Brownfields are vacant or underutilized sites where contamination (or the perception of contamination) is impeding new investment. An estimated 1,000 acres, or 50% of all vacant/under-utilized industrial/commercial land in the city, is likely contaminated, and the other 50% has the “perceived” contamination issue. Redevelopment, conservatively estimated, could produce 27,000 jobs and $25 million in new annual property tax revenues.

BDC staffs the City’s Brownfields activities, addressing and overcoming regulatory, financing, and liability hurdles that inhibit Brownfields redevelopment. BDC staff is advised by the Baltimore Brownfields Industrial Redevelopment Council, whose members are drawn broadly from business, community, and government stakeholders and experts. The Council guides staff activities, serves as conduit for diverse input, and functions as an information and coordination clearinghouse for brownfields-related issues. BDC staff assists businesses that are considering sites affected by contamination issues, acting as an ombudsman to help overcome impediments to redevelopment. Since 1996, Baltimore has completed over 30 Brownfields projects, producing more than 3,000 new/retained jobs; and leveraging $300 million in new investment.

This effort is lead by the Industrial Development Team. For more information please contact Gary Suskauer, Director of the Brownfields Initiative.