Definition
Background
- History
- Conditions
- Health
- Literature
Identification
What to Do
Programs
- St. Louis
- East St. Louis
Data & Maps
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Brownfields - Background: History
Brownfields have existed for decades, but the real focus to take action to clean up these properties did not become a priority in most cities until the early to mid-nineties. This interest has been driven by several factors including:
- a desire to bring economic life back to the urban core of the community,
- a growing understanding of the need to protect human health and the environment, and lately,
- a growing frustration with the unchecked development of surrounding open spaces such as farmland and forests (a.k.a. as urban sprawl).
The current economic conditions in St. Louis and East St. Louis mirror those of other large urban centers throughout the nation. Both communities were once the center of industrial and commercial commerce for the region for many decades. But as the population moved from the urban core so to have many of the major factories and commercial centers, thus leaving behind an abundance of vacant property - many perceived to be contaminated due to the associated past business practices at these sites.
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