California Land Recycling Conference Sessions Available!

The extraordinary array of CALRC conference sessions are now available to view! CCLR and our partners at U.S. EPA and DTSC created this year’s California Land Recycling Conference to address head-on the relationship between redevelopment and the struggles we’re facing in public health, climate change, and racial injustice.

Scroll down for links to the conference sessions!

2020 has been a challenging year, to say the least. CCLR and our partners at U.S. EPA and DTSC created this year’s California Land Recycling Conference to address head-on the relationship between redevelopment and the struggles we’re facing in public health, climate change, and racial injustice. “The scope and breadth of the redevelopment field can feel daunting, but it is important that as land reuse practitioners, we make every effort to understand its intricacies and interdisciplinary nature. That is key to better brownfields redevelopment,” CCLR Program Manager, Claire Weston, said during her welcoming remarks on day two of the conference.

From affordable housing and renewable energy, to economic trends and policy updates, 22 conference sessions delved into the many dimensions of redevelopment. “CALRC was engaging, thought provoking, resonant with the times, and an inspiring call to action,” wrote one attendee. The three days of programming were an opportunity to learn the most relevant information and to develop partnerships across sectors which are so crucial for successful redevelopment. The conference brought together over 250 planners, developers, attorneys, environmental regulators, community members, and leaders at all levels of federal, state, and local government.

Attendees also participated in many activities outside of the sessions. The thirteen exhibitors spoke with attendees during the breaks. DTSC and EPA hosted Office Hours to answer additional questions about their sessions on vapor intrusion and Brownfields Multipurpose, Assessment and Cleanup Grants. EPA staff also hosted Brownfields Jeopardy during the lunch break and the conference wrapped up with the traditional Brownfields Sing-Along.

Thank you to everyone who attended the conference. We hope it was fun and informative. You can still access all the recorded sessions, messages you sent, and other conference materials until March 24, 2021. If you missed CALRC – we’ve got you covered! View the links to the recorded sessions below.

Session Links: Day 1

1. Day 1 Welcoming Remarks & Keynote: Sheltering in Places Housing for All – How are housing, climate change, environmental justice, land use, pandemics and brownfields connected? This policy and practitioner panel is perfectly packaged to deliver the lessons and suggestions for action.
2. Clear Road Ahead: Mobility, Infill, Brownfields – How are brownfields and clean vehicles connected? More than you think. Think climate justice, adaptation and mobility – now and into the future.
3. Philanthropy: What’s Land Got to Do With It? – This session covers philanthropy’s response to our current crises. How are funders looking at recovery and resilience for communities? Where are investments happening now?
4. In a Nutshell: Nothing We Haven’t Cracked – Stantec will lead an in-depth discussion on transforming impacted properties into performing assets. Using real examples, we will walk through how-to details ranging from high level planning and funding to project construction levels and contracting, demonstrating tested expert solutions to common issues that adversely impact successful redevelopment.

Session Links: Day 2

1. Day 2 Welcoming Remarks & Keynote: Seizing the Moment for a More Just Society – Khahn Russo of the San Francisco Foundation ties housing to the COVID and racial justice crises the country is experiencing and outline a pathway forward with housing equity at the heart of a more just society.
2. Hell and High Waters: Challenges and Opportunities of Urban Waterfront Development – The panelists will bring environmental, legal, permitting, and developer perspectives to the discussion and will review the Potrero Power Station (former PG&E) redevelopment project in San Francisco as a case study.
3. They’re Just That Into You: How to Attract Development – A conversation between Contra Costa County Supervisor Diana Burgis and Erik Zitek of Viridian Development about partnership between local government and private developers.
4. Strategic State Investments for Sustainability – The State of California has a plethora of funding and financing sources that complement brownfields funding from the US EPA, Water Board and DTSC. Secretary Fiona Ma provides a peek to the tip of the iceberg.
5. Taking the Gamble out of Reuse Risks: PFAS & Vapor Intrusion – Environmental insurance, liability, and risk in relation to brownfields contamination.
6. Hard Money, No Money, Show Me the Money – Funding sources and opportunities for brownfields redevelopment, economic development, and affordable housing.

Session Links: Day 3

1. Day 3 Welcoming Remarks: Dr. Meredith Williams of CA Department of Toxic Substances Control – Dr. Meredith Williams gives an inspirational talk on equity and inclusion, climate change, and DTSC priorities.
2. Mission Decommission – Decommissioning of an old cement plan breathes life back into a community.
3. Sump Pumps, Racism, and Your Electricity Bill: Redlining’s Role in Environmental Injustice and What to Do About It – A holistic view of a site’s surroundings is key to successful redevelopment. What better way to take that view than from above by using colorful, simple, interactive maps to spur data-informed conversations with stakeholders about community assets, needs, and barriers?
4. Fall of a Mall – Through a case study of Carousel Mall in San Bernardino, CA, learn about redeveloping struggling and underutilized malls.
5. Affordable Housing and Environmental Justice: Bringing Equity to Brownfields – Speakers will discuss the implications of SB1000 – Environmental Justice in Land Use Planning – and will give their take on California’s housing crisis as it relates to environmental justice.

A big thank you to the CALRC sponsors who are so supportive of CCLR’s work to transform communities through land recycling.