According to Coleman, the advantages of this site far outweigh any disadvantages. "The bones of the area were all there-streets, water, and sewer infrastructure, two nice parks, and good bus service-which made it easier to start." Vulcan has worked with the city to create pedestrian-friendly design guidelines and to increase public transportation options. The first streetcar line opened in 2007, running from South Lake Union to the downtown intermodal center, and the city is considering expanding the service. The developer has also contributed funds to help upgrade several neighborhood parks.

Vulcan currently has about a dozen buildings in operation, four buildings in construction, and quite a bit more land to build on in the future. All buildings incorporate green strategies. Furthermore, Vulcan is working with neighborhood stakeholders to ensure that South Lake Union becomes one of the first certified green neighborhoods in the nation through the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED for Neighborhood Development pilot program.

 "The greener you can be, the easier [for companies] to recruit and retain. It's becoming a leasing factor," says Coleman. The mixed-use aspect of the development is also a big draw in getting companies and employees to move into this area.

INGREDIENTS FOR SUCCESS

Although the specifics of each project vary, these and other urban brownfield research parks share certain similarities. The redevelopments, for example, tend to be located near a hospital or university or both. According to PTRP's Drummond, such institutions are a necessary ingredient for a research park to thrive. And the various developers stress the value of collaborating early on with all stakeholders to get their input and buy-in. Finally, the developers all seem to downplay the technical challenges of remediating their respective sites.

Given the important role that research and technology play in today's highly competitive global economy, interest in such urban research parks is bound to increase. According to De Sousa, they are currently popular to universities and economic development agencies, although he suggests that more information is needed on their public returns. And, no matter what the targeted use, De Sousa believes that the main challenge facing urban brownfield redevelopment in the United States "is the ease with which we can still develop on greenfields." 

Nancy Solomon, AIA, writes about architecture, planning, and sustainable design. She served as editor of Architecture: Celebrating the Past, Designing the Future.