Reuse Possibilities for Brownfield Sites
Nearby residents and other local community members benefit when a brownfield site is transformed from an
eyesore and safety concern into a new job center, recreational facility, housing or other community amenity. Safely
reusing a brownfield site is possible when a redevelopment plan helps guide site assessment and cleanup decisions.
Often, the process of assessing and cleaning up a single brownfield site sparks community interest to identify other
sites for redevelopment!
Successful brownfield site redevelopment across the country can be described through five main categories.
Industrial (7.4%)
Residential (14.7%)
Mixed Use (16.1%)
Commercial (33.5%)
Most commonly reported reuses for brownfield sites
funded by U.S. EPA Cleanup and Revolving Loan Fund
Grants.1
Various public, private and community organizations redevelop brownfields to meet the many different needs that
exist within a community.
•	Reuse supported by a public or community organization may focus on a site with limited commercial
potential or is a priority for the neighborhood.
•	A private investor is likely more interested in a site and reuse that will provide a strong return on
investment.
Often, the goals of each party can be met through creativity and flexibility.
•	For example, a brownfield site can be reused as commercial office spaces to serve as both a corporate
headquarters and low-cost meeting space for community groups.

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What will brownfields redevelopment look like in your community?

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Green Space: Agriculture, community parks, trails, sports
fields and facilities, open space and other recreational
activities. These spaces also provide wildlife habitat and
nature conservation opportunities.
Residential: Multi-family homes,
ike apartments and condos,
single-family homes and other
residential purposes, such as
university and senior housing.
Industrial: Manufacturing buildings,
warehouse, storage and distribution
facilities, renewable energy production,
research and development parks.
Mixed Use: Combination of two or
more reuses (for example, an
apartment building with retail and
office spaces on the ground floor
next to a public park).
Commercial: Offices, retail, restaurants, and
other businesses; municipal buildings and non-
profit centers.
Your voice and neighborhood knowledge can help create better
brownfield reuse decisions. Get involved in the process!
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1 EPA grant recipients are required to report planned reuse through EPA's Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES). The percentages above are based on 6,350
grant recipient reported cleanups from 2006-2018. This data is publicly available at www.epa.gov/cleanups/cleanups-my-community
4% mA United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA 560F19182
September 2019

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