Brownfields: An Opportunity for Re-Development

By Jeff Lopes, Account Manager

Brownfield. Perhaps you’ve heard this term before and have an idea of what it means or maybe it is completely new to you. Brownfields are everywhere across the globe, yet the term is subject to various interpretations. The National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy has defined a brownfield site as:

Abandoned, vacant, derelict or underutilized commercial and industrial properties where past actions have resulted in actual or perceived contamination; brownfields differ from other contaminated sites in that they hold active potential for redevelopment.
 
Clear as mud? Brownfields are a very technical issue in our province and they face many challenges with respect to redevelopment, including potentially high risks, which keep them underutilized. Currently there are between 4,000 and 6,000 brownfield sites in British Columbia. Left untouched, these sites can pose significant environmental and health risks; however, through brownfield redevelopment, properties can be transformed, decreasing development on green space, reducing environmental contamination and increasing opportunities for economic development.
 
The key is to get people together to try and work out solutions. Brownfields present opportunities to all sectors, including property owners, developers, investors, service professionals and government representatives. There is plenty of knowledge that can be used to throw light on this subject, especially from the US and Ontario, who have been very active in brownfield redevelopment.
 
One common conception is that brownfields are situated in poor locations for redevelopment. This is completely false. In Vancouver, Granville Island and False Creek were once heavily industrialized, contaminated sites; however, through remediation, these areas have been converted into attractive communities with valuable living and recreational space. Granville Island is now one of the biggest tourist attractions in Canada, next to Niagara Falls.
 
Implementing strategic redevelopment plans for brownfield sites have the potential to generate significant economic, social and environmental benefits. Looking at the big picture, we should focus away from Greenfield improvement and instead adopt a brown-to-green approach.
 
For more information on brownfields and how you can get involved, please contact Jeff Lopes, Account Manager (jlopes@cantest.com).