The ubiquitous brownfield: abandoned gas stations and their social, economic, and environmental implications

Abandoned gas station sites are a common blight, particularly in urban areas. An EPA survey of Illinois mayors identified gas stations as the most predominant type of vacant or abandoned property (reported by nearly 71 percent of responding mayors). (Northeast Midwest 2002) In this study I asked: 1) What is the extent of the abandoned gas station problem? 2) What are best practices for addressing former gas station sites? 3) How is New Jersey, the most urban and densely populated state, addressing the problem of abandoned gas stations? 4) What are the economic, social, and environmental impacts of these sites? I answered these by interviewing officials engaged in the remediation and redevelopment of these sites, to catalogue the best practices nationwide and the current understanding of the extent of the problem. I next developed historical gas station inventories in three New Jersey cities, and collected information regarding their location, environmental status, reuse, ownership, taxes, and demographics. I then reviewed environmental reports for three specific gas station sites to obtain information on the extent of contamination and the cost to remediate. Officials were divided on how well they believed the threat of former gas station sites was understood. However, the city-wide case studies make it clear that only a fraction of former gas station sites were known to environmental officials. The data indicate that most former gas stations closed prior to the 1986 reporting deadline, and that most of these lack environmental records. Economically disadvantaged communities host the majority of former gas station sites with no environmental records. Further, their current use is typically still auto-dependent or as vacant property. However, those sites that are redeveloped are able to contribute jobs, services, and tax revenue to their communities. The extent of contamination and the remediation costs to address the contamination varies widely. This study shows that many former gas stations remain a threat. Shifting public policies and resources to better address these sites would have significant positive impacts on the distressed neighborhoods.Ph. D.Includes bibliographical referencesby Leah Beth Benedict Yasencha