6-Brownfield Narrative.pdf

FY24 EPA BROWNFIELD ASSESSMENT COALITION GRANT

Narrative/Ranking Criteria Hillsborough County Affordable Housing Services Brownfield Coalition Project

1. PROJECT AREA DESCRIPTION AND PLANS FOR REVITALIZATION

ii. Overview of Brownfield Challenges and Description of Target Areas. The I-4 Corridor in central Florida is the oldest interstate highway system in the state, spanning approximately 130 miles and connecting some of the largest population centers, including Tampa and Orlando. Construction of the highway began in 1958 with the aim of linking the industrial region of Port Tampa Bay with growing metropolitan areas during the postwar growth economy. The interstate was completed by the late 1960s, stimulating the development of thousands of industrial sites across the central expanse of Florida (www.planhillsborough.org/i-4-economic-corridor-study). Today, there are approximately 145,000 acres of state-designated brownfield sites and areas along the corridor, mostly located in underserved minority communities (Florida Brownfields Redevelopment Atlas). Hillsborough County has the highest concentration of brownfield sites in the corridor, where industrial growth has historically been among the highest in the state. Population of this region totals roughly 1.5 million, with approximately 25 percent minority status (mostly Black and Hispanic). Polluting industries in the area are varied but rural sectors include phosphate mining and rock processing plants as well as pesticide manufacturing and other chemical companies associated with the agricultural industry.

Brownfields in urban areas have been produced from the automotive industry, landfills, battery and metals recycling, and concrete and asphalt manufacturing, among other activities. The contaminants of concern at most sites include arsenic, lead, and PCBs, which put sensitive populations (e.g., people experiencing homelessness, residents of public housing, migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, school-aged children, and older adults) in underserved communities at great health risk and amplify poor health outcomes associated with other factors, such as heart disease and diabetes.

Hillsborough County (FL) Brownfield Coalition Project

Target Area #1: East Lake – Orient Park NRSA (with Priority Site #1, a 1.93-acre brownfield site; 3100 N 66th St, Tampa 33619; Census Tract 120.02, Block Group 3) is a 1,791/mi2 neighborhood with a population of 28,602, where 60% of households are classified as low-to-moderate income with 19% living below the federal poverty level (10% unemployment rate). The minority and Hispanic population represent 63% (compared to 49% in the county). There are 849 vacant residential units in the community, which accounts for 11% of the housing stock. There are 15 registered brownfield sites with current or past Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreements (BSRAs).

One of these is the property at 3100 N 66th Street, which represents a former Tampa maintenance yard located in a residential neighborhood. Previous land use resulted in soil and groundwater contaminated with lead, arsenic, benzene, toluene, and other contaminants. Remediation and monitoring activities took place at the site and an SRCO was issued in 2012 for commercial use. To redevelop this property into affordable housing, additional environmental site assessment (and monitoring or cleanup) is needed. The property is owned by the lead applicant, who performed all-appropriate inquiries (AAI) prior to purchase. Reuse plans include a 16-unit multi-family affordable housing development and a pop-up “soil shop” in collaboration with project partner Coalition of Community Gardeners to allow homeowners in the neighborhood to bring soil samples to test for contaminants (Pb, As) as well as nutrients (P, N, K) prior to creating a home garden.

Target Area #2: University Area NRSA (with Priority Site #2, a 2.82-acre brownfield site;

13808 N 22nd St, Tampa FL 33613; Census Tract 108.18 Block Group 3) is a 7,323/mi2 neighborhood with a population of 46,359, where 78% of households are classified as low-to-moderate income with 31% living below the federal poverty level (11% unemployment rate). The minority and Hispanic population represent 69% (compared to 49% in the county). There are 2,884 vacant residential units in the community, which accounts for 14% of the housing stock. There are five registered brownfield sites with current or past BSRAs. One of these is the property at 13808 N 22nd Street, which represents a former set of mixed-use/multi-family zoned contiguous lots adjacent to a large brownfield. Previous land use resulted in soil contaminated with arsenic and lead. Site assessment resulted in soil removal activities of select portions of the property; no off-site assessment or remediation has taken place. To redevelop this property into affordable housing, additional environmental site assessment (and monitoring or cleanup) is needed. The property is owned by the lead applicant, who performed all-appropriate inquiries (AAI) prior to purchase. Reuse plans include a 16-townhome affordable housing development with the two adjacent parcels redeveloped as a micro-health service site in collaboration with project partner Tampa Family Health Centers.

iii. Description of the Priority Brownfield Sites Site Name and Reuse (site size) Location

Target Area/ Coalition Partner

Past Land Use

Current Land Use

Potential Environmental Issues

Site 1 Housing (1.93 acres) 3100 N 66th St, Tampa FL 33619

(CT 120570120023)

East Lake - Orient Park

NRSA/

County (lead)

Industrial Vacant with propensity for trespass and vagrancy

Petroleum spill;

Near to superfund site

Site 2 Healthfield (2.82 acres) 13808 N 22nd St, Tampa 33613

(CT 120570108212)

University

NRSA /

Tampa Family Health Center

Agricultural / residential

Vacant with propensity for trespass and vagrancy; illicit dumping

Pesticides

Hillsborough County (FL) Brownfield Coalition Project

3. Catholic Directory