United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
Washington, D.C. 20460
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response(5101)
EPA500-F-99-132
June 1999
www.epa.gov/brownfields/
Brownfields Assessment
Demonstration Pilot
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Outreach and Special Projects Staff (5101)
Quick Reference Fact Sheet
EPA's Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative is designed to empower states, communities, and other
stakeholders in economic redevelopment to work together in a timely manner to prevent, assess, safely clean up, and
sustainably reuse brownfields. A brownfield is a site, or portion thereof, that has actual or perceived contamination and
an active potential for redevelopment or reuse. EPA is funding: assessment demonstration pilot programs (each funded
up to $200,000 over two years), to assess brownfields sites and to test cleanup and redevelopment models;job training
pilot programs (each funded up to $200,000 over two years), to provide training for residents of communities affected
by brownfieldstofacilitatecleanupofbrownfieldssites and preparetrainees for future employmentintheenvironmental
field; and, cleanup revolving loan fund programs (each funded up to $500,000 over five years) to capitalize loan funds
to make loans for the environmental cleanup of brownfields. These pilot programs are intended to provide EPA, states,
tribes, municipalities, and communities with useful information and strategies as they continue to seek new methods
to promote a unified approach to site assessment, environmental cleanup, and redevelopment.
BACKGROUND
EPA has selected the City of Fort Lauderdale for a
Brownfields Pilot. Atthe turn of the century, the main
economy of Fort Lauderdale (population 149,377)
was exporting agriculture to northern states. Since
the 1920s, tourism and port-related activities have
expanded and most of the city has experienced
incredible growth in finance, commerce, international
trade, and tourism. The Northwest Progresso Flagler
Heights community, however, continues to be an
exception to that growth. More than 15 percent of the
neighborhood's residents are unemployed, 94 percent
are African American, and 34 percent live below the
poverty level. The neighborhood has been designated
a state Enterprise Zone and a city community
redevelopment area.
The Pilot targets four sites comprising approximately
190 acres in Northwest Progresso Flagler Heights.
Due to its location away from the beaches and
waterfront, this neighborhood became home to the
city incinerator, a wastewater treatment plant,
industrial factories, and numerous junk yards. Often
residences are located adjacent to these operations.
The targeted sites represent a former commercial
strip mall; aportion of the former wastewater treatment
plant and the incinerator; alarge, deteriorated industrial
PILOTSNAPSHOT
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Date of Announcement:
June 1999
Amount: $200,000
Profile: The Pilot targets 190
acres in Fort Lauderdale's most
economically and environmentally
distressed area, the Northwest
Progresso Flagler Heights
neighborhood.
Contacts:
Economic Development
Department
(954)468-1535
Regional Brownfields Team
U.S. EPA - Region 4
(404) 562-8661
Visit the EPA Region 4 Brownfields web site at:
http://www.epa.gov/region4/wastepgs/brownfpgs/bf.htm
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:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/
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area containing junkyards, salvage operations, auto
repair and body shops; and a 10-acre site that includes
76,000 square feet of building space used for
warehouse, manufacturing and industrial purposes.
All of the sites are known to be contaminated.
OBJECTIVES
Redevelopment of the neighborhood is a priority for
the city, whichis building partnerships in the community,
seeking additional funding sources, and involving
community members in the planning process. The
Pilot will help the city further its brownfields program
and its efforts to involve the community, businesses,
property owners and other stakeholders in the
revitalization of the city's central core. The Pilot will
complementthe city's broader redevelopment strategy
to create needed j obs, increase the tax base, eliminate
the brownfields stigma, and prevent further
environmental degradation. The environmental
assessments provided by the Pilot represent a critical
first step in cleaning up and redeveloping this
neighborhood and bringing it up to par with the rest of
the city.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS ANDACTIVITIES
Activities planned as part of this Pilot include:
• Performing Phase I and II assessments at four
targeted sites in the project area;
• Preparing cleanup and redevelopment plans for the
four sites;
• Preparing a property inventory of other brownfields
in the project area; and
• Conducting public and community outreach to
educate, inform, and secure input from stakeholders.
The cooperative agreement for this Pilot has not yet been negotiated;
therefore, activities described in this fact sheet are subject to change.
Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot Fort Lauderdale, Florida
June 1999 EPA500-F-99-132
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