Employment Effects of Brownfield Redevelopment: What Do We Know from the Literature?

Abstract

This review examines the relationship between brownfield redevelopment and job creation. Several policy conclusions can be drawn. First, recent policy innovations have spurred cleanup and redevelopment on many of the counties' least contaminated sites and those located in the strongest markets. Second, brownfield remediation is a necessary but not sufficient precursor to redevelopment and job creation. Many of the U.S. brownfield sites are located in weak land markets; thus, cleanup does not necessarily result in follow-on private investment. Third, brownfield redevelopment is complicated by the fact that many of the most seriously contaminated sites are located in the most distressed neighborhoods. Redevelopment and job creation, therefore, are likely to require substantial government investment. Finally, experiments that tie job creation to local residents have received little study but show promise as the best way to avoid displacement when remediation and redevelopment are successful.