The EPA defines brownfields as properties that have the presence or potential presence of harmful substances. For example, think of an abandoned gas station or dry-cleaning facility, where chemicals might have leached into the soil or groundwater.
According to the City of Houston, Daikin Park, Discovery Green, and the Hobby Center were once brownfields. The land has to be cleaned up before you can build on it.
On Thursday, leaders of the Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend Redevelopment Authority, an organization that collects and then uses property taxes from the area to pay for improvements, presented their $500,000 check.
They're hoping their hard work will eventually entice private developers.
"We wanted to identify those potential properties that would be deemed investable, if you will, and then identify those barriers," LeRon Wilson, the executive director of Hiram Clarke/Fort Bend Redevelopment Authority, said. "And then also identify a reuse plan for others to say, 'Hey, you know, this is what's possible here.' And then that's what we take to our public partners and the private sector to say, 'Hey, let's come and develop right here in Hiram Clark in Fort Bend, Houston.'"
Once problem properties are identified, the group can then apply for funding to clean up and rebuild them.
There are federal grants for revitalization, and the City of Houston also has an ongoing program and is accepting applications right now.