Land Revitalization Success Stories | EPA 560-F-l 7-202
September 2017
Planning for Sustainable Brownfield Redevelopment
DISPOSITION PLANNING FOR A FORMER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
COTTONWOOD. IDAHO. EPA REGION 10
Cottonwood—similar to the surrounding Idaho County—is a rural community that wants to invigorate economic revitalization to
sustain its current population and attract new residents. Over the past 10 years, its population of residents aged 5-19 dropped
14 percent (from 251 to 217). This drop in youth population resulted in the city having to make the difficult decision to vacate the
26,000+ square-foot Prairie Elementary School. The school property includes three buildings: the existing school, a cafeteria,
and the gymnasium. While the existing school and cafeteria were closed when the school shut down, the community continues
to use the gymnasium and its two associated classrooms. The property was on the real estate market for more than four years
and received no viable purchase offers.
In early 2013, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality's (IDEQ's) Brownfields
Program assisted the community by conducting a site assessment at the property and
confirmed the presence of asbestos containing materials (ACM) and lead based paint in
the existing school and cafeteria. IDEQ estimated abatement costs of approximately
$91,000. Depending on the potential future sale and use of the building, post-abatement
restoration activities are estimated to be $94,000, making the total cost associated with
cleanup and restoration of the property to be approximately $185,000.
In November 2016, local stakeholders requested technical assistance from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Land Revitalization Team to assess market
opportunities and limitations, and evaluate viable reuse options for the school.
In March 2016, EPA's Land Revitalization Team facilitated a series of interviews with
Cottonwood community leaders and other stakeholders to develop a community vision
for the future use of the property. The Team brought a real estate technical expert to
assist community stakeholders in identifying different approaches for reusing and
repurposing the property and buildings. During the visioning process, the Team met with
more than 50 community representatives, all of whom supported the future reuse of the
school and property. Stakeholders identified their community needs as housing (senior,
retirement, assisted, and workforce), a daycare facility, workforce development training,
and a community wellness center. Additionally, all stakeholders indicated that retaining
use of the school gym for community recreational activities is a priority.
"The Land Revitalization Team's planning assistance offered the school
district an opportunity to better understand how the unused community
asset might be used for public benefit and helped the district determine a
strategy for jump-starting reuse,"
-Executive Director, Clearwater Economic Development Association, Inc.
The Land Revitalization Team conducted a best value analysis to help the community
balance the financial needs of the school district against the community-identified needs
of adding value to the community and attracting additional workforce to the area.
Technical assistance led to the development of three reuse scenarios that take into
account the community's desire to maintain use of the gym, while also allowing for the
addition of housing at the property and a career-technical education or a community
center. The Team developed a presentation that can be shared with the Cottonwood
School District to help evaluate the sale price of the property and future use options for
the school. Additionally, the project team provided renderings for all three reuse
scenarios that can be used during discussions with potential site developers. Finally, the
Team developed a building assessment for the existing school that can be shared with
interested parties to evaluate future potential reuse alternatives.
For more information, please contact Terri Griffith, EPA Region 10, qriffith.terri@epa.gov.
LEWISTON STREET
Prairie School Site Use Alternatives
Alternate 1a; New Housing / School repurposed for com
Figure 1, An alternative reuse scenario for the Former
Prairie Elementary School building and property
LESSONS LEARNED
Introducing a new project partner can
provide the necessary momentum to
engage existing partners at a higher
level.
The local stakeholders most affected by
the brownfield property can make
significant contributions toward
identifying reuse options with the greatest
potential for success.
PLANNED POST-TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE ACTIVITIES
•	IDEQ will provide assistance to address
contamination through the state's
brownfields program.
•	The Regional Economic Development
Association will work with project partners
to support the three reuse scenarios and
programming.
•	Cottonwood School Board will reconsider
the school's list price and request offers
for sale of the property.
•	The Regional Economic Development
Association will provide additional grant
funds for the project.

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