The NYC Brownfield Partnership is proud to recognize the following outstanding New York City remediation projects through their annual Big Apple Brownfield Awards.
Supportive/Affordable Housing: Third Avenue Residence
The Big Apple Brownfield Award for Supportive/Affordable Housing is presented to Third Avenue Residence, a 7-story low income/supportive housing residential building located in the South Bronx. The Site, which began as a vacant lot, was remediated through OER’s Voluntary Cleanup Program to the strictest (Track 1) standards. The residence provides housing for low income individuals from the surrounding area, people who are in recovery from mental illness and people who were formerly homeless. Due to the high quality site remediation orchestrated by the project team and the OER project manager (Horace Zhang), Third Avenue Residence will provide a helping hand to the South Bronx community for years to come.
Accepting the Big Apple Brownfield Award on behalf of the Third Avenue Residence team is Rachel Ataman of Hydro Tech Environmental.
BOA Connectivity: 2477 Third Avenue Bronx
The Big Apple Brownfield Award for Brownfield Opportunity Area Connectivity is presented to 2477 Third Avenue, a 4-story hotel also located in the South Bronx. As part of the Port Morris BOA process, brownfield stakeholders in this South Bronx community identified 2477 Third Avenue, a previously abandoned gas station, as a ‘Strategic Site’ for hotel development. Half of the Site was remediated under DEC’s Brownfield Cleanup Program and the other half under OER’s Voluntary Cleanup Program. The tremendous collaboration amongst the project team, DEC’s project manager (Sarah Quandt), and OER’s project manager (Zach Schreiber) played a big role in ensuring the success of the remedial aspect of the redevelopment.
Accepting the Big Apple Brownfield Award on behalf of the 2477 Third Avenue Bronx team is Bharat “BL” Patel of Jiten LLC.
Economic Development: 2040 Frederick Douglass Boulevard
The Big Apple Brownfield Award for Economic Development is presented to 2040 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, a 12-story, mixed-use residential/commercial building located in Harlem. The Site was developed as the result of of the 2003 South-Central Harlem Rezoning and was remediated under DEC’s Brownfield Cleanup Program. As a condition of development, 100% of construction contracts were awarded to WBE/MBE firms, which resulted in the creation of 300 temporary jobs. Additionally, the new development will create upwards of 100 permanent jobs, most of which will be staffed by the community through the NYC EDC. The project team worked hand-in-hand with DEC’s project manager (Dana Mecomber) to achieve successful remediation of this previously condemned site.
Accepting the Big Apple Brownfield Award on behalf of the 2040 Frederick Douglass Boulevard team are Nelson Bermeo, Elysa Lomangino, and Lilach Musman of Artimus Construction.
Environmental Protection: Brooklyn Bay Center
The Big Apple Brownfield Award for Environmental Protection is presented to Brooklyn Bay Center. This former illegal dumping ground was remediated under OER’s E-Designation Program. Remediation included the removal and/or excavation of 19 underground storage tanks, petroleum-impacted soil and free product, soil contaminated with hazardous levels of arsenic, and upwards of 33,000 cubic yards of screened trash. The resulting development is a beautiful waterfront esplanade and public park located along the Brooklyn shoreline and an adjacent retail building that has brought about 250 jobs to the surrounding community. This fantastic turnaround would not have been possible without the thoughtful work undertaken by the project team and the OER project manager (Zach Schreiber).
Accepting the Big Apple Brownfield Award on behalf of the Brooklyn Bay Center team is John Gavras of GZA.
Green Building: 345-353 State Street
The Big Apple Brownfield Award for Green Building is presented to 345-353 State Street located in Brooklyn. This site, which was once comprised of dilapidated residences and a parking structure, was remediated under OER’s Voluntary Cleanup Program. The new development has been granted LEED Gold Status for homes and includes seven, 4-story townhouses, each with a cellar and a rear yard. The townhomes include an aggressive energy package comprised of high efficiency appliances, insulated windows, and an innovative foundation and wall system that was constructed using Insulated Concrete Form. This energy efficient development has proven to be 25% more efficient than NYC code requirements and 10% more efficient than Energy Star Ratings. Remediation of this lot was successfully coordinated by the project team and OER’s project manager (Hannah Moore).
Accepting the Big Apple Brownfield Award on behalf of the 345-353 State Street team is Erica Johnston of Hydro Tech Environmental.
Open Space Award: Bush Terminal Park
The Big Apple Brownfield Award for Open Space is presented to Bush Terminal Park, an exquisite new public space that will jumpstart revitalization of Brooklyn’s industrial Port of New York. This development sits atop what was once a Class 3 Inactive Hazardous Waste Landfill. Site remediation was achieved through the Clean H2O and Clean Air Bond Acts. The Bush Terminal Park of today provides enhanced waterfront access and enjoyment to the surrounding residential community and promotes a strengthened ecosystem of tidal pools, the shoreline, and loosely wooded areas of the park. This beautiful waterfront escape from urban life would not be what it is today if not for the tirelessly coordinated efforts of the project team and the DEC project manager (Nigel Crawford).
Accepting the Big Apple Brownfield Award on behalf of the Bush Terminal Park team is James Peronto of TRC Engineers.
