'Brownfield' In West Orange Makes List For NJ State Funding

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A “brownfield” in West Orange will be getting a little greener with the some newly announced state aid.

On Tuesday, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) said it has approved 13 new applications under its Brownfield Development Area program – including one involving Lakeside Avenue in West Orange.

What is a brownfield? According to a frequently asked question list from the NJDEP, the sites generally include “properties that are abandoned or underutilized because of either real or perceived contamination.”

“Since brownfield sites are often abandoned and poorly maintained properties, they can create an unattractive nuisance,” the NJDEP states. “Vandalism, trespassing, and environmental contamination may be common at brownfield properties.”

In addition to improving the appearance of the property to the community, the redevelopment of a brownfield property can increase value of the surrounding properties, create new jobs and positively impact the local economy, officials say.

Municipalities and redevelopment authorities that qualify for the designation can get up to $5 million annually in state Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund grants, including remedial action matching grants that provide up to 75 percent for remedial action costs for any site reuses within the BDA.

The 13 new BDAs are the first to be added to the program since 2009.

Here’s what comes next, NJDEP officials said:

“The next step for the approved applications is the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the NJDEP, each municipality, and BDA Steering Committee. The MOU defines the brownfield sites and the partners working toward remediation and redevelopment. Once the MOUs is signed, the NJDEP will officially designate the respective BDAs.”

To date, the program has transformed more than 1,000 acres of blighted brownfields, officials said.

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