This paper summarizes the findings of a study comparing the environmental, social, and economic costs and benefits accruing to the public from redeveloping brownfields versus developing greenfields for both industrial and residential uses. With data taken from relevant projects in Toronto, Canada, four prototypical development scenarios were constructed for the purpose of a cost — benefit comparison. A quantitative model was then used to calculate the various public costs and benefits associated with the different scenarios. The findings shed light on the true costs and benefits involved in development and redevelopment projects, helping policymakers better assess the feasibility of brownfield redevelopment vis-à-vis greenfield development.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BartschC, 1996, “Paying for our industrial past”Commentary Winter, 14–24
2.
BenazonN, 1995, “Soil remediation: a practical overview of Canadian cleanup strategies and commercially available technology”Hazardous Materials Management7(5) 10–26
3.
Biais P, Berridge Lewinberg Dark Gabor Ltd, 1995The Economics of Urban Form report prepared for the Greater Toronto Area Task Force; Metropole Consultants, 182 Crawford Street, Toronto, Ontario, M6J 2V6
4.
BurchellRListokinDDolphinW, 1985The New Practitioner's Guide to Fiscal Impact Analysis (Center for Urban Policy Research, Rutgers, New Brunswick, NJ)
5.
BurchellRShadNListokenDPhillipsHDownsASeskinSDavisJMoorTHeltonDGallM, 1998The Costs of Sprawl—Revisited report prepared for the Transportation Research Board, National Academy Press, Washington, DC)
6.
City of Brampton, 1999City of Brampton Budget Summary 1998 and 1999Office of Financial Reporting, City of Brampton, 2 Wellington Street West, Brampton, Ontario, L6Y 4R2
7.
City of Toronto, 1993Outdoor Air Quality in Toronto: Issues and ConcernsDepartment of Public Health, Environmental Protection Office, City of Toronto, 277 Victoria Street, 5th floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5B 1W2
City of Toronto, 1999bCity-wide development Charge By-law—Appendix B: Fiscal Impact of Residential Development in the City of TorontoChief Financial Officer and Treasurer, City of Toronto, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, East Tower, 7th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2N2
10.
City of Toronto, 1999cCity-wide development Charge By-lawChief Financial Officer and Treasurer, City of Toronto, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, East Tower, 7th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2N2
11.
City of Toronto, 1999dCity Facts: Employment Survey 1998Planning Department, City of Toronto, City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, East Tower, 12th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5H 2N2
12.
CMHC, 1997aConventional and Alternative Development Patterns—Phase 1: Infrastracture Costs report prepared by Essiambre-Phillips-Desjardins Associations; Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 700 Montreal Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0P7
13.
CMHC, 1997bConventional and Alternative Development Patterns—Phase 2: Municipal Revenues report prepared by Hemson Consulting; Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 700 Montreal Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0P7
14.
Colliers International, 1998Canadian Real Estate ReviewColliers International—Toronto, One Queen Street East, Suite 2200, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2Z2
15.
Colliers International, 1999Greater Toronto Industrial Report—Spring 1999Colliers International—Toronto, One Queen Street East, Suite 2200, Toronto, Ontario, M5C 2Z2
16.
De SousaC, 2000, “Brownfield redevelopment versus greenfield development: a private sector perspective on the costs and risks associated with brownfield redevelopment in the greater Toronto Area”Journal of Environmental Planning and Management43831–853
17.
De SousaC, 2001, “Contaminated sites: the Canadian situation in an international context”Journal of Environmental Management62131–154
18.
DingCSimonsRBakuE, 2000, “The effect of residential investment on nearby property values: evidence from Cleveland, Ohio”Journal of Real Estate Research19(1/2) 23–52
European Commission, 1996Report of the Expert Group on the Urban Environment (European Commission, Brussels)
21.
FosterJ, 1997, “Introduction: environmental value and the scope of economics”, in Valuing Nature: Economics, Ethics and the Environment Ed. FosterJ (Routledge, London) pp 1–17
22.
FrankJ, 1989The Costs of Alternative Development Patterns (Urban Land Institute, Washington, DC)
23.
Gertler M, Berridge Lewinberg Greenberg Dark Gabor Ltd, Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto, 1995Adapting to New Realities: Industrial Land Outlook for Metropolitan Toronto, Durham, York, Halton, Peel, Hamilton-Wentworth and WaterlooMunicipality of Metropolitan Toronto; City of Toronto, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2N2 GTA Task Force, 1996 Greater Toronto (Queen's Printer for Ontario, Toronto, ON)
24.
HanlyNSpashC, 1993Cost — Benefit Analysis and the Environment (Edward Elgar, Aldershot, Hants)
25.
Hemson Consulting, 1998aRetaining Employment Lands—Morningside Heights: A Report to the City of Toronto Economic Development, Tourism and Culture Hemson Consulting, 30 St Patrick Street, Suite 1000, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3A3
26.
Hemson Consulting, 1998bThe Need for New Residential Density and Mix Policies report prepared for the City of Brampton, Hemson Consulting, 30 St Patrick Street, Suite 1000, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3A3
27.
HutherA, 1997, “Brownfields and urban development—the reuse of industrial sites for residential use in the city of Toronto”, unpublished Master of Arts research paper, Department of Geography, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
28.
IBI Group, Toronto Office, 230 Richmond Street West, 5th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1V6 1990 GTA Urban Structure Concepts Study report prepared for the Greater Toronto Coordinating Committee and the Office for the Greater Toronto Area
29.
IBI Group, 1995aThe GTA Urban Structure Concepts Study Revisited: Broad Revisions of Selected Cost Estimates report prepared for the GTA Task Force
30.
IBI Group, 1995bFull Cost Transportation and Cost-based Pricing Strategies report prepared for the Canadian Global Change Program, Canadian National, Environment Canada, National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, and the Ontario Round Table on Environment and the Economy
31.
Joint Program in Transportation, 1996The Transportation Tomorrow SurveyJoint Program in Transportation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, http://www.jpint.utoronto.ca/travcon.htm
32.
Metropolitan Toronto Roads and Traffic Department, 1987Metropolitan Toronto Goods and Movement StudyThe Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto; City of Toronto, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3A3
33.
MiguelezA, 1999, “Living in the city: lasting trend or just a fad?”CMHC Canadian Housing Markets second quarter, pages 7–8
34.
N. Barry Lyon Consultants, 1999Urbanation — Condominium Market Survey, Toronto Census Metropolitan AreaN. Barry Lyon Consultants Limited, 3 Church Street, Suite 100, Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1M22
35.
NRTEE, National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy, 344 Slater Street, Suite 200, Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 7Y3
36.
NRTEE, 1997The Road to Sustainable Transportation in Canada
37.
NRTEE, 1998aState of the Debate: Greening Canada's Brownfield Sites
38.
NRTEE, 1998bGreenhouse Gas Emissions from Urban Transportation Ontario Ministry of Transportation, 1995Ontario Commercial Vehicle SurveyOntario Ministry of Transportation, 1201 Wilson Avenue, Downsview, Ontario, M3M 1J8
39.
PearceD, 2000, “Cost — benefit analysis and environmental policy”, in Environmental Policy: Objectives, Instruments and Implementation Ed. HelmD (Oxford University Press, New York) pp 75–90
40.
PerskyJWiewelW, 1996Central City and Suburban Development: Who Pays and Who Benefits?Great Cities Institute, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
41.
Regional Municipality of Peel, 1999Regional Municipality of Peel 1999 Current and Capital BudgetFinance Department, Regional Municipality of Peel, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Brampton, Ontario, L6T 4B9
42.
Royal LePage Commercial, 1999Canadian Industrial Property Guide 29 Royal LePage Commercial, 33 Yonge Street, Suite 1000, Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1S9; http://www.royallepage.com
43.
SagoffM, 1988The Economy of the Earth: Philosophy, Law and the Environment (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge)
44.
Statistics Canada, 1996Agricultural Profile of Ontario (Queen's Printer, Ottawa, ON) TrillionTrimart, 1999Trimart Trillion Housing Report: GTATrimart Trillion Corporation, Concord, ON
45.
TurnerRPearceDBatemanI, 1993Environmental Economics: An Elementary Introduction (Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, MD)
