The Brownfield Opportunity Area Program

1. The Brownfield Opportunity Area Program OER-NPCR Capacity Building Workshop November 23, 2010

2. The Brownfield Opportunity Area Program • Administered by NYS DOS • Area-wide planning for brownfield redevelopment • Addresses community wide improvement • Flexible funding source for planning and pre- • development activities • BOA funds support a collaborative planning process

3. BOAs in NYC • 17 BOAs in New York City • Broad diversity in BOA groups and communities • Varying priorities such as waterfront access, open space, enhanced mobility, affordable housing and green jobs creation • Distinct CBO Objectivesinclude creating aframework for revitalization, highlighting an unmet need, pursuing development activities

4. BOA Opportunities The BOA Planning Process: • Supports relationship building across diverse • community interest groups • Establishes aninformed community vision • Leverages planned public improvements • Is an additional funding source for research and analysis • Makes possible new partnerships or achieve special • designations

5. The BOA Process Step 1 – Pre-Nomination Provides a preliminary description and analysis of the proposed Brownfield Opportunity Area Step 2 – Nomination Study Provides an in-depth and thorough description and analysis of the proposed BOA and identifies strategic sites Step 3 – ImplementationStrategy Provides funding to identify strategic actions to facilitate BOA plan implementation Designation of a BOA Process may culminate in the designation of a BOA

6. Using BOA Funding: Step 2 • Site Reconnaissance and Analysis • Assessment of structures, buildings, or • facilities on project site • Infrastructure Analysis • Assessment of transportation/circulation • systems • Topography and hydrology • Zoning and other applicable designations • Analysis of site constraints, needs and • opportunities • Site Build-out Assessment and Analysis • Build-out and bulk analysis • Visual analysis/shadow analysis • Other impact assessments per SEQRA • Site Specific Redevelopment Analysis • Redevelopment feasibility analysis • Market demand study • Highest and best use study to • determine optimal land value • Gap analysis to determine need for • financial subsidies • Land Assemblage Analysis and Strategies • Property assemblage strategies • Ownership survey and analysis • Tax lien properties analysis • Relocation feasibility analysis

7. Using BOA Funding: Step 3 • Activities to advance redevelopment on strategic sites such as: • Title searches • Property appraisals • Site surveys • Conceptual/schematic site or • building design • Redevelopment cost estimation • Identifying opportunities for • sustainable design and energy • efficiency • Website development • Developing marketing strategies • Requests for proposals for • developer/operator • Tenant attraction activities • Activities to advance area-wide revitalization: • Infrastructure and transportation • improvement studies • Grant writing for plan implementation • Development of community benefit • agreements • Establishing business Improvement • Districts • Establishing Urban Renewal Areas or • Empire Zones • Advancing or supporting rezoning • efforts

8. BOA Designation and Benefits BOA Designation Secretary of State may designate a BOA after Step 3: Implementation Strategy is completed. • Preference and priority for funding is conferred on projects in designated BOAs. Preference and Priority Funding programs that currently provide Preference and Priority to BOA projects • Multiple grant programs within DOS, DEC and Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation • Restore New York • Brownfield Tax Credit Bonus • Upstate/ Downstate Revitalization ESD Funds • NYC BIG program

9. BOA Timeline • Application process • - Accepted on a rolling basis but advanced for final approval • twice annually in May and September • BOA Award Process • - Most BOA awards subject to legislative MOU • -Takes up to 12 months • Contract Approval • - Requires review by multiple state agencies • - Can take up to 12 months to complete • - 25% payment advance upon execution 18 – 30 months from application to contract

10. BOA Timeline BOA Planning Process Convene a Local Steering Committee Ongoing Public Outreach and Communication Consultant Procurement Research, analysis and pre-development activities Final Report Submission 12 – 24 months from LSC convening to final report BOA Planning timeline is dependent on many variables including depth and types of analysis to be conducted.

11. Program Advancement Advancing through the Steps of the BOA program: The culminating point of each Step is the submission of a report to DOS Final report review and approval is an iterative process Each Step in the process requires a distinct application and contracting process It is difficult for CBOs to continue work between BOA phases - No dedicated source of bridge funding - BOA grantees usually discontinue activities prior to payment advance

12. Takeaways • BOA Funds support area wide planning as well as pre- • development activities • NYC CBOs vary in their goals and priorities for BOA projects • State administrative and legislative processes and • unpredictable access to funding may slow down CBO planning • and development activities • Program has improved over its lifespan and is still • maturing