Exciting progress in Virginia’s Brownfields revitalization efforts! Through a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Community-Wide Assessment Grant for States and Tribes (CWAGST) awarded to DEQ in FY22, we’re bringing new life to historic sites across the state. One recent example is the small community of Dante, Virginia, where DEQ partnered with the Community Design Assistance Center at Virginia Tech (CDAC) to reimagine a 1920s dry cleaner and surrounding sites, including a former bank that now serves as a coal and railroad museum. CDAC, part of the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design, employs talented students to provide planning and design services for communities and nonprofits, aligning with DEQ’s mission to support local redevelopment potential for Brownfields. Through this grant, DEQ is able to maintain and strengthen our partnership with CDAC, empowering communities to envision transformative futures for historic Brownfields sites. The redevelopment concepts generated bring both environmental and economic benefits, breathing new life into places like Dante and reinforcing their unique cultural heritage. DEQ is proud to support local communities in achieving their redevelopment goals!
CDAC recently completed a redevelopment concept for a 1920s dry cleaners building along with site redesign around it and the former bank, now coal and railroad museum.