Our Opportunities Brownfield remediation and redevelopment Southeastern Massachusetts has numerous brownfield sites where industrial activity has taken place for over 200 years. Sites situated along river corridors, such as the Ten-Mile River, initially powered jewelry factories, foundries, and other production activities.23 Other sites hosted nonrenewable energy generation facilities, such as the decommissioned Brayton Point and Montaup coal-fired electrical plants in Somerset. Proactive
remediation of brownfields will contribute to available redevelopment sites. This important work can also improve the health of contaminated waterbodies and ecosystems, create new public access to riverfronts and coastlines, improve conditions in environmental justice communities, and otherwise improve regional quality of life – both perceived and lived.
23 In 2022, SRPEDD received an EPA Brownfields Community Assessment Grant to work to remediate and explore redevelopment and reclamation of several contaminated sites in the Ten-Mile River and Mount Hope Bay Watersheds in the towns of Plainville, Attleboro, North Attleborough, Swansea, and Seekonk.
Our region has numerous remaining development sites where we can leverage state and federal infrastructure funding to encourage growth.
The region is fortunate to have thousands of remaining acres of developable land. Many of these sites are profiles in detail in Section C. Priority Sites. They present a diverse portfolio of development, infill and expansion, redevelopment, and brownfield remediation opportunities for business growth.
Plainville Commerce Park (SRPEDD)
24
