Role
Descriptions
 
 
 
 
 
 




A
brownfield
charrette
is
an
intensive
workshop
designed
to
facilitate
an
open

discussion
about
the
site
among
stakeholders;
like
urban
planning
professionals,

community
groups,
and
developers.

By
holding
this
conversation
among
various
groups,

people
practice
transparency
and
develop
trust.
Topics
of
discussion
include
brownfields

issues
that
face
the
community
and
the
redevelopment
of
the
site.
The
goal
is
to

ultimately
create
a
clear,
detailed,
realistic
plan
for
future
development
based
on
issues

that
are
important
to
all
parties.





Charrettes
can
accomplish
a
variety
of
objectives;
it
can
focus
on
a
city
or
regional

strategy;
specific
social,
financing,
and
liability
concerns
about
the
site;
or
options
for

reuse.

Charrettes
can
generate
new
ideas,
solve
problems,
provide
expert
advice,
build

consensus,
or
stimulate
actions.




Usually
charettes
occur
over
several
days
where
the
charrette
planners
gather

information
about
the
brownfield,
design
the
agenda
for
the
charette,
hold
a
series
of

meetings
between
stakeholders,
and
then
present
a
synopsis
of
the
events
and
findings.


However,
our
class
will
focus
on
the
last
two
stages
and
hold
a
general
meeting
of
the

following
participants:






 Key
business
leaders
and
property
owners


You
primarily
focus
on
the
financial
livelihood
of
the
site
and
how
to
make

the
property
more
lucrative.

Your
duty
is
to
study
the
surrounding
market

and
what
types
of
developments
would
be
the
most
popular
in
that
site.


Discuss
these
ideas
with
the
developer.



 Developers
(may
include
an
architect)

Your
job
is
to
help
the
business
leaders
and
property
owners
achieve
what

they
want
by
creating
physical
feasibility
in
the
shape
of
proposal

blueprints
or
renderings
and
financial
estimations
of
construction.

Your

duty
is
to
discuss
the
owners’
ideas
for
development,
come
up
with

renderings
of
its
development,
and
estimate
the
budget
needed
for
each

idea.
You
should
consider
the
size
and
shape
of
the
site,
as
well
as
your

allotted
budget
(though,
money
is
no
object
to
you).


















Role
Descriptions
 
 
 
 
 
 

 Lenders


You
are
not
sure
to
lend
private
development
money
to
the
property
owner

and
developer
without
having
the
liability
issue
addressed.

Until
then,
the

project
might
not
start
due
to
limited
funds.

Your
duty
is
to
research

liability
issues
and
the
lender’s
role
in
liability.



 Environmental
engineers


You
have
been
hired
by
the
property
owner
to
clean
up
the
land.


Depending
on
the
ultimate
zoning
of
the
site,
you
will
figure
out
what

course
of
remediation
is
needed
and
how
much
it
would
cost.

Your
duty
is

to
research
the
possible
clean‐up
strategies
needed
for
the
type
and
extent

of
contamination
on
the
site,
as
well
as
associated
costs.



 State
voluntary
cleanup
program
representatives


The
goal
of
state
voluntary
cleanup
programs
is
to
assuage
brownfield

redevelopment
obstacles.
You
will
assist
in
the
cleanup,
liability
relief,

required
reviews
and
timeline
of
the
development,
as
well
as
financial

assistance
for
the
site.

Your
duty
is
to
research
the
state’s
cleanup

program.



 Neighborhood
representatives


Your
concern
lies
in
the
social
and
financial
prosperity
of
the
community

and
what
can
be
done
to
extend
the
social
capital
of
the
area.

Your
duty
is

to
research
the
aspects
of
the
community
and
to
represent
their
many

views.



 Local
public
officials


You
are
also
concerned
with
the
same
issues
as
the
community
members,

but
you
also
have
a
stake
with
communities
outside
of
your
own.

You

represent
a
larger
population
of
voices,
and
your
duty
is
to
research
the

viewpoints
of
the
communities
collectively
and
present
one
view
of
them

all.



 City
planners


You
value
the
consent
of
all
of
the
parties
at
the
charrette
and
aim
to

please
everyone
to
the
best
of
your
abilities
while
also
respecting
the
















Role
Descriptions
 
 
 
 
 
 

environment
and
future
of
the
city.

You
should
consider
two
types
of

context:
spatial
(the
site)
and
temporal
(history).

(e.g.
The
size
and
shape

of
the
site,
surrounding
ecosystems,
existing
infrastructure,
what
should
be

protected
and
removed
on
the
site,
the
condition
of
the
earth,
resident’s

preferences,
budgets,
and
what
has
shaped
the
site
in
the
past.)



 Economic
development
professionals
(state,
city,
development
&
port

authorities,
utilities,
nonprofit
lenders,
etc.)


You
have
the
duty
to
recommend
private
and
governmental
grants,
loans,

and
tax
incentives
to
a
development
if
the
development
lies
within
the

requirements
of
the
financial
aid
in
question.

Your
duty
is
to
research
the

details
of
possible
grants,
loans,
and
tax
incentives
that
can
be
utilized.



Any
group
may
prepare
short
(1‐3
min)
presentations
to
the
class
or
develop
handouts

for
background
information.

Ultimately
our
charrette
will
allow
the
class
to
decide
and

discover


o The
type
of
development/zoning
for
the
site
(industrial,
commercial,
residential,

or
mixed),

o The
type
of
remediation
plan
needed
to
achieve
this
development,

o Estimated
financial
costs
and
time,

o Financial
aids
to
help
fund
this
project,

o Advantages
and
disadvantages
of
this
development
to
each
of
the
stakeholders,

as
well
as

o Noteworthy,
surprising,
or
interesting
developments
of
the
charrette.


















Role
Descriptions
 
 
 
 
 
 







AGENDA

Based
on
a
45‐minute
class
period



These
agenda
items
are
loosely
constructed
since
many
issues
are
connected
and
may

come
up
during
other
agenda
items.

This
is
merely
a
guide
if
flowing
conversation

cannot
be
achieved.



10
min
 Community
Issues
for
local

brownfields
redevelopment

5
min
 Brownfields
Assessment

5
min
 Liability
and
Risk
Mitigation

5
min
 Redevelopment
possibilities:

brainstorm
and
budget

5
min
 Financing

5
min
 Other
Items

10
min
 Debrief
&
Discussion