Bristol accepts $99,600 Brownfields grant and authorizes environmental assessment for L.C. King Building

The Bristol City Council unanimously approved resolution 25-190 to accept a TDEC Brownfields redevelopment grant of $99,600 and resolution 25-191 to engage civil and environmental consultants to complete a Phase 2 environmental site assessment for the L.C. King Building.

Tom Anderson told the council the city engaged CEC to prepare the brownfields grant application. "We were notified last month that we were successful with that grant application, for $99,600," he said, adding that about $94,600 would go to the consultant to complete Phase 2 and $5,000 would cover administration and possible staff-time reimbursement.

Anderson said CEC expects to complete Phase 2 by the second quarter; if contamination or other issues are identified, the city can then apply for remediation grants (up to roughly $500,000 under program rules) and must participate in the voluntary Brownfields program (VOAP) as part of the process.

Council then approved resolution 25-191 to engage consultants for the Phase 2 study. In presentation, staff characterized the consultant engagement amount as "up to $994,600" to complete the Phase 2 environmental study; that specific upper-bound figure was stated in the meeting record. Staff said there is no match required for the grant and that follow-up remediation funding would be pursued only if Phase 2 findings indicate it is needed.

Next steps: staff will proceed with the Phase 2 assessment, participate in the voluntary Brownfields program, and pursue remediation grants if the assessment shows the need for cleanup.