Brownfields Grant Site Success Stories |
City of Avondale – Right of Way
On this farm land in Avondale, a former crop duster landing strip was identified as an area of concern. This landing strip intersected a right of way planned by the City of Avondale. During the Phase I environmental site assessment funded by the Brownfields Program, a possibility of pesticide contamination due to the site’s historical use as farm land was identified. The Brownfields Program funded a Phase II site assessment in 2008 to determine the levels and locations of contamination. The Phase II site assessment confirmed a small amount of pesticides below levels that would require clean up activities. Since then, the City has decided to include the adjacent parcel in their plan to purchase and join both parcels and develop a road and parking lot to accommodate a newly constructed sports complex to the south of these parcels |
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City of Cottonwood – Former Gardner’s Recycling
This site situated in Old Town Cottonwood operated as a recycling facility since the early 1970s and is adjacent to the Verde River flood plain and to Arizona State Parks land. The land was used as a recycling collection site for the past 30 years, and the City purchased the property in October 2010. The Brownfields Program funded a comprehensive Phase II environmental site assessment in 2012 at the former Gardner’s Recycling Property which consisted of five small parcels for a total of 0.93 acres. The City has plans to redevelop the Old Town property into a public parking lot, park and picnic area to revitalize the historic neighborhood. The parking lot will serve as a trail head to the “Jail Trail” which is owned by the Arizona State Parks. It will also serve the surrounding historic business district to encourage tourism that will provide needed economic benefits for their community. |
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City of Flagstaff – Phoenix Avenue Vacant Lot
This parcel in downtown Flagstaff, comprised of a vacant lot, a parking lot and a warehouse where railroad activities previously took place, was identified as an area of concern. During the Phase I environmental site assessment funded by the Brownfields Program, a possibility of hazardous waste contamination due to the parcel’s historical use was identified. The Brownfields Program funded a Phase II site assessment in 2008 to determine the levels and locations of contamination. The Phase II site assessment identified a small amount of contamination in the form of polyaromatic hydrocarbons from previous railroad activities. The City received a $126,900 federal EPA grant for cleanup activities. The warehouse has been turned into a homeless shelter, and a city bus transit station was built. Planned future uses also include work with the Army Corps of Engineers on the Rio de Flag flood control realignment project. The City also started cleanup of the creosote pit at the site under the oversight of the ADEQ Voluntary Remediation Program in October 2009. The redevelopment of this site has greatly benefited the community by removing blight and improving the environment, while addressing local transit needs and serving the homeless population. |
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City of Flagstaff - Wildcat Hill WWTP
Wildcat Hill Wastewater Treatment Facility’s biosolids processing area received a Phase I environmental site assessment from the ADEQ Brownfields Program in July 2010. The results of the Phase I showed that there were no contaminants of concern. The City has been researching other methods of processing these wastes and would like to move toward renewable energy production at the site. The City of Flagstaff has also applied for an Environmental Impact Statement and Feasibility Study for the renewable energy production from the Bureau of Land Management. |
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City of Globe - New Library
This site is comprised of three properties with buildings dating back from the early 1900s to 1970. One of the buildings houses the City’s current public library. The City’s future plans for the three properties are to demolish all the buildings in order to construct a new larger and modernized library to accommodate the City’s growing population. The Brownfield’s Program funded asbestos surveys on the buildings in July 2010 in preparation for their demolition. The completed surveys provided the City with the information needed to proceed with an asbestos cleanup. In March 2011 the City was awarded a cleanup grant from the Brownfield’s Program to continue their efforts to remove the asbestos in preparation for their new Library. |
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Gila County Historical Museum
This historical site was originally the Globe-Miami Mine Rescue Station founded in 1920 by the four major copper mines in the area. It was turned over to the Gila County Historical Society in 1972, and they preserved it as a museum. In 2014 funds from the Brownfields Program were used to conduct an asbestos survey and lead-paint inspection in preparation for needed repairs and maintenance of the building. Asbestos abatement was funded as well in 2014 to address worker safety issues and to make the building safe for public use. |
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Greenlee County Airport
Greenlee County has plans to relocate all its operations, staff and equipment onto a new County complex to be constructed on a currently vacant 15-acre parcel at its airport. During the Phase I environmental site assessment funded by the Brownfields Program in 2010, it was determined that there was no significant contamination. Construction of the building that will house County Administrative Offices is the first phase of re-development of this 15-acre land parcel on the airport will help the County in its efforts to continue to provide quality effective services that will be of direct benefit to County residents. |
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Huachuca City - Camp Naco (Camp Newell)
This historical site was gifted from a private entity to Huachuca City. Camp Newell in Naco, Arizona is the only surviving Buffalo Soldier fort left on the U.S. Mexican Border. The roofs on the buildings are made of asbestos-containing transite. The Brownfields Program provided the needed cleanup funds in March 2010 so that the asbestos could be removed from the Community Center building as well as some open areas where it has been observed on the ground surface. The cleanup was done under the oversight of the Voluntary Remediation Program. Restorative efforts can now continue for this and the remainder of the buildings on the original Camp property. |
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Littlefield Unified School District – Old Littlefield School House
The Littlefield Unified School District #9 received funding to conduct asbestos abatement on the old Littlefield Grade School as a school restoration project in partnership with the Old Littlefield School House Association. The future plan for the school property is to restore the old school as close to its original state as possible while also providing modern necessities to the buildings such as proper foundations, roof repairs, enlarging windows, and making the buildings handicapped accessible. Future plans for the property will include preserving it as an historical museum and a community center for public meetings, family reunions, and recitals. |
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City of Mesa – Buckhorn Baths
The City of Mesa received funding from the Brownfields Program in 2013 to conduct a Phase II environmental site assessment on three parcels on Main Street including the former Buckhorn Baths facility in preparation for acquiring the properties for their New Park Development Project. They also used the funds to conduct asbestos surveys and lead-base paint inspections of all the structures. Potential plans for the site include a historic preservation site and museum, youth baseball complex, farmer’s market, and a passive park. |
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Town of Parker – Downtown Civic Buildings
This project consisted of three older civic buildings that needed an asbestos abatement including the Town Hall, Senior Center and Library. The Brownfields Program funded the asbestos abatement activities in 2010 which cleared the way for the Town to complete their Barrier Removal Project in order to be make public programs available to their residents with disabilities. |
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City of Show Low - Library
At this four parcel site in Show Low, two of the parcels were identified as a potentially affected area. Of the four parcels: two were residential, one was a transportation business, and the other a bulk fuel storage facility. The City sought to redevelop these parcels into a new city library. During the Phase I environmental site assessment funded by the Brownfields Program, it was determined that there was a possibility of petroleum contamination due to the historical uses. A Phase II environmental site assessment was funded in 2009 to determine the levels and locations of contamination. The completed assessment provided the City with the information needed to conduct cleanup and redevelopment activities. The new library opened in August 2010. In 2013 the City was awarded additional funding to do a more comprehensive Phase II in preparation for acquiring land for a municipal downtown parking lot adjacent to the new library. The redevelopment of these parcels as the City’s new library and civic parking will be of great benefit for downtown Show Low and its residents. |
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City of Somerton – Tire Service Shop
This former gas station has been operating as the Somerton Tire Service and the City was interested in acquiring the property to include in their Downtown Development Plan. A Phase I environmental site assessment was funded by the ADEQ Brownfields Program in January 2011. The City has plans to make the site into a nicely landscaped Placita with seating and possibly one or two small coffee shops to encourage more downtown shopping. During the Phase I environmental site assessment funded by the Brownfields Program, it was determined that there was a slight possibility of some petroleum contamination. A Phase II environmental site assessment was funded in 2011 to determine levels of contamination. |
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City of Somerton – Water Tower Renovation
The City of Somerton’s water tower is one of the oldest structures in town and considered a landmark, but it was showing signs of flaking paint and rust. The City had concerns about there being lead in the old paint due to the age of the tower which was built sometime in the 1930s. The Brownfields Program funded a lead paint inspection of the tower and surrounding soil in 2012 in preparation for the City’s plans to rehabilitate their water tower and build a small 0.45-acre park underneath in commemoration of the State’s Centennial. The inspection showed that there was no lead contamination of the soil under the tower, but that the old grey paint on the tower needed remediation. |
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City of Somerton – New City Hall Project
Six city-owned buildings which are central to the City of Somerton’s Downtown Redevelopment Plan received asbestos surveys and abatement funding from the Brownfields Program starting in 2012 and were completed in 2014. The asbestos assessments, cleanup and redevelopment of these properties will allow the City to begin construction of a new larger City Hall and parking lot to provide better services to the community and to accommodate the city’s growing population. |
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Town of Seligman – Cottage Hotel
The Cottage Hotel is a national historic building in Seligman that was originally built in 1912 as the first rooming house for railroad workers. It is presently set up as a themed-room museum depicting the different groups of lodgers it served. However, it is currently in need of restoration and rehabilitation to expand it into a full-time visitor center. In 2013-2014, the Brownfields Program funded an asbestos survey and asbestos abatement to make this structure amenable for public use. This renovation project was an integral part of the further development of Seligman as a tourist destination along Historic Route 66. |
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City of St. Johns - New City Hall
At this donated property in St. Johns, prior activities were identified as a cause for concern for the City as they took ownership of the property. During the Phase I environmental site assessment funded by the Brownfields Program possible solvent and petroleum contamination were identified due to the site’s historical use as a gas station and car dealership. The Brownfields Program funded a Phase II site assessment in 2009 to determine the levels and locations of contamination. A small amount of petroleum-related contaminants were found. The completed assessment activities provided the City with the information needed to proceed with the necessary clean up. In September 2010, the Brownfields Program provided a cleanup grant for the abatement of asbestos in the two buildings so that future construction of the new City Hall building may begin. |
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City of Winslow - Standin' on the Corner Park
At this half-acre park along historic Route 66 in Winslow, the building adjacent to the park was identified as an area of concern. During the Phase I environmental site assessment funded by the Brownfields Program, possible asbestos contamination was identified as a result of a fire that destroyed the adjacent building on which the park’s mural was painted. A Phase II site assessment was funded by the Brownfields Program in 2006 to determine the levels and locations of contamination. The Phase II site assessment confirmed the presence of asbestos, as well as small quantities of total petroleum hydrocarbons and metals in the soil. The Brownfields Program provided grant funding for clean up activities, and the mural wall was stabilized. The cleanup activities were completed and the park re-opened in 2008 for tourism and public use. |
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City of Winslow - Former Wood Treatment Facility
This privately owned site was a former wood treatment facility and currently consists of several buildings with an outdoor storage area for lumber and scrap metal. The City intends to work with the current landowner to redevelop the property as a vocational training facility specializing in welding, which will provide vital job training to the citizens of Winslow. The Phase I environmental site assessment was funded in May 2010 by the Brownfields Program to determine if the site had been contaminated by prior site activities. The Brownfields Program funded a Phase II site assessment in September 2010 to determine the levels and locations of contamination. The completed assessment provided the City with the information needed to conduct cleanup and redevelopment activities. |
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