Press release:
EPA provides $50K to help Urban Land Conservancy
improve water quality at Denver transit-oriented development
Design features to reduce polluted runoff at
Blake Street redevelopment part of $950,000 nationally to advance “green
infrastructure”
Contacts: EPA: Richard Mylott (303)312-6654;
Stacey Eriksen (303)312-6692;
Urban Land Conservancy: Christi Longsdorf
(303)377-4477
(Denver, Colo., July 19, 2012) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
is providing $50,000 in technical assistance to develop innovative green
infrastructure options for a new transit-oriented housing development near the
Blake/38th commuter-rail station in downtown Denver. The Urban Land
Conservancy will use the EPA resources to assess and integrate design features
that will reduce polluted runoff and protect water quality. Today’s announcement
is part of $950,000 EPA is providing for projects across the country to improve
water quality through green infrastructure.
“Polluted runoff is a significant source of
water quality impairment in the Denver area,” said Stacey Eriksen, EPA’s Urban
Watershed Coordinator. “EPA expects this project will help demonstrate that
there are practical, cost-effective ways to reduce the amount of pollution
entering storm drains and the South Platte River. The Urban Land Conservancy has
expressed a clear commitment to making the Blake TOD redevelopment an example of
sustainability.”
The $50K in EPA
support will enable the Urban Land Conservancy, working with architects, civil
engineers, and various city departments, to assess and integrate
specific green infrastructure features -- such as
permeable surfaces, landscaping, rooftop detention, green roofs, rain gardens
and stormwater planters -- into the design of the Blake mixed-use
development. While specific features will be determined by the project team,
this assistance will result in a reduction in the amount of polluted runoff from
entering storm drains and the South Platte River through rain and snow melt.
This project also complements efforts by the City of Denver to address
stormwater conditions in conjunction with area planning and station
platform construction by the Regional Transportation District (RTD).
"This collaboration comes at a perfect time as
many components are coming together around the redevelopment of Blake,” said
Debra Bustos, Director of Real Estate at Urban Land Conservancy. "It is always
ULC's goal to incorporate sustainable features into our real estate, and we are
grateful for EPA's assistance in transforming this blighted property with
forward- thinking green infrastructure."
The currently vacant
property is a blighted infill site of assembled parcels with zoning that will
support up to 130 affordable rental units. Environmental assessments have been
completed including a brownfields assessment and removal of two tanks. One
burned out structure has been demolished and removed and a second one will be
demolished in the next few weeks.
Green infrastructure decreases pollution to
local waterways by treating rain where it falls and keeping polluted stormwater
from entering sewer systems. In addition to protecting Americans’ health by
decreasing water pollution, green infrastructure provides many community
benefits including increased economic activity and neighborhood revitalization,
job creation, energy savings and increased open space. The EPA funding is intended to increase
incorporation of green infrastructure into stormwater management programs and will
support work such as code review, green
infrastructure design and cost-benefit assessments.
“Effective stormwater management is one of the
most widespread challenges to water quality in the nation,” said Nancy Stoner,
EPA’s Acting Assistant Administrator for Water. Stoner announced the funds today
at a stormwater symposium in Baltimore held by the Water Environment Federation.
“Polluted stormwater can be harmful to the health of our nation’s waterbodies.
These funds will help expand the use of green infrastructure, revitalize local
neighborhoods and help safeguard people’s health and the
environment.”
In
April 2011, EPA renewed its commitment to green infrastructure with the release
of the “Strategic Agenda to Protect Waters and Build More Livable Communities
through Green Infrastructure.” The agenda identifies community partnerships as
one of five key activities that EPA will pursue to accelerate the implementation
of green infrastructure and EPA announced partnerships with 10 “model
communities.”
In February
2012, EPA announced the availability of $950,000 in technical assistance to a
second set of partner communities to help overcome some of the most common
barriers to green infrastructure. EPA received letters of interest from over 150
communities across the country.
