A building or site can be redeveloped in many ways: old industrial buildings can be turned into new real estate, new building can occur on cleared sites, and community infrastructure and aesthetics can be improved by creating more greenspace.
Visioning
Visioning questions worksheet
This tool offers questions to consider as you develop a community vision.
Stakeholder Engagement Matrix
An effective local effort includes all stakeholders throughout each step
of the process to eliminate blight in a community. Here are suggestions on organizations
or community members to include.
For support on economic growth in your community,
- Refer to the WV Economic Development Council
- Contact your regional planning and development council
- Further information can be found by visiting Economic Development Resources
For more suggestions on community visioning or leadership, refer to the WV Hub which helps to identify leaders and assets; develop plans and set goals; and connect with a wide network of resources to meet those goals.
Wind or Solar
RE-Powering Electronic Decision Tree tool
EPA encourages renewable energy on already developed or degraded land instead
of green space. Their RE-Powering America’s Land Initiative has developed the
RE-Powering Electronic Decision Tree tool to guide interested parties through
a process to screen sites for their suitability for solar photovoltaics or wind
installations. It’s a computer application that will help you determine whether
a site has potential barriers to a solar or wind project.
It addresses the following types of sites:
- Potentially Contaminated Sites (Superfund, Brownfield, RCRA, mine site)
- Landfill (Municipal Solid Waste, Construction and Demolition or similar unit)
- Underutilized (Abandoned parcels, parking lots)
- Rooftop (Solar PV only; Commercial / Industrial roofs)
Learn more about the tool and how to download the computer application, and download a one-page factsheet.
Create a land bank
A land bank is a public authority created to efficiently hold, manage and develop tax-foreclosed property. West Virginia recently passed the SB579 Land Banks bill, however the creation of an Urban Renewal Authority (URA) is a more effective route.
Huntington, West Virginia set up a land bank through their Urban Renewal Authority. Visit their website to learn more.
For more more information about land banks, check out the WVU Land Use Clinic’s LEAP Toolkit and also this FAQ from the Center for Community Progress.