Brownfields

Brownfield Sites

Brownfields are properties suspected of having environmental contamination. Due to unknown cleanup costs, these properties often suffer from under-utilization, which contributes to disinvestment and blight in our neighborhoods. Examples of brownfields include former industrial sites, inactive gas stations, properties containing underground storage tanks, and abandoned railroad parcels.

Like many Midwest communities, the city of Elkhart must reconcile the present-day condition of its properties with the remnants of an industrial past. An inventory conducted in 2008 estimated that Elkhart has close to 100 brownfield sites. While some of these sites will only need minimal effort for restoration, others are expected to require a considerably larger cleanup program before they can be fully utilized.