Michael S. Regan 16th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency | Official Website
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced over $3.2 million in Brownfields grant funding to support the environmental assessment, cleanup and redevelopment of critical properties in Northglenn and Lakewood, Colorado. The City of Northglenn will receive $2.75 million to clean up soil contaminated with lead and arsenic on the Northglenn Recreational Center property. Metro West Housing Solutions, partnering with the Lakewood Housing Authority, will receive $500,000 to remediate asbestos and lead-based paint in the Belmar Groves Apartments property.
These investments are part of the agency’s Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment, and Cleanup (MAC) Grant Programs. “EPA’s Brownfields grants are helping Colorado communities redevelop blighted properties,” said EPA Regional Administrator KC Becker. “The funding we are providing Northglenn and Lakewood will help reclaim contaminated buildings and soils and pave the way for new businesses and safe, affordable housing.”
Senator Michael Bennet echoed this sentiment stating that every family should be able to live in a clean environment. He added that these grants would help Colorado communities safely clean up polluted sites, protect their health, and rebuild in a way that creates jobs and economic opportunity.
Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo also expressed her support for these initiatives by highlighting the significant step towards economic renewal at sites that have been abandoned or left in disrepair.
The City of Northglenn plans to use its funding to address soil contamination on the former Northglenn Recreational Center property which has remained unused since 2021 due to identified soil contamination as a significant barrier for redevelopment.
Mayor Meredith Leighty expressed gratitude for this support stating that the cost of cleanup was daunting for a city their size but this grant allows them to move forward with creating usable space for residents now while planning for future development.
Metro West Housing Solutions (MWHS), in partnership with the Lakewood Housing Authority, will use its grant to clean up the Belmar Groves Apartments. Site characterization has identified all 118 entry doors are coated in lead-based paint, while asbestos exists in drywall, vinyl sheet flooring, and subfloor fireproofing space.
Brendalee Connors, MWHS Chief Real Estate Officer, expressed that this redevelopment will bring new life to an outdated apartment community and provide homes for low-income households for another 50 years.
Additional grantees announced include the City of Greeley ($500,000), the Town of Kersey ($1,132,899), the City of Monte Vista ($1,000,000), and the City of Pueblo ($1,000,000).
The EPA’s Brownfields Program began in 1995 and has provided nearly $2.7 billion in Brownfield Grants to assess and clean up contaminated properties and return blighted properties to productive reuse. Thanks to President Biden’s historic investments through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA has now increased that yearly investment nearly 400 percent.
