Brownfields Sustainability Pilots Sustainable Housing and Stormwater Infrastructure on a Former Gas Station and Supermarket

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Agency
Sustainable Housing and Stormwater Infrastructure
on a Former Gas Station and Supermarket
Sustainability Pilot Background
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EPA's Brownfields Sustainability Pilots provide technical assistance to assist
communities in achieving greener, more sustainable results when redeveloping
brownfields. These pilots also provide models for other communities across
the country.
EPA provided the City of Greenville, South Carolina with technical assistance
for the sustainable redevelopment of a one acre property with a former service
station and adjacent supermarket. EPA helped analyze the redevelopment plans
to incorporate green and sustainable features into a conceptual site plan. More
specifically, the technical assistance looked closely at stormwater management
strategies for the site that will promote sustainable redevelopment opportunities
elsewhere in the community.
Green Avenue Sites Background
The former service station (0.46 acres) and supermarket (0.54 acres) make up the designated land for the
redevelopment project. Both businesses began operating in the 1960s and operated until 2002. In November 2002,
the City of Greenville conducted a Phase I assessment; subsequent soil and ground water sampling occurred
in December 2006 and February 2007. The results of these assessments revealed that the properties were
contaminated with benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes, methyl-tert-butyl ether, ethylene dibromide, and
naphthalene. In 2002, nine underground storage tanks and one above ground storage tank were removed from the
site, and in 2009 the structures on the site were demolished.
The city plans to redevelop the site into workforce housing and supplement the city's stormwater infrastructure by
creating a dedicated dry pond to channel and contain excess runoff.

Project Highlights
EPA's technical assistance to the City of Greenville included the development of conceptual design considerations,
including stormwater management principles, for the development of the site. Essential components of the design
considerations included infrastructure improvements, development goals and zoning requirements, and ground water
monitoring requirements. The design considerations for the site include:
• Infiltration trenches
• Filter strips
• Pervious paving
• Rain barrels
• Solar panels
As a result of the design considerations, a site redevelopment plan was developed for the property. The plan
includes single family homes overlooking greenspace. This design provides sustainable features for the site and an
environmentally friendly property for living.
The city expects to implement the redevelopment plan once it identifies a developer to undertake the small scale
residential development plan.
Six detached, single family homes
Community gardens
Passive park with a plaza and native landscaping
Rain gardens
Bioswale

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          Challenges and Lessons Learned
          Ensuring the Preservation of
          Monitoring Wells
          The city uses 18 wells in the 0.64 acre
          property for the monitored natural
          attenuation of ground water. Since the
          housing development must not disturb
          these wells, the consultant developed a
          site plan that would account for continued
          access.
          Working with Local Ordinances and
          Stormwater Authorities                             Mjsfs rendering of f/ie MUre Green Avenue site.
          Local ordinances and inexperienced stormwater management authorities can present obstacles when
          designing for and installing sustainable stormwater management features such as bioswales and rain gardens.
          Communities undertaking sustainable redevelopment activities should be prepared to deal with regulatory and
          information hurdles.
        Sources for Additional Information
        For more information on this project, please see the full Greenville Workforce Housing project technical assistance
        report at: http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/reports/GreenAvenueSites_TechMemo_08_09.pdf

        Regional Contact Information
        For more information on the Greenville Workforce Housing project, please contact:
        Mike Norman
        EPA Region 4
        404-562-8792
        norman.michael@epa.gov
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Sustainable Housing and Stormwater
Infrastructure on a Former Gas
Station and Supermarket
Solid Waste
and Emergency
Response (5105T)
     EPA-560-F-09-506
          October 2009
www, epa.go v/bro wn fields

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