Brownfields Program

The City of Tucson is currently accepting projects for the Brownfields environmental assessment grant program

Brownfields are abandoned, idled, or under-used property where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived contamination. The land may be contaminated by hazardous waste or pollution but can be reused once the land has been thoroughly cleaned up. The Brownfields Program in Tucson seeks to reclaim these brownfields to redevelop them into productive private or public property for re-use.
Examples of historical uses associated with brownfields sites include:
• Automotive Businesses • Salvage/Junk Yards
• Gas Stations • Manufacturing Plants
• Dry Cleaners • Photography Studios
• Storage Lots • Motels
• Trailer Parks • Abandoned Buildings
• Neighboring properties that may be negatively impacted by one of these sites


The Cadence mixed-use development, formerly the Greyhound Bus Depot

City's Brownfields Grant Program

 The City of Tucson's Environmental & General Services Department manages a citywide Brownfields Program, which enables successful redevelopment of adversely impacted properties. The main focus of the program is to support and enhance infill development, revitalize and restore the downtown business district, major gateways, and Tucson's key historical landmarks, while preserving the Sonoran Desert landscape.

In 2014, the City was awarded $400,000 in U.S. EPA Brownfields Community-wide Assessment Grants to assist commercial real estate developers in the performance of environmental due diligence at brownfields properties in Tucson's Central Business District, Origins Gateway, and throughout the City of Tucson.

Currently, City Brownfields grant funding is available to assist commercial real estate developers perform environmental assessments at eligible properties.

 As part of the assessment grant, the City will hire and oversee the environmental assessment contractor and provide the results of the assessment(s) necessary for the developer's environmental due diligence. The following table provides the types of assessment activities provided as part of the grant:

Types of Environmental Due Diligence
Environmental Activity Typical Cost Eligible for Funding? Average Completion Time
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment $2,000 Yes 6 weeks
Phase II Environmental Site Assessment from $5,000 to $30,000+ depending on site Yes 8 weeks
Asbestos Survey $3,000 Yes 8 weeks
Lead-based Paint Survey $1,000 Yes 8 weeks
Cleanup Planning $10,000 to $15,000+ Yes 8 weeks
Cleanup Activities - Brownfields grant funding not available -

It's easy to get started!

Step 1: Contact the City's Brownfields Team to discuss your site and grant eligibility. We can also assist you in reaching our sister Brownfields programs in Pima County and the City of South Tucson!

Step 2: After receiving project approval, the City will hire an experienced Brownfields contractor to begin the environmental assessment work.

Step 3: The City will review the results of the environmental assessment and provide you a copy of all final reports to document completion of the environmental due diligence. Note: Environmental Assessments conducted will become public record.

Contact the City's Brownfields Program Team

City of Tucson, Environmental & General Services Department, Brownfields Program

E-mail: EnvironmentalPrograms@tucsonaz.gov

Phone: (520) 837-3742

Projects

South 12th Avenue Business and Cultural Corridor - La Doce: The City of Tucson received a $300,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Assessment Grant award to conduct environmental assessments in La Doce.

Former Flint Oil Site: The City of Tucson is conducting environmental site assessments at the Former Flint Oil Site to update its knowledge of real and potential environmental impacts at the site. Environmental reports for this site are available here.

  • Tuesday, October 13, 2020 - A Virtual Public Meeting was held for the Barrio Viejo Neighborhood. City staff provided an update to interested community members regarding the recently completed environmental assessments. A copy of the presentation is available here.
  • July 2020 - The site was accepted into the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality's Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP).
  • April-June 2020 - A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment was conducted to investigate Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) identified in the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. Phase II Environmental Site Assessment activities included soil and soil vapor sampling and analysis. The results of the Phase II Environmental Site Assessment will help inform any remedial actions necessary at this property for future redevelopment.
  • Spring 2020 - A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment and a comprehensive asbestos and lead-based paint survey of the former office building were conducted.

Related Links

City of Tucson Brownfields Program Brochure (pdf)
City of Tucson Office of Economic Initiatives
US Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields
State of Arizona Brownfields
Pima County Brownfields