Region 2 Brownfields web site at: http://www.epa.gov/region02/superfund/brownfields/ For further information, including specific Pilot contacts, additional Pilot information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the EPA Brownfields web site at: www.epa.gov/brownfields ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES Activities planned as part of the Pilot include: • Establishing a brownfields task force to engage in site selection for the Pilot; • Conducting public involvement activities to involve the community in site selection; ------- • Preparing an inventory of brownfield sites through the use of existing county, local, and community documentation; and • Performing preliminary assessments, site inspections, and site characterizations. The cooperative agreement forthis Pilot has notyetbeen negotiated; therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change. Solid Waste EPA 500-F-02-071 and Emergency May 2002 Response (5105) www.epa.gov/brownfields/ ------- |