BROWN
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Nonprofit Using Sustainable Design to Convert
a Former Gas Station into a Community Center
Sustainability Pilot Background
OREGON
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 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in Portland, Oregon with technical
assistance in sustainably redeveloping a former gas station into a community center.
The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is a nonprofit organization serving the African-
American community. Delta Sigma Theta intends to convert a former gas station
into the June Key Delta House, a community center that meets the Living Building
Challenge (a green building certification). EPA's technical assistance provided recommendations for sustainable
stormwater management and reuse, and sustainable landscape design.
June Key Delta House Project Background
Prior to the purchase of the property by Delta Sigma Theta in 1992, the property was a gas station. An environmental
assessment was conducted under EPA's Brownfields Showcase Communities Initiative in the late 1990's.
The June Key Delta House project will increase the functional area of the site and provide additional meeting space.
During redevelopment, Delta Sigma Theta intends to use recycled materials in the construction of the community
center, including recycling metal cargo containers left onsite. All redevelopment plans are designed to qualify the
June Key Delta House for Living Building Challenge certification. The Living Building Challenge outlines criteria such
as responsible site selection, net zero energy and water usage, indoor air quality, and minimization of construction
waste. To meet Living Building Standards the June Key Delta House must address sustainable design plans including
greenspace design and stormwater management.
Project Highlights
EPA's technical assistance for the project began with setting three primary goals for the design and development of the
June Key Delta House:
• Design should meet high standards of development that succeed as a teaching laboratory for water conservation
and urban ecological Sustainability;
• Design and management of the site and landscape should represent the best practices of environmental
protection; and,
• Energy and resource efficient building, site design, and operational techniques must be incorporated into the
integrated design process.
Working towards these goals, the analyses conducted with EPA's technical assistance included low impact
stormwater management, landscape design and stormwater reuse.
Stormwater Management and Reuse
EPA's technical assistance team determined that a series of stormwater management techniques, including custom
landscaping, installing a trench drain, and planting grass along sidewalks will result in the management of all potential
runoff and prevent any stormwater from reaching the sewers. EPA's technical assistance team provided plans for a
rainwater harvesting system to collect and use stormwater for irrigation and flushing toilets.
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Challenges and Lessons Learned
Onsite Residual Contamination
The City of Portland required extra analysis to show that the
stormwater management and reuse techniques would not mobilize
residual contamination.
Local Regulation
Portland's 2008 Stormwater Management Manual (SWMM)
proved to be a limiting factor for the stormwater management
recommendations due to the fact the manual does not allow for
sustainable management designs. Delta Sigma Theta will need to The June ^Delta House site tefore Development
° ,° a construction begins.
find experts to design the basins, swales and planters along
SWMM guidelines.
Availability of Materials
The Living Building Challenge has strict criteria for the type of materials that can be used for construction at the
site. For the June Key Delta House, a particular material for the electrical wiring must come from a vendor in Texas,
which exceeds the "local" requirement of the Living Building Challenge. Delta Sigma Theta and the construction
contractor can apply for a waiver from the Living Building Challenge to be able to use this particular product.
Landscape Design
The landscape design plan incorporates planted swales and water retaining cells at tree basins, and recommends
installing a rainwater retention system. In addition, the following green landscape design features were
recommended: native planting, tree planting, urban forestry, structural soil cells, porous paving and rain gardens.
Sources for Additional Information
For more information on this project, please see the full June Key Delta House technical assistance reports at:
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/reports/June_Key _Delta_final_report.pdf
http://epa.gov/brownfields/sustain_plts/reports/Rainwater_Harvesting_System_Design_8_3_09.pdf
Additionally, please see:
Delta Sigma Theta's Project Web site
http://www.dstportland.org/delta%20house%20project.htm
City of Portland, OR Web site
http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?c=44508
Regional Contact Information
For more information on the June Key Delta House project, please contact:
Mike Slater
EPA Reg ion 10
503-326-5872
slater.mike@epa.gov
&EPA
united states Nonprofit Using Sustainable Design Solid Waste EPA-560-F-09-511
Protectlon fo Convert a Former Gas Station into and Emergency October 2009
a Community Center Response (51057) www.epa.gov/brownfields
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