Brownfield Opportunity Area Program

For a printable pdf overview of the BOA program, please click here: Brownfield Opportunity Area Introduction.

The Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Program provides financial assistance to complete area-wide brownfield redevelopment planning. This program enables communities to identify opportunities to return dormant or underutilized areas back to productive use while restoring environmental quality. (Source: NYSDOS website)

The goal of the BOA program is to help communities:

1. Assess the full range of community problems posed by multiple brownfield sites;
2. Build a shared vision and consensus on the future uses of strategic brownfield sites;
3. Coordinate and collaborate with local, state, and federal agencies, community groups   and private-sector partners;
4. Develop public-private sector partnerships necessary to leverage investment in development projects that can revitalize diverse local communities and neighborhoods.

The BOA Program is a three-step process.  The Lyons Falls Brownfield Opportunity Area Study is a Step 2:  Nomination Study.  A brief description of the steps are:

Step 1: Pre-Nomination Study – The Pre-Nomination Study provides a basic and preliminary analysis of the area affected by brownfield sites, including: a description and justification of the study area and associated boundaries; a basic description and understanding of current land use and zoning; the description of existing brownfield sites and other underutilized properties; and a description of the area’s potential for revitalization.

Step 2: Nomination – The Nomination provides an in-depth and thorough description and analysis, including an economic and market trends analysis, of existing conditions, opportunities, and reuse potential for properties located in the proposed Brownfield Opportunity Area with an emphasis on the identification and reuse potential of strategic brownfield sites that may be catalysts for revitalization. The Nomination concludes with a description of key findings and recommendations to advance redevelopment of strategic sites and to revitalize the area.

Step 3: Implementation Strategy – The Implementation Strategy provides a description of the techniques and actions to implement the area-wide plan, and compliance with the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) regulations. Site assessments on strategic brownfield sites within the BOA may be eligible for funding if additional environmental information is required.