Redevelopment Trailblazers: Recent Episodes
Redevelopment Institute
The Redevelopment Trailblazers podcast features public and private sector innovators tackling complex issues to help rebuild America’s distressed communities. Integrating sustainable environmental and economic practices, these pioneers implement creative solutions that spur reinvestment in and transformation of the country’s most challenging neighborhoods.
Join us as we talk with the changemakers who bring real-world approaches and successful strategies to brownfields redevelopment, urban renewal, and community revitalization.
In this episode, Brian Anderson joins the podcast to discuss how the Energy Communities Interagency Working Group helps communities impacted by coal mine and coal power plant closures transition to new economic opportunities. Formed in 2021, the IWG coordinates federal investments and resources to support job creation, economic revitalization, and infrastructure improvements in these areas. In his role as Executive Director of the IWG and Senior Advisor on Energy Communities at the U.S. Department of Energy, Brian talks about the history and unique needs of these communities and how the participating federal agencies work together with various stakeholders to ensure that results are community-driven. He also highlights the funding opportunities available to these communities along with the various tax credits, including clean energy manufacturing tax credits, offered to facilitate private-sector investment in these areas.
Brian's parting advice to communities dealing with these transition challenges? Take the first step to learn more about the full range of resources offered through this initiative. You can also reach out directly to the IWG navigator team here.
Industrial property owners often face the challenge of having closed facilities and retired assets that are strong candidates for repurposing but are hindered by legacy contamination and other issues that complicate redevelopment. Establishing a strategic approach to managing, remediating, and ultimately finding new uses for these surplus properties can be difficult.
This webinar will showcase success stories from the corporate disposition perspective, focusing on three major sites in Wilmington, DE, Oakley, CA, and Beaumont, TX. This discussion will explore the challenges, lessons learned, and best practices to navigate the complexities to ensure the sustainable redevelopment of industrial sites.
Click here to view the webinar recording.
In 2022, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) launched its Homeless to Housed (H2H) initiative through the release of its report “Homeless to Housed: The ULI Perspective.” The report, along with ULI’s growing H2H solutions library, showcases successful public-private-provider partnerships (P4s) and their vital role in delivering affordable housing for people experiencing homelessness.
In this inaugural Redevelopment Trailblazers webinar, join our esteemed panelists for a discussion about ULI’s ongoing efforts through its H2H initiative to address the complex issue of homelessness. The conversation will focus on how the real estate development community can partner to help alleviate the critical shortage of affordable housing in the United States and champion transformative change.
To view the webinar recording, click here.
In this episode, Vita Nuova member Tom Mancuso discussesthe key elements of taking a business incubator approach to creating local, long-lasting jobs for a community while recycling industrial and commercial properties. Based on decades of experience running the family business that pioneered this approach, Tom outlines the essential components of successful business incubators. He also emphasizes the versatility of these projects across communities, regardless of size. Ultimately, this strategy creates new employment opportunities, solves economic problems, and redevelops brownfield sites. Working through Vita Nuova, Tom can bring this expertise to communities across the country!
Tom’s book, Buildings That Create Jobs, provides a detailed guide for anyone interested in establishing, leasing, and operating business incubators and local business centers within adaptively reused buildings.
Patricia Overmeyer is the Deputy Director of the EPA's Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization. A pioneer in the field, she has been a leader in shaping brownfield redevelopment policies and implementation for nearly 25 years. Prior to becoming OBLR’s Deputy Director, she also served as Team Leader for the Brownfields Policy, Research and Outreach Team and worked in US EPA’s Hazardous Waste Identification Division. Patricia is also responsible for coordinating the National Brownfields Training Conference.
In this episode, Patricia delves into how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has broadened the financial resources available for brownfields redevelopment. While highlighting the newfound opportunities this legislation brings, she also sheds light on the numerous challenges that persist. Looking toward the future, she offers insightful predictions on the ongoing evolution of the industry and gives an interesting preview of the 2023 National Brownfields Training Conference (Detroit, August 8–11). Be sure to register today!
In the latest episode of Redevelopment Trailblazers, we talk to Bob Wenzlau, President and Founder of Palo Alto-based Terradex, and Mike Sowinski, the company’s Vice President, about the critical role that land use controls (also known as institutional controls) play in the redevelopment of brownfields and other contaminated sites, as well as the importance of long-term stewardship.
Over the last 20 years, Terradex has applied its innovative land use control mapping and monitoring technology to more than 20,000 projects, allowing for the safe reuse of properties where residual contamination remains while protecting communities, the environment, and cleanup remedies. Bob and Mike discuss how Terradex’s unique approach helps stakeholders address compliance assurance obligations, environmental justice concerns, and other evolving challenges at these sites. They also explain how drone imagery and AI are enhancing its applications and expanding the use cases that can benefit from Terradex’s tech solutions.
What do closed landfills, sand and gravel pits, quarries, and formerly-mined coal sites all have in common? They are all candidates for solar development. In this episode of Redevelopment Trailblazers, we speak with Annika Colston, Founder and President of AC Power, the only company of its kind that focuses solely on the development of solar on brownfield sites and other previously disturbed properties. Annika describes AC Power’s unique approach, the process for evaluating whether a site is a good candidate for solar development, key considerations to ensure project viability, and the promise solar redevelopment projects can hold for communities and the renewable energy market.
The South Bronx has undergone an exciting transformation over the course of many years. In this episode of Redevelopment Trailblazers, we get a first-hand account from Neil Pariser, the former SVP of the South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (SoBRO). Through decades of work in this community, Neil led efforts to create affordable housing and redevelop huge swaths of retail, industrial, and commercial space, improving the attractiveness and economic viability of the South Bronx.
A deeper dive into this story is also available in this Redevelopment Institute webinar.
EPA’s brownfields program is a policy innovation success story. For decades, the program has empowered communities and other stakeholders to clean up and reuse contaminated sites safely. With increased data transparency, emerging technologies, and unprecedented levels of brownfields funding, the stars are aligned for expanding the redevelopment space.
With a background in law, environmental policy analysis, and communications, Mary Ann Grena Manley talks about the brownfields landscape from a regulatory, policy, and practical perspective, with insights on how programs and priorities have evolved and how transformational issues, including climate risks, environmental justice, and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) factors are being integrated into brownfields redevelopment projects. Her company, 15E Communications, helps environmental- and sustainability-focused clients with communications strategy, content creation, business development, and public relations.
What is small-scale manufacturing, and how can it bring Main Streets and downtowns back to life? In this episode of the Redevelopment Institute Podcast, Leslie Parrish interviews Ilana Preuss, Founder and CEO of Recast City, who explains how this dynamic approach to economic development bolsters local businesses and helps communities grow and thrive in an inclusive and resilient manner.
Learn more about this organization and read the first chapter of Ilana's book here: Recast Your City: How to Save Your Downtown With Small-Scale Manufacturing.
In this episode of the Redevelopment Institute Podcast, Leslie Parrish interviews Jean Hamerman and Joelle Greenland from the Center for Creative Land Recycling (CCLR). CCLR is a national nonprofit focused on the equitable and sustainable clean-up of brownfields, with an environmental justice lens. Jean and Joelle discuss how approaches to brownfield redevelopment have evolved to become more focused on community needs. They invite listeners to subscribe to their newsletter, take advantage of their webinars, and learn more about CCLR’s other resources.
You can join CCLR and members of the Redevelopment Institute at Brownfields 2022 for Brownfields University, the Redevelopment Rodeo, and more!
Colleen Kokas, EVP at Environmental Liability Transfer (ELT), discusses the multi-disciplinary aspects of site remediation in this episode of the Redevelopment Institute Podcast. As a former regulator and brownfields project manager for NJDEP, Colleen discusses the transition to private developer. She talks about projects past and present, and how this still largely male-dominated field continues to evolve.
Colleen invites listeners to learn more about brownfields redevelopment in the northeastern U.S. by visiting brownfieldcoalitionne.org.
In this episode, we talk with Tim Fields, whose brownfields experience spans decades. Mr. Fields served as the Assistant Administrator for OSWER at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, helping to create the brownfields program, the superfund redevelopment program, and more. He is now the Senior Vice President heading up MDB, Inc.’s Environmental Management practice. Mr. Fields provides insights on how to build consensus across varied stakeholders in the redevelopment process, helping communities thrive.
Will Warren is on a mission to spread the word about the culture, community, and economic opportunity in Appalachia—a region made up of 13 states and home to over 25 million people. With a background in economic development, Will and his brother have launched a podcast called Appalachia Meets World that touches on a variety of topics relevant to that region. Will discusses some highlights with Leslie Parrish, as well as his emerging concept of an “Apportunity Fund” that could serve as an equity-based crowdfunding platform for small businesses in the region.
Appalachia Meets World is available on a variety of podcast platforms, and listeners can learn more about the Apportunity Fund at apportunityfund.com.
Don't forget to subscribe, rate & review this podcast to help us reach more listeners! Learn more at redevelopmentinstitute.org.
Today’s podcast features long-time brownfield redeveloper Jon Williams, who recently founded Viridi Parente, a company that manufactures electric-powered drive systems for construction vehicles and related equipment. Jon discusses his experiences in bringing environmentally-troubled sites back into the economy and his new venture creating greener forms of construction equipment and energy storage. More information on these initiatives is available here.
For more information and resources, visit RedevelopmentInstitute.org.
This workshop brought together representatives from the mill communities of East Millinocket, Millinocket, and Lincoln with federal, state, and private funders. In this interactive session, representatives of the communities met virtually with those that might provide funding for infrastructure, new initiatives, and business startup and expansion.
This event was sponsored by the USEPA Region 1 Land Revitalization Program and Maine DECD with support from Vita Nuova LLC.
If you would prefer to see the presentations, you can watch the recording on the Redevelopment Institute website here.
Barry Hersh’s experiences as a leader in brownfields redevelopment are the focus of this episode of the Redevelopment Institute Podcast. In his interview with Leslie Parrish, Barry talks about how he got started in brownfields and the changes in the field in the intervening years. After a discussion of some innovative brownfields projects across the country, Barry offers some parting thoughts on the future of brownfields redevelopment work.
Barry Hersh is a member of Vita Nuova LLC and a professor at New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate.
In this episode of the Redevelopment Institute Podcast, Leslie Parrish interviews Chris Gibbons, founder of the National Center for Economic Gardening. Chris describes this exciting economic development strategy, which can assist local firms with high-growth potential to discover new regional, national, and international markets. He also shares how his organization partners with economic development agencies across the country to bring the program to emerging companies that meet Economic Gardening criteria.
Read more about Economic Gardening on the Redevelopment Institute website:
- Economic Gardening®: Nurturing High-Potential Local Companies for Job Growth
- Economic Gardening® in Practice: Two Regions’ Experiences
Further Economic Gardening resources are available at economicgardening.org.
In our inaugural episode, Leslie Parrish interviews Michael B. Taylor, the founder of the Redevelopment Institute and Vita Nuova, LLC. Throughout this podcast, we'll be discussing best practices in brownfield redevelopment and revitalization as we work together to overcome challenges and rebuild communities.
To learn more, visit https://www.redevelopmentinstitute.org/.