Maplewood Mall brownfield development

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Maplewood mall will cover toxic ground 

By Sara Shipley 
St. Louis Post-Dispatch 
August 15, 2004 

Two new restaurants will open in Maplewood next summer atop a pool of
toxic  chemicals.  

Gasoline, solvents and cancer-causing benzene and vinyl chloride from an old
chemical factory will remain under a corner of the Maplewood Commons shopping
center. And that's OK with Missouri environmental officials - as long as the
chemicals don't appear to pose a risk to the environment or to people's health.  

The deal that developer THF Realty made with the Missouri Department of Natural
Resources is becoming the new standard for re-using dirty industrial sites.
More and more communities are dropping demands that polluted lots be returned
to a near-pristine condition, in exchange for the promise of new development.  

As a result, once-dead properties in inner cities are thriving with new
businesses and homes - and more pollution is being left in soil and water with
the blessing of government authorities, possibly leaving taxpayers on the hook
for future cleanups. 

...

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