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What is a Brownfield?
A brownfield, or brownfield land, refers to abandoned or underutilized due to pollution from industrial use. This description can vary depending on location and state. However, different policymakers in other countries may use different terminology. In Chicago, Illinois, “brownfield” typically describes abandoned or under-used industrial and commercial properties with actual or perceived contaminants. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency works with local offices with projects, funds, and evaluations to help conduct Brownfield Assessments that show soil and groundwater samples collection to determine the property’s redevelopment potential.
What is a Green Space?
A green space, or “urban” green space, is an open-space area reserved for parks and other “green spaces,” including plant life or water features. Water features can also be referred to as blue spaces. Green spaces are typically used in land-use planning and open to many other natural environments. Most urban open spaces are considered green spaces, but it is important to note that occasionally, they may include other kinds of open areas and won’t always be considered green.
What is Beneficial About Green Spaces?
Green spaces are highly valuable and serve a great purpose to local communities worldwide, especially in Chicago, Illinois. Walkable neighborhoods, parks, and other green spaces are vital for maintaining a suitable living environment filled with growing communities. These same green spaces can attract tenants, customers, business owners, and other types of individuals, allowing businesses and the economy to boom in locations with high amounts of green spaces. They combine nature and color with industrialization and harsh shape to refresh towns, cities, and other areas that are overpopulated with industrial buildings and urban environments. This investment can build community, foster growth, and instill pride in urban areas worldwide.
What is Industrialization?
Industrialization is the period of social and economic change that transforms a human group from a suburban society into a more urban or industrial society. This involves reorganization and redevelopment of the economy for the purpose of manufacturing and zoning. Industrialization can allow goods to become more affordable for citizens living in the areas, a quicker evolution of medicine, more enchanted wealth, and a rise in specialist professions. However, industrialization can also now lead to increased air and water pollution and soil contamination. This results in a deterioration of quality of life and life expectancy. The domino effect then trickles down to also include horrible living conditions for workers, poor nutrition, unsatisfying lifestyles, and environmental harm all around.
What is Chicago Like Now With Industrialization?
Chicago, Illinois, used to be considered the Silicon Valley of its day due to the rapid industrialization of mass markets and buildings. Today, Chicago still has tons of land that’s zoned for manufacturing. The Department of Planning and Development (DPD) initiated a public process in the spring of 2016 to refine land use policies for continued growth and private investment in the City’s Industrial Corridor system. The City of Chicago’s website details the multi-year process incorporating goals, data, assessments, and other criteria to help guide public and private investments for the future industrialization plan. The City’s Industrial Corridor Modernization Initiative has many goals to unleash the potential of industrial areas for manufacturing and other jobs while reinforcing traditional industrial activities in other areas.
What Are The Legal Aspects of Redeveloping Chicago’s Industrial Sites?
A few legal aspects of redeveloping Chicago’s industrial sites should be mentioned and acknowledged. Redeveloping brownfields into green spaces is both sustainable and beneficial for the community. Not only will it remove toxic chemicals from the environment, but it can open up businesses and practices that can make an economy grow. These lands serve as existing industrial land for new and expanded manufacturing development projects. Land reclamation can be a legality that must be brought to an experienced litigation and real estate attorney at Nery Richardson & Konewko LLC.
How to go About Zoning Problems?
Zoning change proposals must be drafted and submitted to the Chicago Plan Commission for redevelopment, which will be reviewed and either accepted or rejected. Plans that tend to get rejected would cause conflict with existing businesses near the land or industrial site. Some zoning sites are interconnected with railways, highways, waterways, and other natural landmarks that may be difficult to redevelop. Working with an experienced litigation and real estate lawyer is essential to figuring out other legal aspects of redeveloping Chicago’s industrial sites and what to do if you get caught up in an industrialization problem.
We Want to Help Serve You
We understand how challenging it is to understand the legal aspects of redeveloping Chicago’s industrial sites. Industrialization is a considerable social and economic change that can make a community and economy more significant. Here at Nery Richardson & Konewko LLC, we want to help serve you and share knowledge and education on industrialization and other essential factors in Chicago, Illinois. Working with an experienced litigation and real estate attorney can help you become more educated in industrialization matters and help you plan your next business move. To learn more about brownfields, creating green spaces, industrialization, and planning for zoning proposals, contact an experienced litigation and real estate attorney at Nery Richardson & Konewko LLC today by calling 773-582-7000.
