PURPOSE:
The Evergreen Tacoma Initiative offers a whole systems model and a new organizational framework to address complex brownfields redevelopment. Brownfields are properties that have real or perceived environmental contamination which complicates their development. It merges broad-based organization, integrated technical solutions, new policy and the business case for sustainable development into a unified strategy.
PARTNERS:
City of Tacoma, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, Washington State Department of Ecology, University of Washington Tacoma in addition to Senator Maria Cantwell’s office and Congressman Norm Dicks’ office.
ISSUES:
Complex brownfields redevelopment projects often are never attempted, fail or take a very long time to complete in part because:
1. Property owners and agencies are focused on remediating one parcel at a time without considering area-wide impacts and the potential for re-contaminating properties.
2. Each entity concentrates on redevelopment based on its own area of expertise and does not necessarily consider how much more effective it could be if it used a truly-integrated, public-private sector team approach to build the overall development capacity.
Opportunities are lost to attract new investment and to assist in job creation.
ELEMENTS:
There are four key elements of the Evergreen Tacoma Initiative. Each element is merged into a unified strategy.
1. Broad-based organization. The Initiative will create synergy among all stakeholders involved in brownfields redevelopment. It will identify public and private sector partners and will actively explore the role each of them can play collectively to accelerate the creation of developable sites and quality development on them, such as expanding access to the financial and technical assistance necessary to redevelop brownfields.
2. Integrated technical solutions. The Initiative will take a systematic approach to environmental cleanup by considering an entire area affected by soil and groundwater pollution, rather than by tackling the problem one parcel at a time. Area-wide problem-resolution approaches will be explored.
3. New policy. The Initiative hopes to align policies, such as environmental protection and sustainability, growth management and climate change, so that they support each other. It will advocate for a legal model that allows for a multi-site, pre-purchaser agreement for cleanup actions. It will provide an opportunity to promote infill development by examining policy that will help to balance metropolitan growth and favor commute trip reduction.
4. Business case for sustainable development. The Initiative will encourage high quality responsible, sustainable development in the built environment as well as in how business operates every day.
For more information about the Evergreen Tacoma Initiative, contact Ellen Walkowiak, Project Manager, Private Capital Division, City of Tacoma Community & Economic Development Department at (253) 591-5209 or by e-mail: ellen.walkowiak@cityoftacoma.org. 
E-mail contact for this Web site: karrie.spitzer@cityoftacoma.org 