Once used as a soils testing laboratory by the US Army Corps of Engineers, this brownfield site in Dallas, Texas will soon be redeveloped into a community homeless and transitional shelter. In year 2000, Union Gospel Mission, a non-profit organization, will begin reusing this site to provide shelter, vocational training and job placement services for women and children. Redevelopment of this brownfield site into productive reuse exemplifies successful partnering among local, state and federal stakeholders.

The Southwestern Division of the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) acquired the property in 1949 and converted it from a warehouse into an environmental and materials testing laboratory. Standing on five acres, the Corps facility occupies 40,000 square feet of a 120,000 square foot building and is divided into office, laboratory and warehouse spaces. The remaining 80,000 square feet of the building is currently owned and occupied by the Trammel Crow Corporation. The Corps continued to use the laboratory until 1997 when it was closed due to outsourcing. Prior to vacating the building, the Corps conducted an environmental investigation of the property and identified asbestos-containing materials and lead-based paint.

After vacating 4815 Cass Street in 1997, the Corps listed the federal property as surplus with the General Services Administration (GSA). In 1998, the property was determined to be suitable for homeless use by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Under Title V of the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, non-profit organizations, government entities, and other public bodies are eligible to acquire surplus federal property through a public conveyance process.

In 1999, Union Gospel Mission and the City of Dallas expressed a shared interest in reusing the Corps site to benefit the homeless. However, concerned with possible environmental issues on the property, Union Gospel Mission submitted an application to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) for state-funded Brownfields Site Assessments. Subsequent Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments found no additional environmental issues on the property.

Union Gospel Mission plans to convert the Cass Street property into a multi-purpose transitional shelter and residence for 250 homeless women and children. The shelter will also offer a comprehensive program of services including General Education Diploma (GED) preparation, vocational training, job placement, transportation assistance, life skills, counseling, parenting skills and child care.

Conversion of the property will begin in December 2000, and will take approximately six months. The cost for remodeling the facility (which will be known as the "Center of Hope") is an estimated $2.6 million. As of October 2000, $740,000 has been raised, and the Union Gospel Mission is working with the Federal Home Loan Bank and private investors to secure the addition funds.

Under the terms of the public benefit conveyance process, Union Gospel Mission has three years after conveyance to meet its commitment of establishing a multi-purpose shelter and transitional residence. If Union Gospel Mission does not meet its commitment, the Cass Street property will revert back to the Federal government for disposition.

The City of Dallas and GSA have worked closely with Union Gospel Mission, the Corps, HUD, HHS and other City departments to facilitate the reuse of this site. Coordination among the following partners has been integral to the successful transition of the brownfield site from former soils testing laboratory to homeless and transitional shelter.

• Union Gospel Mission
• City of Dallas, Economic Development Department
• Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
• US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
• US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)