Brownfields Redevelopment in Thomas, West Virginia
Introduction
Since 2014, Downstream Strategies has worked with the City of Thomas, West Virginia, in crafting and implementing its brownfields redevelopment strategy. We helped the City secure a series of federal Brownfields Assessment and Cleanup Grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and are now helping the City redevelop several key downtown properties.
Downstream Strategies is currently leading the redevelopment of the Riverfront Park, a keystone property in the City of Thomas’ downtown revitalization strategy.
Our work
From 2014 through 2017, Downstream Strategies served as the technical consultant and Licensed Remediation Specialist (LRS) for several grant-funded brownfields assessment projects for the City of Thomas.
Downstream Strategies staff led a task force of city and county officials, economic development professionals, community-based organizations, and a representative from the Northern West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center to identify and prioritize properties for assessment. We then partnered with Green Rivers to complete six Phase I environmental site assessments (ESAs) and a Phase II ESA.
Building on our assessment work, we helped the City of Thomas secure two additional Brownfields Cleanup Grants in 2016 and 2017. Our staff manage and oversee cleanup activities and serve as the LRS for these projects.
Riverfront Park
During our initial assessment work, community leaders prioritized a 28-acre property located just across the North Fork of the Blackwater River from downtown Thomas for redevelopment. The parcel’s proximity to downtown made it a prime location for a public greenspace with recreational trails and other park amenities. However, mining waste and other hazards on the former industrial site added uncertainty to the site’s future as a community park.
Downstream Strategies completed a Phase II ESA for the property, which enabled the City to secure an additional EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant in 2016 to remediate the Riverfront Park property and address the site’s eight acres of mine-scarred land through the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Voluntary Remediation Program.
Construction for this project began in 2019 and is expected to be completed in 2020. Once completed, this park will be a major asset to downtown Thomas.
Downstream Strategies is currently leading the redevelopment of the Riverfront Park, a keystone property in the City of Thomas’ downtown revitalization strategy.
