Economic Development and Housing

Brownfields Program

NEW! - Scholarship Opportunity Available to Residents Clearwater's Brownfields Area

What Are Brownfields?

A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. These sites are usually impaired by a negative environmental stigma.

The designated Clearwater Brownfield Area northern boundary is Sunset Point, southern boundary is Belleair Road, eastern boundary Missouri Avenue to Highland, western boundary, Ft. Harrison to include Pierce Boulevard and extension of Drew Street that runs along the water.

View Brownfields Map for Clearwater (PDF file)

Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment are two critical initial phases for all projects located in the City of Clearwater Brownfields for which grant funds are available

To assist businesses and redevelopment projects in assessing and safely cleaning a tract of land that may have the presence or potential presence of an environmentally unsafe substance remaining from a previous use, grant funds are available to obtain a Phase I ESA report. A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is an independent non-intrusive objective evaluation of the pattern and historical use of a site and its appurtenances, and any possible impact upon human health and environment.

A Phase I ESA requires research of the property involved in the transaction and of surrounding properties for the existence of potential environmental impacts and liabilities. The property is inspected for evidence of past or present petroleum and chemical storage and use. Regulatory records are also reviewed for the transaction site and surrounding properties. This is the first site activity conducted and as such it is important to have it conducted in a professional manner. To obtain a grant application contact Diane Hufford at the City of Clearwater Economic Development and Housing Department for more information. Phone 727-562-4054 or e-mail diane.hufford@myclearwater.com

Phase II – The Next Step
If a Phase I ESA has identified potential environmental conditions, a Phase II ESA should be conducted to determine the presence of petroleum, hazardous waste, or other types of contamination associated with the transaction. Once identification and characterization of the contamination are complete, a proper course of action can be determined, and the costs for abatement and remediation can be more accurately estimated.

The documentation of the absence or presence of environmental impacts is of utmost importance to all the party's buyers, sellers, and lenders to a property transaction. This information is also important to the property's purchaser because it provides "due diligence" documentation, and if contamination is later discovered this is attributed to a former property owner. At a minimum, a Phase II ESA data provides a baseline of environmental data this is useful the next time the property is sold or to determine to potential property uses or the need for possible deed restrictions to enhance the sale and use.

A pre-approved 50/50 grant match up to $10,000 can be awarded for the Phase II to assist in the actual “testing” of a particular property and to determine the proper mitigation strategy and associated costs involved in future abatement and remediation.

Other incentives that may be available for properties located within the Brownfield area are the Brownfields Redevelopment Bonus Refund, the Brownfields Area Loan Guarantee Program, Brownfields Revolving Loan, Brownfields Site Rehabilitation Agreement, and Voluntary Cleanup Tax Credit.

Clearwater Wins $400,000 Grant

On June 20, 2003 the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that Clearwater was one of five Florida cities awarded a Brownfields assessment grant. EPA Administrator Christie Whitman said, "These grants will help turn neighborhood eyesores into community assets, restoring hope and creating opportunity for the people who live nearby". Grant funds will be used to form assessments for both hazardous substances and petroleum contamination.

Where can I learn more about Brownfields?

For further information including specific grant contacts, additional grant information, brownfields news and events, and publications and links, visit the Web sites below:

Brownfields Redevelopment Program

EPA Brownfields

EPA Region 4 Brownfields Team
404-562-8661