Brownfields Newsgroup Introduction 6/7/99

[Tony Chenhansa <tonyc@cpeo.org>]

Original Message 
Subject: Re: Romance & Brownfields Newsgroup Introductions
Date: Sun, 6 Jun 1999 20:51:27 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Allison J. Tom" <atom@scf-fs.usc.edu>
To: Tony Chenhansa <tonyc@cpeo.org>

Hi Tony-

This is a very late introduction. I've been super busy with school, I
forgot to do it.  I've been on the brownfields newsgroup since I met you
at the BF'98 conference in LA.  

I am a doctoral student at the University of Southern California,
working
on my professional doctorate in planning and real estate development. 
My
emphasis has been on economic development and finance.  I also work as a
commercial finance lender with a not-for-profit community development
financial institution, the Los Angeles LDC.  We manage federal EDA and
HUD
revolving loan funds on behalf of the City of Los Angeles and private
bank
funds invested by 38 banks.  

I'm interested in how the redeveloment and reuse of brownfields can
serve
as catalysts to broader community development for low income and
communities of color. I'm especially interested in how community -based
organizations can play a role in the redevelopment of the brownfields,
the
creation of "good" jobs with career ladders, and wealth creation for low
income residents.

In my professional role, my organization has lent money on brownfields,
specifically to help a developer with the remediation of a former
plastics
manufacturing facility.  i'm currently working with a businessman who
bought a closed gas station and wants to clean it up, remove the USTs
and
rebuild a new station.

I think that's it for now. Sorry I went on too long.  Thanks for doing
such a great job w/the newsgroup and keeping us informed and
communicating w/each other.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Allison J. Tom                                         atom@scf.usc.edu
   
Doctoral Program in Planning and Development Studies   (213)362-9115wk
School of Policy, Planning, and Development            (213)362-9119fx
University of Southern California (USC)                (310)664-0325hm