Brownfields Practicum: Regen. & Reuse of Brownfield Lands: Research, Remediation & Design Practices

‘A Brownfields Site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence, or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant”
-From the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act known as the ‘Brownfield Act’ January 2002

This course concerns the reclamation of land altered by prior industrial, manufacturing, commercial and other active uses and in particular those that are derelict, environmentally hazardous and located within neighborhoods and/or close to residential communities. The subject matter addresses recent advances in the legal, regulatory, environmental, and economic and community landscape as well as the remediation of despoiled land in a manner that reclaims and redevelops these sites for future uses. Of interest to the instructor is how these advances can inform more progressive and creative planning research and design work, and conversely, to what extent planning and design work can direct the regeneration and reuse of these urban environments. Under consideration this semester is the class of sites commonly known as \’brownfields\’ or \’brownfield lands\’. The class will visit this class of site in Somerville and Lowell.