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SEE...The Difference! |
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Stell Environmental Enterprises, Inc. |
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Project Description |
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The Phoenix Steel Company closed its operations in the Borough of Phoenixville in 1987. For thirteen years, the 123-acre site located along the scenic French Creek remained vacant, a classic example of a brownfields site. This former industrial facility, now an eye-sore and barrier separating the northern and southern sections of the Borough, was acquired by a private developer for the redevelopment as the French Creek Center, a mixed-use office, residential, and village retail development.
Coordination with the Borough and property developer identified green opportunities (open space and trails amenities) which were integrated into a master plan for the French Creek Center.
A thorough understanding of the existing regional planning efforts affecting the site and an intimate knowledge of the risks related to the contaminants of concern occurring with steel manufacturing facilities allowed a holistic approach to site redevelopment which included relocating a regional recreation amenity (the Schuylkill River Trail) through the site.
Initiating and developing a strong public-private partnership between the non-profit community, government, and the developer resulted in the relocation of a regional trail across the site. This partnership helped spur redevelopment investment, while nearly 50% of the site was preserved for open space purposes.
The partnership was instrumental in successful completion of the revitalization project. It stimulated additional financial support for brownfields redevelopment in the Borough of Phoenixville. The partnership provided a mechanism by which the organization managing the State Heritage Park could achieve property control in order to build the next section of the regionally emerging trail project.
Grant and investment funding were secured for both the developer and the non-profit organization to help complete their respective projects. Funds in excess of $3million were secured for revitalization activities from Pennsylvania State Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, Environmental Protection, Transportation, Community and Economic Development, and the Pennsylvania Heritage Parks program. |
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Phoenix Steel Property |
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Green Opportunities for Brownfields Redevelopment/Smart Growth, Phoenix Steel Property, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania |
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Developing a strong public-private partnership, resulted in nearly 50 acres of preserved open space and substantial additional financial support for brownfield redevelopment activities at the site. |