Re: SUGGESTIONS FOR THE EPA BROWNFIELDS '98 CONFERENCE?

[Warren Goldstein-Gelb <wgoldste@emerald.tufts.edu>]

cpro-brownfields@igc.org wrote:
> 
> ...but bear in mind that the community
> involvement issues are not terribly interesting or relevant to the
> developer community.  The big problems are in finding good sites,
> convincing owners to let them be developed, and structuring deals.
> 

The statement above shows preceisely why it is so important that community
involvement be thorougly infused throughout the brownfields '98 conference,
and not isolated to its own track. Brownfields programs are being subsidized
by taxpayer (ie. public, ie community) money. If developers truly are not
interested in what communities have to say, then its all the more important
for community organizations participate in forums where the developers are.
All of the stakeholders need to be talking. All of the interestes need to be
identified. 

For developers the primary issue may be about deal making, for communities
primary issues often have to do with community building and community
revitalization. Both may have a role in brownfields redevelopment. Sometimes
both may be compatible. But if the end result of massive federal and state
subsidies for brownfields redvelopment is only to promote economically
efficient real estate deals, aren't low income communities of color likely to
continue to be on the short end of the economic and environmental stick?
Community involvement in decision-making is one way to reduce the chances that
redevelopment decisions re-create some of the same kinds of economic and
environmental injustices that were created by earlier development decisions. 

****************************
Warren Goldstein-Gelb
WGoldste@tufts.edu
http://www.tufts.edu/tepc/community

Tufts University
Environment and Community Development Program
Lincoln Filene Center
Medford, MA  02155
****************************