Rensselaer Rising Recognized by New York Department of State
“Rensselaer Rising Recognized by New York Department of State”
Official Designation of Brownfield Opportunity Area Opens Up Redevelopment Opportunities
(June 20, 2025 – Rensselaer, NY) Mayor Michael Stammel and New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley are proud to announce that “Rensselaer Rising,” the City of Rensselaer’s Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Study, has received a Certificate of Designation from the New York State Department of State. The BOA designation means the City of Rensselaer will receive priority and preference for certain projects and for properties located within or impacted by the BOA, as well as additional funding opportunities from the New York Department of State (DOS), and Brownfield Cleanup Program tax credit incentives from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). With this designation, there are currently 75 designated BOAs throughout the State.
“The Rensselaer Rising BOA study builds a strong, community-based foundation for future redevelopment and rejuvenation in the City of Rensselaer,” said New York Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “With this designation, the City of Rensselaer can now focus on specific projects and actions that support the community’s vision and catalyze additional investments in the area as the revitalization process unfolds. Congratulations to the City of Rensselaer on this critical step forward!”
“I want to personally commend Tom Hulihan and Amy Lolik in the Planning Department for working with our consultants from LaBella Associates, Norabelle Greenberger and Mirren Galway, and for doing the work to make this BOA Designation possible,” said Michael E. Stammel, Mayor of Rensselaer. The BOA designation was based on the Nomination application that was prepared by the City of Rensselaer with an $85,000 Brownfield Opportunity Area Program grant that funded the year-long study which included significant planning and community participation. “We are also most grateful to Secretary of State Mosley and the NYS Department of State, Office of Planning, Development, and Community Infrastructure for providing the resources to make this designation possible,” added Mayor Stammel.
With the BOA designation, the city can now apply to New York State for Predevelopment Activity Funding within the BOA designated area. This can include various studies (economic conditions, housing, building conditions, infrastructure analysis) as well as development and implementation of marketing strategies, legal and financial services, real estate services and public outreach. “The City of Rensselaer certainly intends to make the most of this BOA designation,” said Mayor Stammel.
The BOA Nomination is a comprehensive planning tool and strategy to revitalize the City of Rensselaer in the area encompassing the downtown commercial corridor, Amtrak train station, Fort Crailo historic neighborhood, and Riverfront Park. The Nomination focuses on projects and other actions that will become catalysts for redevelopment of the area, including: redeveloping vacant and underutilized sites; enhancing Riverfront Park; improving the Herrick Street Bridge Connection; beautifying city gateways; expanding the city's mural program; filling in gaps on the Waterfront Trail and other trails through the city; developing grocery and fresh food locations; and pursuing affordable housing opportunities. “We fully expect that the BOA designation will generate even more development in the City of Rensselaer,” concluded Mayor Stammel.
About the BOA Program
The Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) program transforms known or suspected brownfield sites from liabilities to community assets, which in turn generate and support new businesses, jobs, housing and public amenities. The program provides grants for BOA plans which, once completed, are submitted to the New York State Secretary of State for approval, or "designation." Such designated BOA plans then entitle projects that are consistent with the plan to priority funding among certain state programs and an additional 5 percent brownfield developer tax credit. The BOA program also provides grants for pre-development activities in State-designated BOAs, such as environmental, housing and economic studies, infrastructure analyses, marketing strategies, public engagement and zoning, countywide brownfield inventories and assessments, phase II environmental site assessments and regulatory updates, among others.
About the Brownfield Cleanup Program
The New York DEC’s Brownfield Cleanup Program (BCP) offers several tax credit incentives to encourage the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties, known as brownfields. This credit is a significant incentive for developers, with rates ranging from 10% to 22% of eligible costs, depending on factors like the site's location and cleanup level. The credit amount is calculated based on the eligible real property taxes, a benefit period factor, and an employment number factor. For sites located within designated Brownfield Opportunity Areas (BOAs) and meeting specific criteria, there's a potential increase of up to 5% in the allowable tangible property tax credit component of the Brownfield Redevelopment Tax Credit.
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