Project: Rainier Court Brownfield Redevelopment

Where: Seattle, Washington

Overview

GeoEngineers supported the redevelopment of this project from site acquisition and cleanup through construction. The project won the 2005 National Phoenix Award for Brownfields Redevelopment for EPA Region 10.

GeoEngineers was responsible for the environmental strategy, design, and redevelopment support. The site was contaminated from years of misuse and had attracted illegal dumping. The project was implemented in partnership with our client, Southeast Effective Development (SEED).

Approach

• Engaged community support from King County, the City of Seattle, and many others
• Received grant funding including Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund loan; EPA UST Fields Grant, and an EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant
• Made maximum use of past data using the power of GIS
• Employed a creative combination of excavation, isolation, capping and institutional controls

Results

• A safe and clean environment replacing contaminated property left dormant for more than 35 years
• Created 208 units for senior housing, 178 units for family housing, and 18,000 square feet of retail space
• Conducted cleanup action within 4 weeks for each phase – structures occupied within 18 months after the start of planning
• One of the first residential projects in the Washington state that consisted of an isolation and capping remedy

Facts

• More than $950,000 in federal grants, loans and EPA targeted brownfields assessments
• The selected remedy saved about $1,000,000 in costs
• The Phoenix Award acknowledges “…groups that implement innovative yet practical programs that remediated environmental contamination at brownfield sites and simultaneously stimulated economic development…”. This award to SEED and GeoEngineers is only the second award in EPA Region 10 since the award inception in 1997
• Lead GeoEngineers office: Seattle

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