SPRingBoard Environmental Law Podcast
Building on Brownfields: Affordable Housing and the Transformation of Gowanus
Summary In the latest episode of SPRingBoard, host Michael Hannaman dives into a critical issue facing New York City and communities across the country: how to build more affordable housing—and where to build it. Michael is joined by guests Justin Pelsinger, Chief Operating Officer at Charney Companies, and Michael Bogin, Principal at SPR. At a time when the demand for housing continues to outpace supply, policymakers and developers are increasingly looking to underutilized and historically industrial properties, known as “brownfields,” as opportunities for redevelopment. In New York City, this is playing out in neighborhoods like Gowanus, where a 2021 rezoning has spurred a wave of residential development alongside ongoing environmental cleanup efforts. But transforming these sites raises a host of questions: How do developers manage the costs and risks of remediation? What role do programs like New York State’s Brownfield Cleanup Program play in making environmental remediation and affordable housing construction financially viable? And how do evolving policy tools—like the new 485-x tax incentive, reforms to the State Environmental Quality Review Act (known as SEQRA), and the City’s broader housing strategy—shape what ultimately gets built, and at what scale? Michael, Justin, and Michael discuss how brownfield redevelopment is shaping the future of affordable housing, the legal and financial frameworks driving these projects, and the practical realities of building housing on some of the most complex sites in the City. Production support for this episode was provided by Charlotte Hawes, Legal Marketing Assistant at SPR. Chapters 00:04 Introduction to Affordable Housing Challenges 06:10 The Gowanus Neighborhood: Challenges and Opportunities 09:41 The Brownfield Cleanup Program: Incentives for Developers 14:18 Remediation Challenges in Gowanus: Lessons Learned 22:30 Streamlining the Brownfield Cleanup Process 24:38 Reviving Communication in Project Management 26:02 The Importance of Pre-Work in Remediation 26:57 Evaluating Brownfield Sites for Redevelopment 31:58 Community Engagement in Redevelopment 34:23 Affordable Housing Tax Incentives: A Comparative Analysis 37:07 Impact of Wage Requirements on Development 40:08 Challenges in Reducing Development Costs 46:48 Legislative Reforms and Their Impact on Housing 50:31 Future Trends in Affordable Housing Development 52:27 Disclaimer Disclaimer : The content of this podcast, and its supplemental material, is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. The views and opinions expressed in this program are those of the speakers in their individual capacities and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of SPR, Charney Companies and/or any of the clients they represent. Track ID : 14061
