RI DEM Awards $2.6 Million in Brownfields Grants to 12 Projects
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has announced its latest round of Brownfields Grant Awardees.
This round of awards will see 12 projects across six cities and towns split $2.6 million in funding that was made available by the 2016 Green Economy Bond.
“When we’re able to clean up brownfields while also increasing our commitment to renewable energy, that’s progress we can all be proud of. Cleaning up contaminated brownfields sites is one of the smartest investments government can make. I’m committed to funding these projects quickly, and I look forward to the success stories that this latest round of funding will set into motion,” said Governor Gina Raimondo.
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In order to support the push for green energy, one of the projects, a South Kingstown property, will transform into a solar farm capable of producing enough clean energy to power 610 homes.
“DEM significantly increased the emphasis on the green energy reuse option in the scoring criteria for this request for proposals. It’s terrific to see that three of the projects feature solar arrays and one will become a LEED-certified building. Supporting Question 3 will continue our positive trajectory toward cleaning up our waterways and contaminated sites, preserving farmland and open space, and ensuring our state remains a healthy and wonderful place to live, work, visit, and raise a family,” DEM Director Janet Coit.
According to DEM’s press release, 11 of the funded projects will create 598 construction jobs and 269 permanent jobs.
The application for the first phase of the remediation of the Newport Grand property estimates that by itself, this project will generate 1,241 construction jobs and 565 permanent jobs.
The projects also will unlock tens of millions of dollars in additional investments and promote smart growth by reclaiming and reusing valuable real estate.
Project Summaries
Project: Gravelly Hill Road Solar Array
Address: Gravelly Hill Road, South Kingstown
Grants: $56,000 site preparation/assessment and $250,000 remediation/redevelopment
Description: Conversion of a property on which waste once was disposed to a 3,200-kilowatt solar farm. Annually, energy credits offered to area municipalities will save $290,000. The array also will produce energy for 610 homes and reduce as much greenhouse gas as would be reduced by removing 871 cars from the road.
Jobs: 40 construction jobs, 2 permanent jobs
Project: Gotham Greens Providence LLC
Address: 555 Harris Avenue, Providence
Grant: $250,000 remediation/redevelopment
Description: The developer is taking a former General Electric manufacturing facility that’s been vacant for 2 years and turning it into a 96,000-square-foot, commercial-scale, climate-controlled greenhouse that will grow vegetables and herbs year-round to supply RI retail, restaurant, and institutional food service customers.
Jobs: 100 construction jobs, 65 permanent jobs
Project: Tallman/Shri
Address: 390-392 Pine Street, Pawtucket
Grant: $250,000 remediation/redevelopment
Description: A former mill will be cleaned up to help prepare the site for an intended subdivision and the sale of one building to Shri Studio, a yoga studio.
Jobs: 21 construction jobs, 45 permanent jobs
Project: Fountain Street Apartments
Address: 78 Fountain Street, Providence
Grant: $250,000 remediation/redevelopment
Description: Once the home of the Coffee King building and now a dilapidated parking lot with contaminated soils, this will become a 173,000-square-foot, mixed-use LEED-certified apartment building in Downtown Providence. It will have a green roof for stormwater.
Jobs: 250 construction jobs, 90 permanent jobs
Project: The former Cranston Police Station
Address: 275 Atwood Avenue, Cranston
Grant: $400,000 remediation/redevelopment
Description: Former solid waste dumping area that’s slated to become a retail center.
Jobs: 50 construction jobs, 40 permanent jobs
Project: Blackstone Pawtucket LLC
Address: 59, 65, and 70 Blackstone Avenue, Pawtucket
Grant: $198,317 remediation/redevelopment
Description: Transforming a former textile manufacturing building into a mixed-use commercial-residential complex. Developer will expand the Blackstone River Bikeway on the property and install solar arrays on two of the building rooftops to offset electrical consumption.
Jobs: 85 construction jobs, 20 permanent jobs
Project: Georgiaville Village Green
Address: 29 Whipple Avenue, Smithfield
Grant: $150,000 redevelopment
Description: Once remediation is complete, the longtime site of the Narragansett Gray Iron Foundry will become 42 units of affordable family housing with a rooftop solar installation to offset utility costs.
Jobs: 25 construction jobs, 1 permanent job
Project: Coffey’s Texaco
Address: 48 Touro Street, Newport
Grant: $250,000 remediation/redevelopment
Description: The site of a gas station that has already undergone major cleanups to remove underground storage tanks and remediate petroleum impacts will be turned into a public park with a historic marker. It’s the original location of Newport Town Spring.
Jobs: 20 construction jobs, 2 permanent jobs
Project: Newport Grand – Phase 1
Address: 150 Admiral Kalbfus Road, Newport
Grant: $250,000 remediation/redevelopment
Description: The property on which stood Newport Grand requires significant environmental remediation before it can be put into a marketable condition – and to prevent the site from slipping into blight or disrepair.
Jobs: 1,241 construction jobs, 565 permanent jobs
Project: The Steel Yard
Address: 27 Sims Avenue, Providence
Grant: $150,000 remediation/redevelopment
Description: This grant will help the nonprofit arts center and shared studio build on prior remediation work, upgrade its facility, and expand its many offerings to the public.
Project: Pilgrim Screw
Address: 255 Dexter Street, Providence
Grant: $100,000 site preparation and remediation
Description: Converting a 30,000-square-foot building used to manufacture screws into a mixed-use commercial-residential reuse.
Jobs: 4 construction jobs
Project: What Cheer Flower Farm
Address: 46 Atwood Street, Providence
Grant: $50,000 site preparation
Description: This grant will allow the nonprofit farm to continue its “build-out” campaign, turning an abandoned factory into an urban farm and job-training center in the Olneyville neighborhood of Providence.
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