Mapping Brownfields in Hartford, Connecticut

Mapping Brownfields in Hartford, ConnecticutAn Assessment of Brownfield Sites and Social Vulnerability

Pauline Zaldonis, December 2013GIS for International Crises,

Development & the Environment

Abstract

This report identifies and analyzes the brownfield sites in the city of Hartford, Connecticut toidentify which sites represent the greatest threat to Hartford residents. Through an analysisof the brownfield sites themselves and through an analysis of social vulnerability by census tract,the report identifies seven brownfield sites and two neighborhoods as high priority areas forbrownfield remediation and redevelopment. A social vulnerability index was created to guide theanalysis. The index was constructed based on eight variables:

1) Population density2) Population over 653) Population under 184) Poverty rates5) Unemployment rates6) Nonwhite population7) Non-English speaking population8) Level of educational attainment

ArcMap was used to create a series of thematic maps to illustrate the connection betweenbrownfield location and social vulnerability. The fifteen maps produced in this project categorizebrownfields and census tracts on a scale of low, medium, and high risk, ultimately identifyingseven high risk sites located in highly socially vulnerable areas. Two Hartford neighborhoods—Sheldon Charter Oak and Clay Arsenal—were identified as the neighborhoods most in need ofattention.

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North EastBlue Hills

South Meadows

West End

South End

North Meadows

South West

Asylum Hill

Downtown

Barry Square

Behind The Rocks

Frog Hollow

Parkville

Clay Arsenal

Upper Albany

Sheldon Charter OakSouth Green

Mapping Brownfields in Hartford, CT

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About the Data

• The bulk of the data for this project came from the 2007-2011 American CommunitySurvey 5-Year Estimates. The data was downloaded in the form of a large geodatabase,based on data profiles for Connecticut census tracts from the American FactFinder.Select social, economic, and housing variables were extracted from the geodatabases inthe form of shapefiles to construct the social vulnerability index.

• The University of Connecticut’s Brownfield Mapping Project provided the shapefile of the27 brownfield sites identified by the CBRA. Shapefiles of the Connecticut base map,zoning, roads, waterbodies, and parkland were also acquired from the BrownfieldMapping project.

• 1’ (0.30m) GSD multispectral digital orthoimagery for the city of Hartford wasdownloaded from Connecticut Environmental Conditions Online. The GeoTIFF tiles wereused to contextualize the brownfield sites.

• Hartford’s neighborhood boundaries were acquired from Zillow in the form of shapefiles.

Methods

1) Identify the brownfield sites in Hartford.

2) Rank the public health risk associated with each brownfield site using two variables: pastuse and distance from residential zones.

3) Collect and organize social, economic, and housing data for the city of Hartford.

4) Construct the social vulnerability index using eight variables: population density, populationover 65, population under 18, poverty rates, unemployment rates, nonwhite population,non-English speaking population, and level of educational attainment.

5) Determine the risk ranking of Hartford’s census tracts.

6) Analyze the brownfield sites in relation to the census tracts to determine which sites shouldbe the city’s priority for redevelopment or remediation.

7) Overlay census tract risk rank with the city’s neighborhoods.

8) Identify neighborhoods most in need of brownfield redevelopment.

Analyzing the Brownfields

Factors considered in ranking the public health hazards of each brownfield:

Brownfields that are closer to residential zones posea greater public health threat to residents.

Proximity to residential zones

Brownfields with different past uses (industrial, wastemanagement, manufacturing, storage, commercialand other) have different levels of toxins.

Past use

RationaleVariable

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South Meadows

West End

South End

North Meadows

South West

Asylum Hill

Downtown

Barry Square

Behind The Rocks

Frog Hollow

Parkville

Clay Arsenal

Upper Albany


Classifying Hartford's BrownfieldsPast Use of Site

! Commercial! Industrial! Manufacturing! Other! Storage! Waste Management

Past Use of Site

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South Meadows

West End

South End

North Meadows

South West

Asylum Hill

Downtown

Barry Square

Behind The Rocks

Frog Hollow

Parkville

Clay Arsenal

Upper Albany


Classifying Hartford's Brownfields

! In residential zone

! Within 250 feet of residential zone

! Within 500 feet of a residential zone

! Within 750 feet of a residential zone! Within 1,000 feet of a residential zone! Over 1,000 feet from a residential zone

Distance from Residential Zones

Distance from Residential Zones

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South Meadows

West End

South End

North Meadows

South West

Asylum Hill

Downtown

Barry Square

Behind The Rocks

Frog Hollow

Parkville

Clay Arsenal

Upper Albany


! Low! Medium! High

Brownfield Risk Ranking

1) Past Use2) Proximity to Residential Zones

Level of Risk

Variables

Hartford, CT

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South Meadows

West End

South End

North Meadows

South West

Asylum Hill

Downtown

Barry Square

Behind The Rocks

Frog Hollow

Parkville

Clay Arsenal

Upper Albany


Hartford, CT

Housing Vacancy RatePercent of Vacant Housing Units

! Brownfield SitesPercent of Vacant Housing Units

1.9% - 10.6%10.61% - 19.1%19.11% - 27.9%27.91% - 43.8%43.81% - 100%

Sources of Social Vulnerability

Factors considered in constructing the social vulnerability index:

Associated with limited resourcesNonwhite population

Associated with limited resourcesPopulation not proficient in English

Associated with limited resourcesPopulation over 25 years oldwithout a high school diploma

Associated with limited resourcesUnemployment rates

Associated with limited resourcesPopulation living under the povertyline

Associated with limited mobilityHouseholds with children under 18years old

Associated with limited mobilityPopulation over 65 years old

Highest number of individuals affectedPopulation density

RationaleVariable

*Variables in grey were weighted more heavily than those in white.


South Meadows

West End

South End

North Meadows

South West

Asylum Hill

Downtown

Barry Square

Behind The Rocks

Frog Hollow

Parkville

Clay Arsenal

Upper Albany


Population per Square Mile834 - 6,3006,301 - 12,23512,236 - 19,81019,811 - 26,513

Population DensityPopulation per Square Mile

Hartford, CT


South Meadows

West End

South End

North Meadows

South West

Asylum Hill

Downtown

Barry Square

Behind The Rocks

Frog Hollow

Parkville

Clay Arsenal

Upper Albany


Population 65 or Older Living Alone

0% - 1.46%1.47% - 7.57%7.58% - 12.83%12.84% - 20.14%20.15% - 30.35%

Percent of Households that are Seniors Living Alone

Percent of Householdsthat are Seniors Living Alone

Hartford, CT


South Meadows

West End

South End

North Meadows

South West

Asylum Hill

Downtown

Barry Square

Behind The Rocks

Frog Hollow

Parkville

Clay Arsenal

Upper Albany


0% - 21.45%21.46% - 36.02%36.03% - 45.37%45.38% - 56.78%56.79% - 69.68%

Households with MinorsPercent of Households with Children under the Age of 18

Percent of Households with Children under the Age of 18

Hartford, CT


South Meadows

West End

South End

North Meadows

South West

Asylum Hill

Downtown

Barry Square

Behind The Rocks

Frog Hollow

Parkville

Clay Arsenal

Upper Albany


0% - 13.70%13.71% - 26.00%26.01% - 37.30%37.31% - 47.30%47.31% - 62.20%

Population Living Below the Poverty LinePercent of Individuals Living Under the Poverty Line in the Past 12 Months

Percent of Population Living Under Poverty Line

Hartford, CT


South Meadows

West End

South End

North Meadows

South West

Asylum Hill

Downtown

Barry Square

Behind The Rocks

Frog Hollow

Parkville

Clay Arsenal

Upper Albany


0% - 6.50%6.51% - 13.30%13.31% - 17.70%17.71% - 25.90%25.91% - 37.80%

Unemployment RatesPercent of Workforce that is Unemployed

Percent of Workforce that is Unemployed

Hartford, CT


South Meadows

West End

South End

North Meadows

South West

Asylum Hill

Downtown

Barry Square

Behind The Rocks

Frog Hollow

Parkville

Clay Arsenal

Upper Albany


Population with No High School DiplomaPercent of the Population over the Age of 25 without High School Diploma or Equivalent

2.44% - 4.08%4.09% - 15.54%15.55% - 20.21%20.212% - 24.38%24.39% - 29.03%

Percent of Population without High School Diploma

Hartford, CT


South Meadows

West End

South End

North Meadows

South West

Asylum Hill

Downtown

Barry Square

Behind The Rocks

Frog Hollow

Parkville

Clay Arsenal

Upper Albany


Non-English Speaking PopulationPercent of Population over 5 that is Not Proficient in English

0.60% - 5.22%5.23% - 12.31%12.32% - 21.41%21.42% - 25.80%25.81% - 41.07%

Percent of Population Not Proficient in English

Hartford, CT


South Meadows

West End

South End

North Meadows

South West

Asylum Hill

Downtown

Barry Square

Behind The Rocks

Frog Hollow

Parkville

Clay Arsenal

Upper Albany


Nonwhite PopulationPercent of Population that is Nonwhite

22.30% - 48.10%48.11% - 60.30%60.31% - 71.50%71.51% - 83.90%83.91% - 98.60%

Percent of Population that is Nonwhite

Hartford, CT


South Meadows

West End

South End

North Meadows

South West

Asylum Hill

Downtown

Barry Square

Behind The Rocks

Frog Hollow

Parkville

Clay Arsenal

Upper Albany


Social Vulnerability Risk Ranking

LowMediumHigh

1) Population Density2) Percent of population over 65 living alone3) Percent of households with children under 184) Percent of population living under poverty level5) Percent of population unemployed6) Percent of population that is nonwhite7) Percent of population that is not proficient in English8) Percent of population over the age of 25 with no highschool diploma

Variables

Level of Risk by Census Tract

Hartford, CT

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South Meadows

West End

South End

North Meadows

South West

Asylum Hill

Downtown

Barry Square

Behind The Rocks

Frog Hollow

Parkville

Clay Arsenal

Upper Albany


!( Top Priority BrownfieldsBrownfield Site Ranking

! Low! Medium! High

Social Vulnerability RankingLowMediumHigh

Risk Assessment: Brownfields in High Risk AreasHartford, CT

Results

The assessment of brownfield site risk and that of social vulnerability of census tracts led tothe identification of seven high-risk sites. High-risk brownfield sites that were located incensus tracts with a high ranking on the social vulnerability index were identified as the toppriority sites. The majority of these sites were concentrated in two neighborhoods: SheldonCharter Oak and Clay Arsenal. The following sites were identified as high-risk:

•Cape Well Manufacturing12-70 Popieluszko Court, Sheldon Charter Oak•Parcel J43-47 Huyshope Ave, Sheldon Charter Oak•Colt Fire Arms Complex140 Huyshope Ave, Sheldon Charter Oak•Parcel K270 Huyshope Ave, Sheldon Charter Oak•Parcel PCanton Street & Windsor Street, Clay Arsenal•SAND - Parcel R1450 Main Street, Clay Arsenal•Parcel G141 & 150 Sheldon St, Barry Square

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Sheldon Charter OakHartford, CTHigh Priority Brownfield Sites

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Clay ArsenalHartford, CTHigh Priority Brownfield Sites

Sources

1) Center for Transportation and Livable Systems. “Reversing Urban Sprawl: A Reclaimability IndexApproach for Reviving Downtown Brownfields.” March 2011.

2) Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. “Brownfield Sites in Connecticut.”Accessed 11/12/13. http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2715&q=324930.

3) Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. “Connecticut BrownfieldsInventory.” Accessed 12/11/13.http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2715&q=488996&deepNav_GID=1626.

4) Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. “GIS Data.” Accessed 11/12/13.http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2698&q=322898&deepNav_GID=1707.

5) Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. “List of Contaminated orPotentially Contaminated Sites in Connecticut.” Accessed 11/12/13.http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2715&q=325018&deepNav_GID=1626.

6) Connecticut Environmental Conditions Online. “2012 Ortho Imagery Download.” Accessed 11/12/13.http://www.cteco.uconn.edu/download/Map.htm.

7) Connecticut Office of Brownfield Remediation and Development. “UCONN Brownfield MappingProject.” Accessed 11/12/13.http://www.ctbrownfields.gov/ctbrownfields/cwp/view.asp?a=2633&q=478718.

8) U.S. Census Bureau. “2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles.”Accessed 11/12/13. http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/tiger-data.html.

9) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Protecting Public Health.” Accessed 12/11/13.http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/publichealth/.

10) Zillow. “Zillow Neighborhood Boundaries.” Accessed 11/12/13.http://www.zillow.com/howto/api/neighborhood-boundaries.htm.

Mapping Brownfields in Hartford, Connecticut

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