Brownfields Forever? Look at old buildings with fresh eyes and make a plan

In Asheville, a healthy dose of idealism is the hot sauce on the wings of invention.

That’s just my colorful way of saying that folks at the heart of western North Carolina understand a thing or two about putting the art in life.

Think about the River Arts District or Main Street Hendersonville. Hardly a day goes by when old gas stations, textile factories, old brick front mercantiles, and more, catch the eye of someone who sees the diamond in the rough for what it is: something that would sparkle with a bit of polish. A few will begin the noble work of bringing back that old dilapidated building. With its good bones and fine character, it has been updated, upgraded and turned into a fine, upstanding member of the built environment once again.

But many of the industrial era buildings waiting for adaptive reuse have a significant drawback to those who consider the value of sweat equity.

It’s something I call the “Brownfield effect.”

Brownfield is a term coined by the Environmental Protection Agency to describe any property, from an old photo lab to a clock factory, that requires a clean-up of a hazardous substance, pollution, or contamination before the space can be rehabilitated.

In an industrial era textile rich area like western North Carolina, every community has brownfield properties. Whether you’re looking to house a business or buy a home, it’s a good idea to know how to learn everything there is to know about the brownfield properties in your area.

Luckily, Asheville and western North Carolina have a regional plan to incorporate brownfield properties, like the Cotton Mill, for example, into future development. If you suspect the property that has captured your eye is a brownfield site, or is within spitting distance, here’s what you need to know.

First, North Carolina has a brownfields program, authorized by the Brownfield Property Reuse Act by the state legislature. It means that developers are held to a different standards than polluters. Polluters have to clean up the site; developers adapt the site for reuse. This program is definitely a step in the right direction when it comes to protecting the watershed and environment in this place we call home.

Now, if you’re thinking “there’s got to be a map for that,” you’re right. You can find that here.

Right alongside the federal cleanup sites map, abandoned landfills, debris, solvents, hidden tanks, and more.

If you live in WNC, you’re in EPA Region 4, and that places you squarely in the Land of Sky Regional Brownfields Initiatives. Whether you’re looking for information, an application, a loan, or information, they’ve got you covered.

If you’re not sure what you’re looking at, I’d be remiss if I didn’t encourage you to gather some data. Look at the existing maps, check the history of the property, and do exploratory testing if you’re in doubt about what’s in the soil or water or air.