Golden – Jefferson County commissioners are exploring participation in a federal grant program that could assist in redevelopment of potentially contaminated property.
Called “the brownfields program,” the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants encourage governments and private owners to work together to assess and clean up pieces of real estate such as former industrial and commercial sites.
The properties usually are underused and have lost value because they are perceived as being contaminated.
In 2002, Congress turned the brownfields pilot program into law, paving the way for local governments to get funding to provide incentives for cleanup and new uses of the land.
Three locations in Jefferson County that meet criteria for the program include the West Sixth Avenue/Interstate 70 corridor, areas along Old Golden Road just west of I-70 and properties near the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.
“I think there are numerous opportunities,” Commissioner Kevin McCasky said. “We have to take the lead.”
County planning director Tim Carl told the commissioners that the program “offers a quite good return” for local governments, such as clearing the way for new high-tech companies with primary jobs that increase property tax revenues.
“We have an opportunity here if we’re willing to make an investment,” Carl said.
The board directed the staff to look in the budget for the 20 percent matching money – about $40,000 – for the $200,000 in EPA grant money. Applications are submitted in October.
Carl said that 10 to 20 properties could be assessed through the grants. Jesse Silverstein of the Colorado Brownfields Foundation said the assessment “at least would help developers and landowners quantify what the contaminants are and what it will take to clean it up.”
Commissioner Jim Congrove questioned a frequently used figure of only 5,000 acres being available for commercial development in Jefferson County.
“We have more available that we’re not counting, old properties can be razed and redeveloped like this,” Congrove said.
Earlier this year, the EPA awarded $600,000 in “brownfield” grants to Denver’s blighted Dahlia Square shopping center and the Lakewood corridor where the FasTracks transportation line will run.
Staff writer Ann Schrader can be reached at 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com.
