JfcL Un4 & Community devitalization BROWNFIELDS SUCCESS IN NEW ENGLAND ImiW mm UNION CROSSING 11 LAWRENCE, MA Property Details Property Address: Property Size: Former Use: Contaminants Found: Future Use: Current Owners: 50 Island Street, Lawrence, MA 5.5 acres Former foundry, cotton mill, and other commercial use Petroleum lead, chromium, arsenic, PAHs, asbestos Residential housing and mixed-use property East Island Community Works, LLC Project Partners U.S. EPA, City of Lawrence, MassDevelopment, MassDEP, MA EOHED, MA DHCD, MA Housing Investment Corp., Life Initiative, TDBank, Paul and Phyllis Fireman Charitable Foundation, Community Housing Capital, MA Housing Partnership, Federal Home Loan Bank, MA DOER, NeighborWorks America, CEDAC, Mass. Historic Commission, Boston Community Capital, NCLR, New England Foundation for the Arts, the Yepez and Sidell families Funding Details City of Lawrence Assessment Grant: $47,000 MassDevelopment Cleanup Funding: $826,870 Community Development Action Grant: $2,000,000 More Jobs Grant: $1,463,000 Mass. Dept. of Energy Resources (ARRA): $550,000 City of Lawrence (HOME and EDI): $1,313 000 Commonwealth of MA (TCAP/ARRA, HOME) $6,300,000 U.S. Small Business Administration: $200,000 Redevelopment funding: Private partners $31,000,000 Project Highlights • The project has brought 125-175 temporary construction jobs and is expected to create 200-225 new permanent jobs. • The redevelopment will provide new environmentally1 sustainable housing units and commercial/retail space. Motivation for Redevelopment: The Phase One Union Crossing property is a 240,000 square feet building that is located on a 5.5 acre complex of former textile mills within the Reviviendo Gateway Overlay and North Canal Historic District, where Smart Growth development is encouraging reinvestment in mixed-use development, affordable residential housing, and job creation to the City of Lawrence. Property History: In 1916, this former foundry site was redeveloped as a textile mill, which remained until 1950. The buildings then served as commercial space for clothing and apparel by the Southwick Clothing Company , construction, landscaping, furniture making and computer repair companies until it was purchased by East Island Community Works, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lawrence Community Works, in 2007. Project Results: Lawrence Community Works (LCW), a non- profit Community Development Corporation, completed an initial Phase I in preparation for a potential real estate transaction in July 2007, w hich was later supplemented with an EPA funded Phase I investigation, completed by the City of Lawrence, in March 2009. In April 2009, a Phase II site assessment was initiated to determine the contamination on site from historic petroleum releases from underground tanks and historic fill. The findings were that groundwater had been impacted by residual heating oil, and the soil contained PAHs and metals. The contaminants found on site are being abated as part of the overall project. LCW, the lead developer for the project, plans to construct high- quality rental units, commercial and retail space, and community facilities on the site. The housing units are designed to be energy-efficient and affordable with a variety of on-site amenities, including a child care center with a riverfront playground, and green space allowing for public access to the Merrimack River. This project is an excellent example of EPA's Liveability Principles, as it is located within walking distance of local public transit, downtown shops and services, schools, and the local hospital making life at Union Crossing more convenient to the residents of Lawrence. In order to ensure the project's success, the City of Lawrence, Community Development Department, lias directed nearly $3.5M of its Community Development Action Grant (CDAG) and More Jobs Grant funding toward the project. These grant monies, provided to the City by the State of Massachusetts, are paying for a new bridge, street improvements, parking, and other infrastructure improvements in conjunction with Union Crossing. Currently, cleanup and redevelopment of the property is on- going. Construction of that the residential units is projected to be complete in December 2011, and the commercial construction is scheduled to be complete in September 2013. Project Timeline July 2007 March 2009 December 2009 January - December 2010 June 2010- Present Initial Phase I Completed Phase I for the City Completed Phase II Completed Supplemental Investigation, Cleanup Planning Cleanup/redevelopment are ongoing February 2011 Local Contact: Lisa Kozol, Director of Real Estate Development for Lawrence Community Works • (978) 722-2618 • lkozoi@lcworks.org ------- |