Latest News

Vita Nuova to lead PREPARED Workbook Session at the 2013 Brownfields Conference

Join Vita Nuova for a special PREPARED Workbook session at the 2013 Brownfields Conference in Atlanta, Georgia on May 16th at 4pm! If you plan on attending the session, please email Hana Lewis at lewis@vnproductions.net so that we can send you helpful materials in advance.

The session will be moderated by Timothy Fields of MDB, Inc. and panelists will include Jim Rocco of Vita Nuova, Barry Hersh of NYU, and Kathy Castagna of USEPA Region 1.

The Prepared Workbook is a roadmap for all public and community entities planning to become involved in brownfields redevelopment. This session will help participants understand how to navigate and coordinate all appropriate inquiry with redevelopment planning within the framework of organizational decision-making. Participation in this session will help attendees work through decisions related to a rural or urban brownfields redevelopment project and provide an opportunity to bring specific development issues for discussion. An interactive format will be used to lead participants through the PREPARED approach and work through various reuse-related barriers and issues.

Click here for more information on the 2013 Brownfields Conference.

Vita Nuova Participates in 2013 New Partners for Smart Growth Conference

In February, Vita Nuova moderated an implementation panel at the 12th annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference in Kansas City, MO. The panel featured three unique projects in Toledo, OH, Ogden, IA, and Indianapolis, IN. While these communities all face different issues, all three experienced disinvestment and lack of access to capital in recent decades, causing stagnation in rebuilding efforts.

The goal of the panel was to develop ideas and next steps that could help the communities build upon their previous work and continue to realize improvement. Following presentations on the key catalytic projects by each of the communities, the audience offered ideas, based on their own experiences, and recommendations on potential strategies for leveraging the existing projects.

The result of the panel was two-fold: audience members shared their experiences and generated a number of new ideas to take home and representatives from the three key communities gained valuable advice from audience members experiences.

VN supports disposition of Connecticut Yankee Property to
US Fish and Wildlife


Vita Nuova supported the disposition of a portion of the Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Company property to US Fish and Wildlife (FWS). Vita Nuova worked with a coalition of local conservation groups to help facilitate an offer from FWS to purchase the property and complete the transfer of land. An article in the Hartford Courant provides information on the transfer.

This work, on behalf of the property owner, is one example of how Vita Nuova helps its clients identify reuse and disposition options that meet their corporate objectives, and supports clients' transfer land process.


VN partners with Valley Council of Government to provide community leaders Prepared Workbook Training

Vita Nuova facilitated a Prepared Workbook Training workshop for the Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley this week, bringing together community leaders from the Valley area and connecting them with representatives from USEPA and CTDEEP. The Workshop was a great success, utilizing a case study and an interactive format to lead the participants through the PREPARED approach and work through various reuse-related barriers and issues.

Gary O'Connor, chair of the Governor's Brownfields Task Force, called the Prepared Workbook "everything you need to get the job done".

An overview of the PREPARED approach and a free, downloadable version of the Workbook are available at www.epa.gov/region1/brownfields/prepared.

If you are interested in having Vita Nuova facilitate a Prepared Workbook Training for your area, please contact us at info@vitanuova.net.

Vita Nuova works to reposition 330 acres of waterfront in Ogdensburg, NY


Working closely with the city under a BOA Step 2, Vita Nuova is working to prepare the waterfront for redevelopment. See an article here describing the recent presentation to the City Council on the market and economic analysis study and to see the website referenced in the article, go to www.ogdensburgwaterfront.com.



NAIOP Foundation Releases VN Member Barry Hersh's National Waterfront Brownfield Redevelopment Study

Click here to view the study

Vita Nuova Facilitating EPA PREPARED Workbook Training in Vermont April 23, 2012

EPA's PREPARED Workbook Training
Location: Capitol Plaza Hotel; Montpelier, Vermont

EPA and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation are co-hosting a free, one-day workshop on reusing contaminated properties. Training content is specifically tailored for:

  • Vermont Regional Planning Commissions
  • Vermont Regional Development Corporations
  • Vermont League of Cities and Towns
  • Vermont municipalities

This training will be based on the PREPARED Workbook issued by EPA Region 1 in May, 2011. The PREPARED Workbook (Process for Risk Evaluation, Property Analysis and Reuse Decisions) describes a risk-management approach designed to help guide municipalities through the regulatory and redevelopment process. An overview of the PREPARED approach and a free, downloadable version of the Workbook are available at: www.epa.gov/region1/brownfields/prepared.

The training will be conducted by EPA Region 1, VT DEC, and Vita Nuova LLC, a national, New England-based consulting firm with extensive expertise in private-sector and public-sector redevelopment projects involving contaminated properties. Among the topics to be covered are:

  • Establishing realistic project goals
  • Conducting environmental due diligence and all appropriate inquiry
  • Assessing project risk stemming from federal and state environmental liability, financial risk, and community issues
  • Developing a risk management strategy

The Workshop utilizes a case study and an interactive format to lead the participants through the PREPARED approach and work through various reuse-related barriers and issues.

Click here to register for the training course. There are no fees for registration and course materials. The number of participants may be limited, so please register early. This will help ensure you a place at the workshop and help us to plan appropriately. If someone in your organization will be attending in your place or in addition to you, please forward this invitation to them. We would appreciate hearing from you even if you will not be attending. Just go to the registration page, type in your name and organization, and check the appropriate box.

An agenda and additional information on the Workshop will be sent in a subsequent notice.

For questions, please contact:
John Podgurski, Land Revitalization Coordinator
EPA Region 1
podgurski.john@epa.gov
(617) 918-1296

Trish Coppolino, Brownfields Coordinator
Vermont DEC
patricia.coppolino@state.vt.us
(802) 241-3967

What's New at Vita Nuova? Winter/Spring 2012

Vita Nuova Helps Reposition and Support Disposition of Major Former Industrial Properties

Vita Nuova is currently supporting the repositioning and/or disposition of almost 5,000 acres of former industrial properties across the United States. These properties include former chemical facilities, refining plants, nuclear energy generating plants, and other sites in Superfund, RCRA, NRC, and voluntary cleanup programs. VN supports clients in assessing the reuse potential for these properties, helping to shepherd these properties through the regulatory process, and conducting Expression of Interest (EOI) processes for their disposition. While the details of many of these projects are confidential, please contact us for more information on how to reposition and redevelop your underutilized property.

PREPARED Workbook Training - Region 1

From 2009 to 2011, VN supported USEPA in developing a primer for municipalities for the cleanup and redevelopment of brownfields and other contaminated properties. This groundbreaking guidance provides a roadmap for making risk management decisions in order to bring underutilized properties back to productive use. VN is supporting USEPA on the development of training curriculum to be piloted in Vermont on April 23, 2012. For more information on the work PREPARED Workbook, click here

SIEDC Green Zone - Staten Island, NY

As a part of an integrated team, Vita Nuova has provided sustainability consulting to Staten Island Economic Development Corporation (SIEDC) in the establishment of a green zone for companies providing sustainable products or planning to operate more sustainably. This forward reaching program is intended to create a green zone district in the center of one of the largest consumer markets in the world and increase sustainable economy activity in the New York Metropolitan Region.

Ogdensburg Area-Wide Economic and Market Trends Analysis

Vita Nuova has provided an economic and market trends analysis for the major sites along their waterfront. This analysis will provide direction for future work in revitalization of the waterfront as part of USEPA's Area-wide Planning program and New York State's BOA to support the revitalization of the City of Ogdensburg. Significant property along the waterfront will provide a economic boost to the city and its downtown upon redevelopment.

Revitalization of Former Jeep Plant Neighborhood-Toledo, Ohio

As part of an ongoing partnership between the City of Toledo, the Toledo Foundation, the Port Authority of Toledo, Urban League and USEPA, work has begun to rebuild the neighborhood as the Former Jeep Plant is redeveloped. Priorities include establishment of a broad-based consortium to support the long-term rebuilding of the neighborhood, connecting it will city, regional, state and national resources. This neighborhood-driven approach is intended to serve as a model of cooperation for revitalizing communities as former industrial sites are redeveloped so that those who have suffered from the abandonment and dislocation will participate in the economic and social regeneration of the area.

4th Annual NSCW - June 7, 2012 in NYC!

The 4th Annual Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop (NSCW) will be held on June 7, 2012 in NYC! For more details on this exciting full day workshop, visit the NSCW website here.

Indy Smart Growth District takes off upon completion of USEPA/DOT/HUD Pilot

Click here to read Issue 1 of the new Indianapolis Smart Growth District Bulletin! Locals in Indianapolis are now working to complete plans envisioned during an EPA-led process. Vita Nuova, as subcontractor to SRA International, served as primary facilitator and planner during the pilot.

What's New at Vita Nuova? Fall 2011

Vita Nuova recently helped develop the following new USEPA documents:

Urban Farm Business Plan Handbook: EPA Region 5 worked with local Toledo partners to develop a planning toolkit based on a business plan created for the Fernwood Growing Center in Toledo, OH. The Urban Farm Business Plan Handbook provides a framework for any organization or community interested in developing an urban farm on cleaned brownfields or vacant sites to help address neighborhood blight, food access, or community development challenges. The handbook provides guidance on how to assemble marketing, operating, and financial strategies to communicate your urban farm project to potential partners and funders.

To guide your responses, questionnaires related to each section as well as financial spreadsheets are also included.

The PREPARED Workbook was developed by EPA New England and its contractors for local governments (it should also be useful to states, counties, tribes and quasi-governmental redevelopment entities). PREPARED is a risk management framework for evaluating various actions that a local government might take to bring about a desired reuse at contaminated properties that it does not currently own. These actions are referred to in the Workbook as property recovery actions. Worksheets are also provided to help document and guide the evaluation process. Click here to view the workbook and the downloadable worksheets.

Toledo Synergy

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Department of Transportation (DOT) are working together under the Partnership for Sustainable Communities (Partnership) to ensure that federal investments, policies and actions support development that is more efficient and sustainable. This partnership is based on "livability principles" that guide inter-agency collaboration and support the integration of safe, reliable, and economical transportation; affordable, energy-efficient housing; and sustainable reuse of idle or underutilized land.

As part of its role in the Partnership, EPA provided technical assistance to the City of Toledo, Ohio to conduct planning and visioning to strengthen the coordination and investment in the community in support of transportation, housing, and environmental improvement. With the cleanup and redevelopment planning of the former Jeep site underway, EPA provided technical assistance to build a foundation for revitalizing the neighborhoods surrounding the 110-acre brownfield. The project goal was to foster interaction and a working relationship among the local stakeholders to leverage expertise and resources to help strengthen the neighborhoods surrounding the former Jeep site.

Click here to read the report - "Toledo Synergy: Revitalizing the Former Jeep Site and Surrounding Neighborhoods."

Indianapolis Smart Growth District

Vita Nuova assisted USEPA Region 5 and local partners in developing the following recently released reports:

Phase I Redevelopment Plan Area: Implementation Funding Plan

Revitalization Strategy: Prioritizing Actions to Support a Transit-Oriented Future

Vita Nuova Supports Partnership for Sustainable Communities Area-wide Pilot Projects

Vita Nuova, LLC, under contract with SRA International, Inc., is supporting USEPA on the following Sustainability Pilots:

  • Indianapolis, Indiana - Identifying Local Catalysts and Focus Areas (in progress)
  • Toledo, OH - Area Wide Planning (in progress: click here to view the Local Synergy Toledo project portal)
  • National City, CA - An innovative land revitalization project in the Westside Neighborhood of National City, CA. Vita Nuova provided technical assistance on 1) sustainable remediation; 2) redevelopment options for a City-owned open space site; and 3) habitat restoration for Paradise Creek. In addition, Vita Nuova developed recommendations for property ranking non-conforming uses in the Westside Neighborhood.

For more information on this project, see the following:
USEPA Region 9 Homepage - http://www.epa.gov/region9/brownfields/
USEPA Region 9 Annual Report - http://www.epa.gov/region9/annualreport/
USEPA Land Revitalization Success Stories - http://www.epa.gov/landrevitalization/index.htm

What's New at Vita Nuova? Spring 2011

Vita Nuova Selected by SoBro to Complete Pre-nomination Study in Eastchester
Vita Nuova will complete a pre-nomination study for an industrial section of the Bronx called Eastchester for SoBro, an urban housing redevelopment corporation located in the Bronx.

Vita Nuova Developing Model Primer for Composting for EPA Innovations Program
Vita Nuova is working with Providence, RI and Bridgeport, CT to identify opportunities for composting of food waste and generation of electricity. From this process, Vita Nuova will develop a primer for use in other communities by USEPA.

Vita Nuova Supporting Disposition of Former Refinery
Working with the property owner, Vita Nuova is conducting an expression of interest process leading to the disposition of 58 acres located off I-86 in Olean, NY.

Vita Nuova Supporting Ecological Restoration along the Quinnipiac River
On a former RCRA site in south central CT, Vita Nuova is supporting the property owner in development of 40 acres of ecological restoration and interpretive trails, as well as 18 acres of land for industrial development.

Vita Nuova is completing 3 USEPA/HUD/DOT Sustainability Pilots in National City, CA, Toledo, OH, and Indianapolis, IN
These pilots aim to coordinate the resources of USEPA, HUD, and DOT with city resources for the improvement and revitalization of distressed existing neighborhoods. This work is based on the Partnership for Sustainable Communities

What's New at Vita Nuova? Fall 2010

Vita Nuova Named Brownfields Consultant for Staten Island Economic Development Corporation
Vita Nuova will be providing a variety of services to Staten Island property owners and developers to facilitate redevelopment of brownfields properties on the island in conjunction with SIEDC.

Vita Nuova Conducting Neighborhood Planning Study in New Rochelle, NY
In preparation for a new comprehensive plan, Vita Nuova was selected to conduct a neighborhood study of the West Side neighborhood of New Rochelle.

Vita Nuova to Support Disposition of Former Refinery Property in Olean, NY
Working with the property owner, Vita Nuova will conduct an expression of interest process leading to the disposition of 58 acres located off I-86 in Olean, NY.

Vita Nuova is Completing two USEPA/DOT/HUD Sustainability Pilots in National City, CA and Indianapolis, IN
These pilots focus on distressed existing neighborhoods and seek to identify strategies for revitalization.

Vita Nuova is Developing a Model Business Plan for an Urban Farm in Toledo, OH
The model business plan will support Toledo CDC in its efforts to develop an urban growing center and will then be available to non-profit and for-profit entities for developing urban agriculture business plans.

These are a sample of the new projects that Vita Nuova is working on this fall (2010).

Local Synergy™ Process to Help Revitalize Ogden, IA

The Vita Nuova team is preparing to implement the Local Synergy™ process in Ogden, IA, a small town of just 2,000 residents just west of Ames, IA. The town of Ogden is seeking to redevelop brownfields properties and in the process revitalize the downtown area. For more information, visit the Local Synergy™ Ogden webpage here.

The 2nd Annual NSCW was a Sold Out Success!

The reviews are coming in! One attendee offered these comments: "Excellent presentations with a good mix of technical details and practical considerations. Great variety of presenters from different specific fields and public and private sectors. Well-run, upbeat and excellent opportunities for networking.

Click here to visit the NSCW website.

Register Today and Save! 2nd Annual Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop - June 17, 2010

Early registration is now open for the 2nd Annual Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop, to be held on June 17, 2010 in Newark, NJ. Register before May 15 to receive the early bird pricing! Click here to register today!

The 2010 Northeast Sustainable Communities Workshop will look deeply at the interconnections and confluences that make for creating sustainable communities through Brownfields redevelopment. Brownfields are uniquely suited to be a place for sustainable redevelopment to grow. The program for this workshop is intended to be one day of intensive, high energy exchanges between stakeholders sharing varied perspectives on the issues surrounding Brownfields and sustainability.

To view the workshop agenda, registration information, and more, please visit www.nscw.net.

Vita Nuova Develops Auto Body Shop Green Guidelines and Zoning Code

Vita Nuova developed a two-part analysis of National City, California's auto body-related businesses. The analysis includes a series of design guidelines and best management practices for auto body shops. Taken together, these guidelines and best management practices provide tangible steps for shop owners to enhance and protect worker safety, public health and the environment. The green automobile repair code report provides a series of recommendations for general municipal zoning code revisions to specifically address auto body-related land uses. Drawing on best management practices and case studies, this report provides specific recommendations on how National City can alter its current zoning code to more appropriately address the auto body-related uses.

Vita Nuova Launches New Website!

Vita Nuova is pleased to welcome you to our new website, featuring expanded services, projects, and initiatives coupled with the latest web technology. Vita Nuova continues to grow and expand, and visitors will be pleased to find a wealth of new content designed to clearly illustrate Vita Nuova's innovative offerings and approaches. We encourage you to explore the site where you will find videos, recorded webinars, an array of graphics and images, project success stories, and more. We hope that you find this new resource to be informative and useful, and we welcome you to contact us anytime at info@vitanuova.net.

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