Pickens Brownfields Brochure.pptx [Read-Only]AB6925E6-1A3B-4A2E-… · Title: Microsoft PowerPoint...

Site HistoryThe 1.86 acre site, located at the intersectionof Highway 8, Railroad Street, and East CedarRock Street, was developed as a passengertrain depot with railway yard and shippingwarehouses as early as 1889. The City ofPickens purchased the facility in 2013 alongwith the 7.5 mile rail line. In 2015, the DoodleTrail, a multi‐use asphalt trail, was constructedon the 7.5 mile rail line between the cities ofPickens and Easley. The 1.86 acre rail depotsite currently sits idle waiting for cleanup andredevelopment into a trail head for theDoodle Trail. Research was conducted and wehave found that there were warehouses onsite that burned down in the 1950s. In the1960s a cinder‐block building was constructedto house rail car maintenance. The sitebuildings, which are a considered a blight inthe community, are contaminated withasbestos containing materials. Perceived asunsafe due to appearance of the dilapidatedbuildings, and also exudes a perceivedenvironmental stigma associated with the site.The roof and interior of the structure havedeclined to a point where they are becomingunstable and pose a safety and health risk tolocal residents and visitors of the Doodle Trail.The goal of the Doodle Trail Head Project is totransform the blighted property into thePickens Doodle Park.

For more information contact:Bruce Evilsizor – City Administrator

864.898.8160bevilsizor@pickenscity.com

Becky Horace – Project / Grant Manager864.952.9660

bhorace@pickenscity.com

www.cityofpickens.com

What is a Brownfield?A brownfield is a vacant or underutilizedproperty where actual or perceivedenvironmental contamination complicates itsexpansion or redevelopment. Clean‐up costsand risks deter potential developers and createa barrier to community revitalization andeconomic development.

Program DetailsThe City of Pickens received $127,000 incleanup funding through the US EPABrownfields Program. Grant funds will be usedto conduct public outreach, create a cleanupdesign (cleanup plan) and conduct theoversight and removal of asbestos and lead‐containing paint in building materials from theformer railroad depot building prior todemolition of the building.

*Sample rendering, plans not finalized

Doodle Park ProjectGoals of the Doodle Park project include:provide outdoor recreation to residents andvisitors; attract tourism and stimulate theregional economy; attract and retainemployers and new businesses as well astheir employees. Park facilities will include aPickens Rail Depot replica, open air FarmersMarket structure, ADA compliant restrooms,ADA accessible ramp down to Railroad Street,ADA compliant playground equipment,outdoor exercise equipment, and aninformation kiosk just to name a few.

Cleaning up and reinvesting in Brownfields:• Increases the local tax base• Helps spur redevelopment• Uses existing infrastructure• Facilitates job growth• Improves and protects the environment