Elizabeth, New Jersey

OVERVIEW

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) selected the City of Elizabeth, NJ as an EPA Regional Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot in October 1997.

Elizabeth is an urban industrial city located south of Newark. The City was established in 1665 and has been a business center since the industrial revolution. After a long history of established manufacturing companies, including many tool and die facilities, Elizabeth has been left with a declining manufacturing base and a host of abandoned industrial sites. Although Elizabeth enjoys several industrial redevelopment successes, the city has encountered barriers in identifying, assessing, and remediating brownfields.

Over the past four years, Elizabeth has taken advantage of various Federal and State redevelopment incentive programs to re-establish itself as a trade center. Incentive programs include: Enterprise Community Funds, Urban Enterprise Zone ordinance, Labor Surplus Area, NJ State Economic Development Authority Program and the New Jersey Department of. Environmental Protection's Hazardous Site Remediation Funds. The City's outreach has attracted many business, some of which had been discouraged by possible environmental liability associated with brownfields.

OBJECTIVES

The Elizabeth Pilot plans to identify and assess at least five marketable brownfields sites of which at least one will be remediated, financed and redeveloped. To accomplish its pilot objectives the city has actively encouraged the involvement of stakeholders such as the Elizabeth Development Company, Elizabeth General Medical Center, the Regional Plan Association, and selected individuals and organizations, such as the Elizabeth Port Block Watchers, representing communities directly affected by brownfields sites.

The Regional Plan Association and the Union County administration together compiled a local inventory of what they term "recyclable lands". The stakeholders will assist in selecting the pilot sites and formulating redevelopment plans. As part of its outreach efforts, the city will continue to use existing mechanisms including local cable news, City Council meetings, newspaper articles, Neighborhood Council meetings, and the city's Info Line.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The following list outlines Elizabeth Pilot's accomplishments during the reporting period:

1) The fifth Stakeholders meeting was held on August 6, 1998. The stakeholders were informed that three of the pilot site candidates they had chosen had been approved by EPA. The Elizabeth Brownfields Pilot Program will begin environmental assessment on the following three sites:

200-208 South Second Street
155 Front Street (also known as American Chrome)
217-231 Front Street (also known as Kull Property)

The stakeholders will select two more sites to be submitted to EPA for approval.

2) The sixth stakesholders meeting was held September 3, 1998. The stakeholders were brought up to date on the community outreach materials and the status of Kull Property site.

3) The pilot coordinator has begun to develop the community outreach handouts and posters for distribution at all community meetings and events attended by the brownfields coordinator.

Elizabeth Sites Index

Regional Brownfields Hotline (800) 346-5009

For information, contact: brownfields.r2@epa.gov

Elizabeth, New Jersey

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