Lyell-Lake-State Street Brownfield Opportunity Area Nomination Study

Background

The Department of State’s Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOA) Program  provides communities with guidance, expertise and financial assistance, up to 90 percent of the total eligible project costs, to complete planning and implementation strategies for neighborhoods or areas affected by brownfields. The NYS BOA Program is a process that enables communities to comprehensively assess existing economic and environmental conditions associated with brownfield blight and impacted areas, identify and prioritize community supported redevelopment opportunities, and attract public and private investment.

The City completed a Pre-Nomination Study of the Lyell-Lake-State Street Brownfield Opportunity Area (LYLAKS BOA) in 2008 (Pre-Nomination BOA Boundary Map). The purpose of the Study was to develop viable brownfield strategies, to build on existing community assets and recent redevelopment successes, and ultimately, to create job opportunities leading to area-wide revitalization. Over 160 brownfield sites were identified within the proposed LYLAKS BOA boundary and the findings of the Study study clearly illustrated the need for more comprehensive planning towards redevelopment in the area.

The City applied for advancement in the program and was awarded a grant from the New York State Department of State (NYDOS) in the amount of $214,509 in December, 2009, which provided funding for the City to complete the nomination phase of the LYLAKS BOA, including collecting additional data, identifying market conditions, and evaluating future development potential. In this phase, the size of the study area grew to over 600 acres and the number of brownfield sites increased to over 200. The study was submitted to the NYSDOS in March of 2014. 

The LYLAKS BOA is among the first twelve BOAs designated by NYS Governor Cuomo, making LYLAKS BOA properties eligible to receive additional tax credit incentives to transform dormant and blighted areas into economic development projects. Read the full announcement here.

Among the key brownfield sites identified in the study area, several “catalyst” sites were identified, including: the Rochester Gas & Electric Bee Bee Station property; additional vacant property along Vincent Street; the former Kleen Bright facility on Oak Street; and the former Delco plant located at 415 Orchard Street and 354 Whitney Street .

Documents

Listed below are documents detailing the current site status:

Questions?

If you have additional questions about the project contact the City’s project manager:

Dorraine Kirkmire, Senior Environmental Specialist/Planner, City of Rochester Division of Environmental Quality (585) 428-6698 or email her.