JP Developer Receives $250,000 from Brownfields Fund

The Baker-Polito Administration announced over $2.6 million in Brownfields Redevelopment Fund grants to support the environmental assessment and cleanup of 13 contaminated and challenging sites across the Commonwealth.

One of those 13 sites is the Jackson Square Site III at 25 Amory St & 250 Centre St. Jackson Square Partners LLC will use the $250,000 awarded grant funds to clean up this three-acre site, formerly used to store jewelry manufacturing chemicals. The site is adjacent to the Town’s Riverwalk and the commuter rail, and is the final parcel requiring cleanup in the transit center area.

The Brownfields Redevelopment Fund works in tandem with other statewide initiatives to support the redevelopment of underutilized and abandoned properties – where the reuse of the property can result in new jobs and housing opportunities,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Together with MassWorks and the Site Readiness Program, this funding helps cities and towns identify opportunities and lay the groundwork for economic development.”

“The goal of the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund is two-pronged, helping to both assess and clean up sites impacted by environmental contamination and guide them toward productive use,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Congratulations to all of today’s awardees, and thank you for championing site reuse across the Commonwealth.”

“The Brownfields Redevelopment Fund provides flexible financing for environmental site assessment and remediation projects that are crucial to development projects across the Commonwealth,” said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. “In addition to creating jobs and housing opportunities, brownfields restoration is an important tool for protecting our environment and ensuring Massachusetts remains an attractive place to live and work.” 

In Lawrence, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito and MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss joined Mayor Daniel Rivera to announce the awards at Union Crossing, a site that local nonprofit Lawrence CommunityWorks cleaned up and transformed into 60 units of affordable housing and 30,000 square feet of commercial space using funds from the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund. Lawrence CommunityWorks is receiving funds this year to assess an adjacent building, the former Ultimate Windows site, which will serve as the final phase of the Union Crossing development.

MassDevelopment oversees the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund, which helps to transform vacant, abandoned, or underused industrial or commercial properties by financing the environmental assessment and remediation of brownfield sites in “Economically Distressed Areas” of the Commonwealth. Since the Fund’s inception in 1998, it has supported 726 sites for a total investment of more than $102 million. Once redeveloped the 13 projects receiving funding today are projected to redevelop over 37 acres, create more than 508 new housing units, and provide more than 450 full-time, part-time, and construction jobs.

“The Brownfields Redevelopment Fund is one of the most important tools in our economic development toolbox, as it provides needed resources to help communities clean up vacant or abandoned properties and put them back into active use,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss. “We’re grateful to the Baker-Polito Administration and the Legislature for their continued support of this fund.”

“I commend MassDevelopment and the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund for their choice to award Lawrence CommunityWorks for their Island Parkside Project,” said Senator Barry R. Finegold. “CommunityWorks is a shining example of the positive impact the non-profit community in Lawrence continues to have on the city. The organization has done a tremendous job building a mixed-use development at Union Crossing in the face of the current housing shortage.”

“I’m thrilled that the Baker-Polito Administration has utilized the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund to award Lawrence Community Works in their efforts on the Island Parkside Project. Increasing affordable housing and commercial space with the mills portion of this project has already been a big success, and the next phase will see more affordable housing, parking and three acres of beautiful outdoor space created. I look forward to seeing this project come to completion and the benefits our community will see because of it,” said Representative Frank Moran.

“The redevelopment of unproductive property through investment and imagination is vital to economic development, especially in Gateway cities,” said Representative Christina Minicucci. “When we connect organizations like Lawrence CommunityWorks to resources like the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund, we empower them to revitalize city blocks and create strong neighborhoods, which are the foundation of strong community.”

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