8:45 AM: Melissa Wittstruck introduced Mayor Mary Verner. Mayor Verner is thanking people for attending and encouraging the participants to see how Spokane has changed over the years.
8:50 AM: Mayor Verner is reflecting upon how Riverfront Park used to be a brownfield site, contaminated by the presence of the rail yards. University District is also a brownfield site with its remediation currently underway.
8:56 AM: Mayor Verner continues: There will be a tour tomorrow which will include many sites around Spokane which have been recovered. They include buildings such as the Saranac, the Main Street Co-op (which has been certified LEED Gold). Kendall Yards (formerly a rail yard) is also being remediated, and will include commercial and residential properties for all income levels.
8:58 AM: Joanne, a representative of the EPA Region X office introduces the types of assistance they provide to help conversion of brownfields to productive use. They are actively engaging other federal agencies to participate. They train people to help residents get the skills to help remediate brownfields, to help them get jobs and stimulate the economy.
9:04 AM: The EPA has not been informed as to its budget at this point. The EPA is receiving unusual scrutiny, and people should forward to them their success stories.
9:05 AM: Melissa Wittstruck is a city planner with the City of Spokane, and she is struck by the complexity of brownfield development, financial and legal. She has worked with both the environmental and development communities. We want more than just cleaned up land, but reuse as well. We try to work realistically together. Developer community assistance is necessary.
This blog continues with A Developer's Perspective
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This is an interactive blog for people interested planning in the Spokane region or planning in general.