Erie Boulevard East Brownfield Opportunity Area

What is a Brownfield?
A brownfield is a real property (either vacant land or a structure) which faces obstacles to redevelopment due to the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Common types of brownfield sites include abandoned industrial facilities, gas stations, autobody garages, and dry cleaners. Living or working near a brownfield can have negative effects on your health, property values, quality of life, and/or character of your neighborhood.

What is a Brownfield Opportunity Area?
A Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) is a specified area with a high concentration of brownfields, usually in a distressed area, that forms the basis of the BOA community planning process.

In 2024, the City of Syracuse Division of Business Development was awarded a $200,000 planning grant from the New York State Department of State Brownfield Opportunity Area Program. The program provides an opportunity to apply a community-based neighborhood planning approach to the assessment and redevelopment of brownfields and other vacant or abandoned properties. These funds will be used to initiate, develop, and finalize a BOA Plan for the Hawley-Green, Near Eastside, Eastwood, and Salt Springs neighborhoods.

A public Request for Proposals resulted in the selection of a consultant team led by C&S Companies, along with subconsultants EDR, Clementine Gold Group, and Prospect Hill Consulting. These firms will help draft a BOA Plan that meets NYSDOS requirements for designation and ensures robust community engagement to guide the vision of the plan's creation.

The EBE BOA is centered along the Erie Boulevard East and Burnet Avenue corridors, where a large number of brownfields exist.