As landlord and real estate agent for the federal government, the General Services Administration (GSA) understands that property plays an important role in creating livable communitites. Federal real property can serve as a catalyst for urban revitalization when reused by localities to provide jobs, contribute to the local tax base, or preserve greenspace. With thousands of federal properties located throughout the country, GSA is partnering with communities to ensure that underutilized federal properties are an active component in the redevelopment of our nation's urban centers.

In 1997, GSA launched the Brownfields Redevelopment Initiative to identify and redeploy underutilized federal properties. GSA views brownfields as underutilized federal properties that, throught a partnership between GSA and the community, can be reused to bolster local revitalization efforts. Reusing federal real property makes efficient use of existing infrastructure while providing an alternative to developing open space and contributing to urban sprawl. To address potential federal brownfield sites, GSA has targeted 39 diverse project locations. The project locations were chosen based upon existing partnerships among federal, state, and local organizations already working to better the economic and social well-being of these communities.