Revitalizing neighbourhoods through sustainable brownfields redevelopment: Principles put into practice in Bridgeport, CT

Abstract

This article chronicles activities and approaches carried out in working with community partners and public and private stakeholders in advancing revitalization within Bridgeport, CT. The approach described utilizes brownfields redevelopment as a focal point for a stakeholder process whose goal is neighbourhood revitalization. Two neighbourhoods—the Went End and East End—are the focus for major stakeholder-driven brownfields redevelopment processes. The article defines key elements of the stakeholder process including: involvement at several levels from neighbours to the site to the Mayor's office and beyond, a risk communication process that incorporates the broad concerns of the stakeholders including crime and violence, and the need for ongoing oversight and management throughout the redevelopment process.

Acknowledgements

The Technical Assistance for Brownfields programme of the United States Environmental Protection Agency supported this work. The authors would like to acknowledge the support and assistance of many individuals and organizations in enabling this work to proceed. These include the City of Bridgeport, Office of Economic Development, Parks Department, Police Department, citizens of the West End and East End and our university partners in this enterprise, the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and the University of Connecticut. We dedicate this work to the memory of William Librizzi, a friend and colleague who was instrumental in beginning the work summarized here, and Judy Watson, of Earth Rise Consultants, the charrette leader and a true expert in community development.

Notes

1. Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act, 11 January 2002: ‘with legal restrictions and additions, the term “brownfield site” means real property, the expansion, redevelopment or reuse of which maybe complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant’. <http://www.epa.gov/swerosps/bf/glossary.htm> (accessed 3 December 2005).

2. Charrette led by Earth Rise and Vita Nuova.

3. Numerous organizations contributed to this effort, including Vita Nuova, Sage Risk Solutions and the University of Connecticut.