Elevating Hope and Housing Above the Floodplain Developing the Reuse Vision for Barbosa 211 Site in San Juan, Puerto Rico Project Summary Community: Barbosa, San Juan, Puerto Rico Technical Assistance: Reuse Plan Former Use: Vacant Government Property Future Use: Affordable Housing The Barbosa 211 site is located nearby the Cafio Sur Martin Pena Canal in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The canal is an important waterway connecting the Laguna San Jose and the Bay of San Juan. Informal settlements of various communities developed over the decades on the shores of the canal but have faced severe flooding events and vulnerabilities related to their lack of land tenure. The canal is being dredged to restore accessibility of the waterway and many communities will be asked to relocate to other parts of the neighborhood. The municipality of San Juan provided the Barbosa 211 site to the Cano Martin Pena Community Land Trust to use for new community housing. The Community's Challenge The Land Trust has a significant job of planning and constructing new housing options for residents while also leading the community engagement efforts to the neighborhood as infrastructure projects begin. The Barbosa 211 site was once used as a U.S. General Administration Services site. Now, approximately 8 acres of buildings and land are vacant. The site offers an opportunity to provide safe and affordable housing to the community, but the Land Trust must balance community desires with enough density to meet the housing needs. EPA's Land Revitalization Technical Assistance In 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Land Revitalization Program provided contractor technical assistance to identify conceptual reuse options for the 211 Barbosa site. The team conducted two site visits and a community listening session to guide the reuse planning and design process to match community housing norms and desires. Many community members noted they prefer lower-density housing options that allow for aging in place, provide open space for gardens, and have ample parking for multiple personal vehicles. There was also support for a public shared open space and community center that would act as the central hub of the proposed neighborhood. The final plan provides several density and typology options for the site that the Land Trust can further discuss with the community and determine the right fit. 15 Bm Unas •Pall980B S(.) Hew Ham 62 axes <2 slcres win garage) IXotews 30 aits ;2 staes 333501 Mullfaniy Prawns ?8 urns ;4 slcneswin pMLn UNITCOUNT ITOuiHb Preferred site plan provides a mix of single family, duplex, and multifamily housing options. Example of the layout of a proposed two-story duplex. For more information, contact Yocasta DeJesus, EPA Region 2 Brownfields Program, at DeJesus.Yocasta@epa.gov or Sadira Robles, EPA Region 2 Land Revitalization Project Manager at Robles.Sadira@epa.gov. United States Environmental Protection M % Agency Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization 560-F-23-312 ------- |