The City of Greeley is excited to announce that it has been awarded $500,000 in funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Grant Program. This grant will be used to assess properties where the site’s redevelopment or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants or contaminants. The overall assessment area runs from Island Grove Regional Park to the Ash and Wake Park districts, encompassing most of the downtown area and the Cache la Poudre River corridor (see map).
Downtown sub-area map from the downtown 2032 plan update.
The funding will support the evaluation of primarily commercial and industrial sites that have potential environmental issues, including asbestos, lead-based paint and other hazardous materials. The assessment will also include evaluating potential contaminants such as petroleum hydrocarbons, heavy metals, pesticides and solvents. This comprehensive approach ensures future redevelopment projects are safe and sustainable. Additionally, other targeted areas include sites with uncertain historical uses and unimproved land that is difficult to develop. All properties included in the assessment are based on the voluntary participation of the property owner(s). The Brownfields assessment is intended for sites that are marketed for redevelopment but face potential contamination issues.
City Manager Raymond Lee III expressed his enthusiasm: “The EPA Brownfield grant empowers us to tackle significant redevelopment challenges. Our collaboration with the EPA will drive our vision for the Riverside and Railside areas, fostering growth and innovation in Greeley.”
The assessment work will be conducted by a specialized team of consultants identified through a competitive bid process, anticipated to open in fall 2024. The work will begin promptly upon vendor selection, and the city has four years to complete the project. Once the assessment is complete, the city may be eligible for further funding assistance for cleanup, job training, technical assistance and other activities that will further improve the identified properties.
Potential redevelopment plans for these sites could ultimately include new public amenities, parks, hotels, housing, commercial uses, sports facilities and multi-use trails. These projects aim to enhance the community’s quality of life and create economic opportunities.