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According to the Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act, "The term "brownfield site" means real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant". As a historically industrial city, Worcester, Massachusetts has many such brownfield sites. Regeneration of these properties has been a priority issue within the city government as a means to grow the tax base, provide affordable housing, retail and commercial space, and improve the urban landscape. This poster illustrates the application of GIS as a decision support tool for the process of reclaiming brownfield properties in the City of Worcester. A database was created containing readily available information important to characterizing Worcester brownfields. ArcGIS® and Idrisi® software were utilized for data processing and analysis. Factors for prioritization included environmental justice issues, parcel assemblage and city zoning. Through multi-criteria evaluation, brownfields were prioritized for redevelopment for both industrial and residential end-use. |