City Planning Commission Brownfield Program (CPCBP)

What is a Brownfield?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a brownfield as property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.

The CPC Brownfield Program is tasked with supporting project redevelopment and environmental clean-up. We have a defined target area and focus on projects that will positively benefit the City of New Orleans. Some of these sites may be smaller, such as former gas stations/dry cleaners, etc. Other sites are larger, legacy projects that will create needed community change and once revitalized, bring needed amenities.  Many projects are stalled or do not move forward due to the high cost of proper remediation of contaminants. This is especially true with abandoned and/or damaged historic structures with a high price tag for renovation. Following the EPA guidelines for clean-up and reuse are essential to ensure the contamination does not affect the quality of life of residents. Brownfield funding help to bridge the financial gap when expensive contamination/assessment and clean-up are needed.

Questions?

Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions Page

Frequently Asked Questions

Still have questions? Reach out to Kari Godchaux, Brownfield Program Director, City Planning Commission, kari.godchaux@nola.gov.

2023 EPA Cleanup Grant - Naval Support Activity Complex

In 2023, The City of New Orleans was awarded $2 Million by the Environmental Protection Agency for the remediation of the former Naval Support Activity complex in Bywater.  The former NSA complex was completed in 1919 by the United States Navy and was used as a logistic station to protect the Port of New Orleans from attack, a shelter and training center for the unemployed and homeless during the Great Depression and later as a recruiting and training station for multiple military branches. It was deactivated and sold to the City of New Orleans in 2011 to facilitate its redevelopment. The complex is currently vacant and primarily consists of three 84,000 square-foot, 6-story buildings within an approximately 1.5 million square-foot site. 

To learn more about this Clean Up Grant and activities planned for the site, please visit the website linked below: