Bronx Community
Paper Company
A case study of Brownfields redevelopment
BROWNFIELDS AND ECONOMIC
REVITALIZATION OF THE INNER CITY
Civil and Environmental Engineering, 12-713
Michel Andermann
December 1999
Bronx
Community
Paper
Company
Overview of the Project:
96-Acre wasteland site located at the
southern tip of the Bronx, NYC
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Formally the Harlem River Rail Yard
Brownfield since abandonment in 1971
Very depressed area: economical, social,
environmental, equity issues.
Proposed site for Paper Recycling Mill
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High efficient process based on Greener technologies
Rehabilitate local economy
Major environmental and social benefits.
Bronx
Community
Paper
Company
Key facts about the BCPC:
330,000 Tons per year of recycled newspapers and
magazines (up to 25% of the waste paper of NYC),
equivalent to 3.8 million trees saved every year.
600 full time jobs; 2,200 construction jobs during 24
months.
Expected $40 Million in annual tax revenue. It will pay
the city $40/ton for its wastepaper.
Close to suppliers, close to consumers. Expected
savings of $60/Ton on transportation costs.
Excellent example of a Brownfield’s rehabilitation
project: test site for new technologies, community
revival, environmental compliance… and of course,
many side stories.
Bronx
Community
Paper
Company
History of the Harlem River Rail Yard
1693 – Jonas Bronck purchased 500 Acres from Native
Americans.
Southern part sold to the Morris family, who owned parts
of the site well into the XX century.
1873 – Early rail yard developments.
1905 – Central section sold to New York, New Haven &
Hartford Railroad, further development accomplished.
1971 – After 7 decades of use, the site is abandoned.
Currently owned by the New York State Dept. of
Transportation. Leased to the Harlem River Yard Ventures
development group for 99 years.
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History of the BCPC I
Joint project between two NGO’s:
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Natural Resources Defense Council
Banana Kelly Community Improvement Association
1992 – Both groups begin collaboration.
1993 – Architect Maya Lin joins the project.
May 1994 – $280 million plan for development
announced to the public.
Two paper companies agree to invest in the
project
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S.D. Warren Company. Boston, MA
Modo Paper Company. Stockholm, Sweden
Bronx
Community
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History of the BCPC II
March 1995 – The South Bronx Clean Act Coalition
sues to stop the mill
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Backed-up by John McHugh, a railroad advocate
Both investors retreat
June 1996 – State Approval
Testing of the site takes place, clean-up process
begins.
1997-1999 – Bureaucracy and other external
obstacles delay further more the project.
Final phase of construction to begin in 2000; latest
cost: $600 Million (1999).
2002 – Expected opening year.
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NRDC and Banana Kelly
NRDC
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Banana Kelly
Non-profit organization
focused on preservation of
the environment, protect
public health.
Developer of BCPC, has
spent $2.5M of own funds.
Eventual transfer of BCPC
to profitable corporation.
Bronx
Community
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Paper
Non-profit community
organization to promote
economic, social and
cultural welfare for the
South Bronx.
Highly interested in the
development of BCPC.
Company
The South Bronx Community
Economical collapse began in the 1950’s
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By 1980’s two thirds of the original residents had left
their neighborhoods
Infrastructure decay, abandonment
Highest rate of gang related crimes in the city
$5,284 per capita income (1990 U.S. Census)
20% male unemployment
Mostly minority (31% African-American, 67% Latino).
Banana Kelly has promoted community recovery
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Rehabilitation of thousands of housing units
1,500 families per year with new homes.
Bronx
Community
Paper
Company
BCPC: a closer look…
Location & Project:
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Southern tip of the Bronx
The mill will be built on a 26-acre section
under and on either side of the Tri-Borough
Bridge
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Wastepaper storage areas, De-ink Bldg., paper
machine Bldg., finished paper storage Bldg.
Access by rail and truck will be maintained
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47-acres dedicated to transportation (intermodal
freight, bulk transfer and solid waste transfer
facilities).
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Community
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Company
Map of the Site
Bronx
Community
Paper
Company
Financing the BCPC
BCPC standing between a state economic
development zone and the Federal Empowerment
Zone.
Privately Funded
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NYC Paper Mill to rise equity capital from paper industry
Banks
State tax-free bonds to secure $75 million in low cost
financing (1996)
NRDC to sponsor design, planning and
construction phases of the project, without profit.
Future operation NYC Paper Mill Co.
Bronx
Community
Paper
Company
Paper Suppliers and Clients…
Most mills located in rural areas in Upstate NY and
Canada – trees abundant, low costs.
Potential Suppliers:
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Paper collected by the city’s Department of Sanitation
and private sources - Urban forest of 10,000 Tons/day
(Est. 1995)
Potential Clients:
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Newspapers in the region and major publishers (incl.
Advance Publications, Gannett Co., NY Times, among
others)
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Environmental considerations
Regarding the soil
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Mild pollution accumulated after
100 years of regular operation
(no industrial activities nor illegal
dumping).
Major pollutants:
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Asbestos in old railroad shed
Lead in soils close to the bridge from vehicles above
PAH’s from diesel in soil and in 6 buried tanks
Clean-up: Contaminant removal and proper disposal,
and where non-removal, cover with parking lots and
buildings.
Bronx
Community
Paper
Company
Environmental Benefits:
Water Conservation
Water, primary element in the manufacture of paper.
BCPC will use 3800 gal/Ton
Highly pollutant process: billions of gallons of fresh
water leave the mill with loads of chemicals, usually
to be dumped into streams, rivers and lakes.
BCPC will use less toxic substances in its process.
80% of its process waters (3 million gallons/day) to
be treated sewage from Ward’s Island Sewage plant.
8% of water retained by process, the remaining will
be treated again in Ward Island.
Bronx
Community
Paper
Company
Environmental Benefits:
Air Quality
Use of air pollution control technologies for reduced
emissions.
Bronx
45
lbs of pollutant per ton of paper
BCPC expected to be
many times cleaner.
Import raw materials
and export finished
products in rails,
thus reducing air
pollution from heavy
trucks (piggy-back).
Emissions form paper mills
Community
Virgin
40.1
BCPC
40
35
30
25
23.7
20
13.2
15
10
3.9
5
0.115
0.243
0.0682
0.129
0
NOx
SOx
VOC
Pollutant
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Particulates
Environmental Benefits:
Green design / sustainability
Blend of formal, functional and symbolic
architectural elements.
Air heated in exhaust stack powers buildings
cooling systems.
Cool air from gray water flow circulates in the
offices.
Use of skylights and louvered clerestories
improve natural light and ventilation in the
buildings.
Trees planted in every facility.
Bronx
Community
Paper
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Community benefits of the BCPC
Source for permanent and temporary jobs.
$6 Million devoted to several community
facilities:
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The Bronx Dormitory Project
The South Bronx Family Learning Center
The Library project
The Business and Housing Revolving Loan Fund
The children’s Endowment Fund
The Prospector Corridor Commercial Development
Project.
Bronx
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The untold stories…
In spite all its visible benefits and support from
private and public institutions, including the
Presidency, the project has faced many
drawbacks and delays…
Many have manifested against the project
It out-competes every other paper industry in the
area
There is uncertainty on the demand
Financing problems
Environmental myths
Bureaucracy, politics, hidden interests … ?
Bronx
Community
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“The Bronx Community Paper
Company shows that economic
development, job creation and
environmental protection can work
together for the benefit of us all”
Vice-President Al Gore
Bronx
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Some cool pictures of the BCPC
The view from the Bronx.
Foreground: Some sort of rail station for charge and discharge
Background: the Tri-borough bridge.
Bronx
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The view from the bridge towards the West side.
Bronx
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Digital render of the plant. East side,
Paper Machine Building (background)
Finished paper Storage Building (foreground)
Tri-Borough bridge on the left
Bronx
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Digital render of the plant. View from the Bronx,
Center: Tri-borough bridge
Left: Finished paper Storage Building
Right: Wastepaper Storage Bldg and De-Ink Bldg.
Bronx
Community
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Company