Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency Makes $51,050 Subgrant to Clean Up Assistance League Building

In May 2004, the Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency in California awarded a $51,050 subgrant to the Assistance League of Bakersfield (ALB), a local charitable group, to assist with cleanup costs associated with asbestos removal on a former commercial property. This loan was made possible through a $1,000,000 EPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grant awarded to the Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency in September 2003. ALB was previously located in three adjacent but separate buildings in one of the city’s targeted redevelopment areas; however, a developer wanted to use ALB’s locations as part of a major mixed-use redevelopment project. Concurrently, ALB wanted to move to a central location to minimize operational costs and remain in the same area of town to provide a needed service to the community. When the developer of the large mixed-use project offered to help ALB move and clean up a new location only eight blocks away, a win-win agreement was reached. The funds were placed in escrow as a condition of the purchase of the building, and asbestos cleanup on ALB’s new property was started and completed in July 2004. Renovation of the building was completed in March 2005, at which time ALB moved into its new home and continues to serve the community. For more information about this loan or the Bakersfield Redevelopment Agency EPA Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund, contact the
EPA Region 9 Brownfields Coordinator at (415) 972-3092.