Brownfield grant property in Wausau, WI (WAOW)
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) – The Wisconsin DNR has awarded the City of Wausau a Brownfield grant to investigate potential soil contamination at a potential redevelopment site.
Economic Development Director Liz Brodek says this means the city will get grant funding to cover the costs associated with a phase one and two environmental review. “[Phase one] testing is the history of the area, we’ll see what previous uses were there. Phase Two is the actual testing of the soils.”
Based on the results of those studies the city may have to take action to clean up the site. Brodek says that wouldn’t entirely fall on the city, but they would get some help from a matching grant.
“[That grant] is called the ‘Ready for Reuse’ grant. Should they find any contamination we would apply for that grant to pay for a portion of the cleanup. We do have a matching component for that one, unlike this [Brownfield grant] where everything is covered,” added Brodek.
The land is located along Thomas Street between Cleveland Avenue and the Wisconsin River. Brodek describes it as one of the more “complicated” parcels they’ve had to deal with because of the potential for soil contamination. Despite the challenges they still hope to put affordable housing on the site, something residents in the area have called for.
“That helps the community get that property back on the tax rolls, and get income for that property. And then, it can also spur redevelopment in an area,” said Jodie Thistle, DNR Brownfields, Outreach, and Policy Section Manager.
Mayor Katie Rosenberg called the grant a win for the city, saying “We are one step closer to revitalizing this important Wausau neighborhood after several starts and stops and listening and visioning sessions. I cannot wait to see the new, safe, healthy and affordable homes that will meet Wausau’s growing housing needs. Many thanks to our partners in the DNR who are helping us actualize this critical housing project here in Wausau.”
Brodek didn’t provide a timeline for when the testing and surveys would be completed but did note that the city is likely a few years away from actually moving dirt on the site.
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