Peter could probably speak better to the
metrics question, although there is some controversy about how some of those
numbers are derived. For example, if a brownfield site is reclaimed and a new
commercial facility is created, is that new growth or just redistributed growth
as merchants move from one part of town to another with newer buildings and
amenities and market draw potential? Vacancy rates go up elsewhere….so
getting a clean clear answer is not always as straight forward as one would
wish.
A full B/C analysis is time consuming and
often a contested exercise because like risk assessment, if you torture the
numbers enough (or shift assumptions or estimation methods) you can get them to
say anything you want…That’s not to say you cant first get
agreement on reasonable assumption and estimation methods and then say the
numbers are reasonable in light of the agreed upon approach--by both sides of
the issue) (this is a form of data mediation or joint fact finding).
In the end, the issue that is not stated
as clearly as it should be is really one of “opportunity costs”…all
else being equal, is this the best use of foregone revenues from tax abatements
in cases when the level of contamination is minor and liability issues are
truly negligible (and the open question remains, whether without subsidies, the
market will eventually pick up and reuse the site) – can state agencies
do a better job of steering resources where they are going to provide the
greatest net societal benefits, and perhaps have higher expectations for local
benefits as a quid pro quo for abatements or other subsidies? Perhaps the
number of sites that would have developed anyway with or without abatements and
tax credits is small, but since we don’t seem to look real close, it seems
like the opportunities for abuse are significant and real. And given
limited tax dollars and resources, waste is not an option. There may well be
better places to spend for net societal benefits that exceed our current
approach…such as more attention to brownfield prevention efforts? Or
whatever….
Empowerment and enterprise zones (federal
and state varieties) tried to ensure that employment gains would accrue to
impacted areas with highest unemployment and ideally be part of an overall
economic redevelopment program that is responsive to impacted neighborhoods and
the overall community needs.
Are we asking too much and how much should
we be asking of subsidies given to stimulate private sector brownfield action?
I’m curious what happened in DC
where a small group of folks on this list met and discussed this- I was abroad
and could not attend.
If someone can send a summary
off-line – that would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards
Bob
Robert G.
Paterson
Associate
Professor
Co-Director,
Center for Sustainable Development
1 University
Station B7500
School of Architecture
The University of Texas
Austin TX 78712-1160
512-471-0734
Fax 512-471-0716
rgfp@mail.utexas.edu
Whatever befalls the earth
Befalls the sons and daughters
Of the earth.
We did not weave the web of life;
We are merely a strand in it.
Whatever we do to the web.
We do it to ourselves…
-Chief Seattle (1788-1866)
Native American (Suquamish leader)
The information contained in this e-mail
message is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above.
Distribution or copying of this
communication is prohibited. If you received this communication in error,
please immediately notify me by telephone at the number above, and destroy the
message.
Thank you.
From:
brownfields-bounces@list.cpeo.org [mailto:brownfields-bounces@list.cpeo.org] On Behalf Of LSchnapf@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2007
11:25 PM
To: brownfields@list.cpeo.org
Subject: [CPEO-BIF] Re:
Brownfields Digest, Vol 35, Issue 13
As a followup to Ken Kamlet's letter to
the editor, the statistics publicized by the article fail to mention the
benefits from the brownfield program. There is no estimation of the jobs
created or taxes generated by the BCP projects.
The data only presents one side of the
story..and several of the attorneys I know who were queried as part of the
study by the Environmental Business Association brownfield task force that I
chair indicate that the estimates produced by the Division of Budget are
inaccurate for a number of sites by either overestimating the tax credits or
underestimating the cleanup costs. As one attorney told me, if the state
numbers are right about the tax credit his client got, then he did
not bill his client enough in legal fees. )
I would like to know if there are metrics
that are used by government or academics that predict the number of jobs and
taxes generated by redevelopment projects. This information is missing from the
data generated by the state and thus does not tell the whole picture
about BCP.
Lawrence P. Schnapf, Esq.
55 E.87th Street #8B
New York, NY
10128
212-756-2205 (office)
212-876-3189 (home office)
203-263-5212 (weekends)
212-593-5955 (fax)
LSchnapf@environmental-law.net
www.environmental-law.net
(website)
Get a
sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com.