NJ Brownfield Summit 2024: Building Resilient Futures from Brownfield Pasts

The half-day summit was organized by NJIT Technical Assistance to Brownfield Communities Program (NJIT TAB), a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funded program, housed in the Center for Community Systems under the Hillier College of Architecture and Design. This event was held in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The purpose of the summit was to bring together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss strategies, share knowledge, and explore best practices for transforming vacant and potentially contaminated commercial and industrial sites in New Jersey into valuable community assets that contribute to climate resilience and sustainability. The event featured educational sessions, expert panels, networking opportunities, and showcases of successful brownfield redevelopment projects.  

Executive Director of NJIT TAB, Dr. Colette Santasieri underscored the event by remarking “The NJ Brownfield Summit provides a crucial platform for communities to not only understand the serious impacts of climate change but also to see firsthand how innovative and creative redevelopment of brownfield sites can lead to resilient, thriving neighborhoods. By bringing together experts, resources, and inspiring success stories, we aim to equip attendees with the knowledge and tools needed to transform challenges into opportunities for sustainable growth. A primary resource being the NJIT TAB team itself.” 

Key Highlights: 

• Welcome Address: Dr. Colette Santasieri, NJIT TAB Executive Director, Center for Community Systems at NJIT, opened the summit with a welcome address, emphasizing the importance of brownfield redevelopment in building resilient communities. 
• Keynote Session: Dr. Anthony Broccoli, Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science at Rutgers University, discussed the ‘State of Climate Change In New Jersey’, setting the stage for the day's discussions. As Dr. Broccoli explained, there have been 43 unusually warm months in New Jersey since 2000 – and no usually cold months. Beyond extreme heat, the state is also experiencing more extreme precipitation events and a rate of sea-level rise greater than the global average. 
• Redeveloping Brownfields to Create Resilient Communities: Carrie Martin, AICP, Environmental Sustainability Planner, Center for Community Systems at NJIT, provided insights on how brownfield redevelopment can foster resilient communities. Ms. Martin discussed the transformative potential of green stormwater infrastructure to combat flooding and the use of lighter, reflective materials, increased vegetation and tree canopy to cool areas experiencing extreme heat events.  
• Climate Change and Brownfields, an EPA and NJDEP Roundtable Discussion: Moderated by Dr. Colette Santasieri, the panel featured Terry Wesley,  Supervisor, Brownfields Section, Land and Redevelopment Programs Branch Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division (U.S. EPA, Region 2), and Gwen Zervas, Director, Division of Remediation Management, Contaminated Site Remediation & Redevelopment (CSRR), NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). They discussed climate change and brownfields, highlighting government funding paths such as EPA  Multipurpose, Assessment, RLF, and Cleanup grants and job training grants as well as the NJ Brownfield Development Area (BDA) program and options for collaboration.  
• Workshops and Roundtables: Jessica Jahre, Michael Baker International, and Pritpal Bamhrah, NJ Climate Change Resource Center led a session on understanding the climate vulnerability of brownfield sites. While climate change is dynamic, and multiplies the threats already experienced by brownfield communities (i.e. aging infrastructure, social vulnerability, and disinvestment), there are tools available to New Jersey communities to better understand their specific risks and vulnerabilities. Communities can use the NJ ADAPT suite of tools to assess how different flood scenarios will impact their brownfield development areas and vulnerable populations. 
• Success Stories: Ed Confair (AKRF, Inc.), William Kurzenberger (Topology), and John Evangelista (Groundwork Elizabeth) shared inspiring success stories of redeveloped brownfield projects, specifically the climate resilience design elements of the Hoboken Northwest Resiliency Park, the sustainable brownfield redevelopment and Brownfield Development Area designation of Perth Amboy, and the City of Elizabeth’s Microforests, respectively.  
• Funding Your Brownfield Redevelopment Projects: Ashita Patel, Brownfields Project Manager, and Griztko Erickson, Brownfields Project Officer & GIS Lead from the U.S. EPA Region 2 and Emily Perez, Environmental Specialist from NJDEP provided information on utilizing grant programs to pursue community revitalization goals. In addition to the EPA Multipurpose, Assessment, RLF, and Cleanup grants and job training grants as well as the NJ Brownfield Development Area (BDA) program, communities can take advantage of the NJDEP’s Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund (HDSRF). Because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the U.S. EPA has seen a massive infusion of funding into brownfields programs. Local governments and nonprofits can seize this great opportunity by applying for funding this year. The White House’s Justice40 Initiative also focuses funding on overburdened and underserved communities – NJ populations with the greatest needs now have priority for investment. 

Key Outcomes: 

Educational Impact: The summit successfully educated attendees on the significance of brownfield redevelopment in enhancing climate resilience. It provided valuable insights and practical knowledge, establishing a solid foundation for understanding the severity of climate change. The summit also showcased creative solutions to brownfield and climate challenges, like Groundwork Elizabeth’s microforest in the City of Elizabeth, which used the basic principles of the Miyawaki Method of afforestation. The summit highlighted deep community engagement techniques, as evidenced by the work of AKRF, Inc and others to gather City of Hoboken residents to reimagine the Northwest Resiliency Park. The summit demonstrated the power of federal and state funding with the transformation of Perth Amboy’s 300 acres of brownfields into recreational spaces, affordable housing, and employment hubs.  

Networking and Collaboration: The event facilitated networking among professionals from various sectors, fostering collaborations and partnerships that can drive successful brownfield redevelopment projects. Local governments and nonprofits had the opportunity to speak directly with NJDEP and U.S. EPA. 

Resource Availability: Attendees were informed about the numerous resources available to communities, including free technical assistance from NJIT TAB and climate vulnerability assessment tools through NJ ADAPT. 

Overall Atmosphere: The tenor of the event struck a balanced note between presenting the wicked problems climate change presents to brownfield communities, and fostering hopefulness through innovative solutions. The summit blended technical expertise and resources and a breakdown of complex scientific information with positive and uplifting success stories showing real applications. 

As Carrie Martin, Environmental Sustainability Planner for the Center for Community Systems said: “Folks often describe resilience in terms of not only “bouncing back”, but also ’bouncing back better.’ You build resilience not necessarily by rebuilding exactly what was damaged by a disaster. You build resilience by taking a step back, assessing the situation, and coming up with ways to rebuild so that during the next storm, the damage is reduced or there isn’t any damage at all.” 

Terry Wesley, U.S. EPA Region 2, summed up the event, stating "The NJ Brownfield Summit showcases the power of collaboration between the EPA, NJIT TAB, NJDEP, and the communities we serve. It highlights how turning brownfield sites into assets can address environmental concerns and enhance climate resilience. The success stories shared here are a testament to what can be achieved with the right support, innovation, and commitment. " 

NJIT TAB looks forward to hosting a similar NJ Brownfield Summit next year and welcomes topics from New Jersey municipalities and communities. The date for the next summit is yet to be set, but it is anticipated to take place in the early months of next year. 

For more information and resources, please visit the summit webpage: NJ Brownfields Summit 2024.  

About NJIT TAB: NJIT Technical Assistance to Brownfield Communities Program (TAB) provides free technical assistance to state, regional, county, tribal, and local government entities and nonprofit organizations interested in learning about, identifying, assessing, cleaning up, and redeveloping  brownfield sites in EPA Regions 2 and 4.  Funded by the U.S. EPA, NJIT TAB offers tailored technical assistance through expert guidance on environmental assessments, remediation strategies, funding opportunities, and more. 

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