The City of Cortez is participating in a $2 million grant to identify and upgrade potential local “brownfields” and is asking property owners to nominate properties that be transformed from liabilities into community assets through the project.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: City of Cortez seeking nominations for brownfield site surveys & assessments
The City of Cortez is participating in a $2 million grant to help identify and upgrade potential local “brownfields” and asking property owners to nominate underutilized properties that could be transformed from liabilities into community assets through the brownfield project.
A new webpage has been created, www.cortezco.gov/863/brownfields, where residents can learn more about the brownfield project and begin the application process to have a site considered for an environmental site assessment. The webpage also provides guidance for identifying a possible brownfield site, support for property owners, success stories, meeting schedules, and Cortez staff contacts. All completed nomination forms should be submitted to Helen West, through email: hwest@cortezco.gov or they can be dropped off or mailed to Cortez City Hall, attn: Helen West 123 Roger Smith Avenue, Cortez, CO 81321.
A brownfield site is a property where development, expansion, or reuse may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Sometimes it is only a perception that an area has contaminants, which can impact the property’s value. A brownfield survey can be conducted to identify potential contaminants or to show the property has none. Typically, brownfield surveys address properties that were formerly used by commercial or industrial firms. It is often found that some properties have little to no contamination but are underutilized and desirable for redevelopment.
By themselves, brownfield surveys can be quite expensive. This grant is a rare opportunity to cover costs, and will be used to assess selected properties within the Cortez city limits, but outlying properties and other nearby locations will also be considered. Assessments can help improve property values, assist in securing funding for business expansion, and make properties more attractive to buyers and developers.
The funding for the brownfield initiative is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and managed by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE.) The surveys will be performed by Stantec, the state’s contracted consultant. Stantec’s immediate goal is to assemble an inventory of Cortez sites which could be transformed into active, valuable spaces. Nominations submitted to the City of Cortez will help inventory and prioritize brownfield sites for redevelopment, assess existing site conditions, and plan for cleanup and reuse.
For more information, please visit www.cortezco.gov/863/brownfields, or call Helen West, Community and Economic Development Specialist, at (970) 565-3402.
To view the official release please go to Brownfields Release