HOBOKEN, NJ — Transit-oriented redevelopments are an important component of smart growth, spurring economic revitalization and creating pedestrian-friendly communities where people can live, work and play – all centered around high- quality train systems. However, today’s commercial real estate market – particularly in New Jersey and New York – is largely influenced by environmental concerns. Underutilized and defunct sites on which these projects are built often require a remediation strategy to address historic contamination before redevelopment can move forward.
According to Michael Novak, LSRP and President of Atlantic Environmental Solutions Inc. (AESI), a Hoboken-based environmental remediation and consulting firm, frequently these properties are designated as brownfield sites, where redevelopment/reuse has not previously occurred due to the presence or potential presence of pollution in buildings, soil or groundwater. AESI specializes in the regulatory, technical and management aspects of environmental issues, and has successfully returned dozens of contaminated properties to beneficial use as thriving transit-oriented developments.