Fairfax St. Wood Treaters Site, Jacksonville, FIL
FINAL
MARCH 2013
ST. ¦
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OVERVIEW
In September 2012, the Fairfax St. Wood Treaters Site (site) was
iisted on EPA's National Priorities List of Superfund sites. The
12-acre site property, located at 2610 Fairfax Street in Jacksonville,
FL, has been vacant and abandoned since July 2010 when operator,
Wood Treaters, LLC. ceased operations at the site amid bankruptcy
proceedings.The former wood treating facility is owned by Fairfax
Land Management, Inc. Following two years of removal actions
and site investigations, EPA sponsored a reuse planning process to
gather community input, inform cleanup decisions and identify site
stewardship options.
The process brought together City of Jacksonville elected officials
and staff, residents of the Mid-Westside neighborhood and local
community development corporations to develop a reuse vision for
the site that will help guide EPA's evaluation of cleanup options and
local redevelopment efforts.
OWNERSHIP AND STEWARDSHIP
The City of Jacksonville and neighborhood stakeholders recognize
that the site presents a significant in-fill redevelopment opportunity
for the neighborhood and identified the need for a coordinated
effort in the near-term.The City is evaluating its options to help
facilitate reuse.
REUSE OPPORTUNITIES
Approximately 9-10 acres at the site may be suitable for mixed-use
redevelopment in the next 5 years. Based on analysis of surrounding
land uses, site suitability and stakeholder input received to date,
reasonably anticipated future land uses for the site are likely to
include:
•	Mixed-use with a residential component; and
•	Related, targeted open space.
The following uses are not anticipated for the site:
•	Industrial uses;
•	Open space as a single use; and
•	Single-family residential use.
Key reuse considerations, selected case studies and stewardship
considerations are highlighted on the following pages to help
coordinate cleanup and redevelopment efforts in the near-term.
Stakeholders identified the following near-term actions to
help facilitate the site's reuse and long-term stewardship:
•	Outline a process to transfer ownership of site to a new
entity;
•	Identify appropriate funding and entity to remove the
former feed mill building and concrete slabs; and
•	Develop a concept plan for mixed-use residential and
neighborhood-oriented services in coordination with the
City of Jacksonville, EPA and future site owner.
Funded by EPA Region 4 and the EPA Superfund Redevelopment Initiative

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Reuse Considerations
LAND USE CONSIDERATIONS
•	The i 2.5-acre site is one of only two vacant
parcels larger than 10 acres in the
Mid-Westside neighborhood.
•	Land uses surrounding the site primarily
include residential, public and institutional.
•	The site is located on a residential collector
street, outside of major commercial corridors
on such as Kings Road and Myrtle Avenue.
•	The site is not located within a major
industrial center.
•	There are three neighborhood parks within
112 mile of the site.
REUSE CONSIDERATIONS
The map below highlights reuse considerations to help guide ERA's evaluation of remedial approaches to buildings and slabs, final surface cover
and stormwater during the Feasibility Study.
Vt
A.	Buildings and Slab (5.5 acres)
•	Existing buildings and concrete slab
present a barrier to reuse of the site.
•	Identify appropriate entity and
funding to remove buildings and slab.
B.	Flexible Mixed-Use Zone
(9.5 acres)
•	Reuse goals indicate need for large
contiguous area with street frontage.
•	Consider final surface cover that
provides flexibility to accommodate
new structures, utilities, open space
and parking.
C.	On Site Stormwater
Management (2.5 acres)
•	Existing site drainage channels and
retention facilities will need to be
reconfigured to support the site's
remedy and future uses.
•	If feasible, consider locating
stormwater retention facility in
northwestern corner of site.
Existing Stormwater Retention Ponds
Existing Buildings
(former feed mill, office building)
Former Process Area
(wood treating operations, drip pad)
Fairfax St.WoodTreaters Site
'Fairfax Site
Edward Waters
College
Key
Residential Land Use
Institutional Land Use
0 Public Use
•5^ Fairfax Site
J Schools
On-site
Retentic
W 19th Street
"~ ¦
C
3	,
03
£ "
-	I
C
CD	*
Susie Tolbert	l
Elementary School
Note: This map is intended for planning purposes only;
all boundaries and locations are approximate.
Former
Process
Area

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Reuse Options
REUSE GOALS AND PRINCIPLES
Stakeholder input clarified a set of priority future uses for the site, along with guiding principles that can help to inform cleanup
and redevelopment efforts.
Reuse Principles
•	Consider uses that are compatible with surrounding neighborhoods
and schools and provide long-term benefits, such as income and
basic services, to the community.
•	Consider multiple uses (such as small businesses) instead of a single
user at the site to meet multiple community needs and diversify the
local economy.
•	Ensure that new buildings are appropriately scaled to the
neighborhood.
•	Integrate open space, walking trails and sustainable stormwater
management principles into site design.
CASE STUDY EXAMPLES
The two case studies below provide examples of successful Superfund site redevelopment efforts featuring neighborhood-
oriented services and mixed-use development that may be possible at the Fairfax St.Wood Treaters site once cleanup is
complete.
JACOBSVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD - EVANSVILLE, IN
In Evansvilie, Indiana, residents of the Jacobsville Neighborhood, EPA, city
officials and a non-profit housing corporation have worked collaboratively to
address soil contamination and return several formerly contaminated and vacant
properties to community uses.
EPA coordinated remedial efforts to align the cleanup of two vacant lots in the
Jacobsville neighborhood with ECHO Housing Corporation's efforts to establish
model, multi-family affordable housing in the neighborhood. With funding from
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, ECHO acquired two lots and
built a 26-unit residential building for homeless and disabled military veterans.
EPA has also worked with several community churches and residents of the Jacobsville neighborhood to establish community
gardens on remediated properties within the Jacobsville Neighborhood site.
MCGILLIS & GIBBS / BELL LUMBER & POLE COMPANY -
NEW BRIGHTON, MN
Through close collaboration between the City of New Brighton, the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency and EPA, the MacGillis & Gibbs / Bell Lumber & Pole
Company Superfund site has been cleaned up and redeveloped into one of the
leading examples of mixed-use Superfund redevelopment in the nation.
In 1997, the City, along with state and federal agencies, successfully negotiated a
Prospective Purchaser Agreement to resolve the City's liability concerns about
obtaining the property. Soon after, the City acquired the property through use
of eminent domain.This enabled the site's cleanup and redevelopment to move
forward, resulting in the 32-acre New Brighton Corporate Park ill.Today, the redevelopment includes manufacturing and
distribution businesses as well as 70,000+ square feet of commercial office space, a range of retail shops and restaurants, legal
and medical services, a post office, and a 120-unit condominium development.
Priority Uses
•	Mixed-use space to support small businesses
•	Grocery store
•	Banking services
•	Health Clinic/Pharmacy
•	Senior housing center
•	Police stop station

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STEWARDSHIP OPTIONS
REMEDIAL TIMELINE
Successful redevelopment of the site will require a viable
party to step forward, take ownership of the site and oversee
redevelopment. Several potential stewardship options are
highlighted below that outline a range of development capacity
and local land use control considerations.
Current Ownership
•	Limited local site control (property owner unresponsive to
the needs of the community)
•	Limited development capacity to further community goals
Municipal Ownership (City of Jacksonville)
•	Local site control to further community goals
•	Development capacity, long-term ownership options and
financial resources limited to public uses and infrastructure
Community Development Corporation
•	Local site control to further community goals
•	Development capacity to oversee redevelopment
•	Access to grants and resources to implement site
improvements
Private Developer
•	Future use and development priorities subject to market
considerations that may not align with community goals
•	Development capacity to oversee redevelopment
OWNERSHIP TRANSFER PROCESS
The City of Jacksonville, while not well-positioned to maintain
ownership of the site over the long-term, could potentially take
interim ownership of the site to help facilitate redevelopment.
A potential process for ownership transfer could include the
following steps:
•	City's Office of the Mayor identifies appropriate City offices
to evaluate ownership acquisition and transfer options and
proposes approach for consideration by City Council.
•	City Council approves acquistion of property through tax-
foreclosure or other appropriate mechanisms consistent
with CERCLA liability protections.
•	City takes title to property, as an interim owner.
•	In coordination with EPA and appropriate local agencies,
City develops criteria for disposition, redevelopment and
long-term stewardship of property.
•	City solicits redevelopment proposals from qualified
prospective purchasers such as community development
corporations, private developers or other entities.
•	Qualified bidders propose redevelopment concepts and
long-term stewardship plans for the site and future uses.
•	City selects bidder to oversee redevelopment and transfers
the property to the new owner.
Fall 2012: Site Listed on NFL
(eligible for additional federal cleanup funding)
2012-2013: Feasibility Study
(evaluation of cleanup options)
2014:	Record of Decision
(description of remedial approach)
Remedial Design (engineering and design)
2015-2016: Remedial Action
(completed cleanup of site)
LIABILITY PROTECTIONS
As the City of Jacksonville, community development corporations
and private sector entities continue to evaluate ownership and
redevelopment options for the site, addressing the potential liability
concerns of prospective purchasers and partners will be an important
step in the process.The 2002 Brownfield Amendments to the
Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability
Act (CERCLA) provided important liability protections to landowners
at Superfund sites who meet certain statutory criteria and comply with
ongoing obligations at a site.
Bona Fide Prospective Purchasers (BFPPs) -
CERCLA Sections 101(40) and I07(R)(I)
In order to be considered a BFPP under the CERCLA a prospective
purchaser would need to ensure it meets the statute's requirements. A
BFPP must also satisfy the criteria discussed in the "common elements"
guidance, which includes I) performing "all appropriate inquiries" prior
to acquiring the property, 2) demonstrating "no affiliation" with a liable
party and 3) satisfying ongoing long-term stewardship obligations.
For additional information on BFPP liability protections, see:
www.epa.gov/oecaerth/cleanup/revitalization/bfpp.html
Local Governments and Involuntary Acquisition -
CERCLA Sections I0I(20)(D) and 101 (35)(A)(ii)
CERCLA provides liability protection to state and local governments
who acquire property by virtue of their function as a sovereign.This
protection is known as the "involuntary acquisition" exemption and
includes the following types of property transactions that lead to local
government ownership: bankruptcy; tax-delinquency or tax-foreclosure;
abandonment; or other circumstances in which the government entity
involuntarily acquires title.
For additional information on liability protections for local governments,
see:
www.epa.gov/oecaerth/cleanup/revitalization/local-acquis.html
www.epa.gov/oecaerth/resources/publications/cleanup/brownfields/local-
gov-liab-acq-fs-rev.pdf
Note. This information is for reference and does not constitute legal advice.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For additional information on reuse planning or cleanup at the Fairfax
St. Wood Treaters, please contact:
Cathy Amoroso, Remedial Project Manager, EPA Region 4
(amoroso.cathy@epa.gov / 404-562-8637)
Reuse Framework Prepared by Skeo Solutions
Funded by EPA Region 4 and the EPA Superfund Redevelopment Initiative

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