Brownfield Development: Tools for Stewardship

Abstract

Brownfield development can be a “win-win” situation for the majority of the stakeholders that have an interest in the near- and long-term use of a currently unrealized asset. Further, brownfield development is a complex and time-consuming problem, only part of which is related to environmental concerns. Whereas there seems to be a flurry of brownfield development, both nationally and internationally, tools are lacking that can help to support complex decision making and ultimately expedite site remediation and development. In this research, we have collected data from 75 brownfields in the United States, analyzed the data to be able to distinguish “successful” from “not-so-successful” sites, and developed a logit model that may be used to estimate the probability of development outcomes. Much of the brownfield literature focuses on anecdote and qualitative descriptions of experiences. Therefore this research, which is based on empirical analyses, contributes to the literature by proposing a predictive model that may support rational decision making. Additionally, this research provides recommendations for application and improvement of the model.