Soil testing ahead for BDC Business Hub
by Emma Turri
Formed in 2022, the Memphis Brownfield Coalition has set a precedent for community engagement and resident involvement in establishing priorities for productive reuse of brownfield sites. With the formation of the Coalition, typical barriers to communication are alleviated and information flows more freely between residents, neighborhood stakeholders, and government officials. In 2023, the CRA received $1,000,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to kick-start brownfield redevelopment in four target areas of Memphis and Shelby County: Uptown Redevelopment Area, Klondike & North Memphis Industrial Area, Binghampton, & Soulsville/South City. Residents of the four areas have been hired as “Community Liaisons” and serve as advisors for prioritizing grant activities, while also creating a communication network to the neighborhoods that are focus points for environmental assessments.
A brownfield is usually a vacant site in a commercial corridor or industrial area that is thought to be contaminated. Contamination can come in many forms, like underground storage tanks that previously held gasoline. Historical research of a site and soil testing are needed to confirm what types of contamination may be present. These assessments of properties will help inform future developments, complementing both public and private investment in our commercial corridors.
The first year of implementing the grant involved building a network of partners working in community development, environmental justice, and brownfield redevelopment. This fall, the CRA will begin soil testing at a site on Yale Ave in Binghampton to establish if conditions are favorable for a potential expansion of the Binghampton Development Corporation’s workforce development hub. Next up, historical research and soil testing for a potential multi-family development site at Second St. and Chelsea Ave. in the Uptown Redevelopment Area. Over the next two years, the CRA will continue to perform this series of research functions on sites in the urban core of Memphis. If you’re interested in learning more, attending quarterly meetings, or keeping up with grant progress, visit cramemphis.org/brownfields or email emma.turri@cramemphis.org. ▲