Remerge- Auburn Ave.

Remerge’s Community Building Studio at 597 Auburn Avenue NE

Remerge Inc. submitted a Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund (BRLF) subgrant application to the City of Atlanta and Invest Atlanta for the remediation of 597 Auburn Avenue NE. This triangular shaped parcel is located in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of NPU-M, and in Council District 2.  The City of Atlanta Brownfield Program is funded with grants from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Remerge’s Community Building Studio at 597 Auburn Avenue NE 

Remerge Inc, a community based organization with a focus on Auburn Avenue, facilitates collaborative opportunities that accelerate belonging and flourishing in local communities. Remerge’s Reconnect, Rethink and Reimagine strategy is implemented through various programs, many of which are provided at its Community Building Studio.

 Remerge Inc. submitted a BRLF subgrant application to the City of Atlanta and Invest Atlanta for the remediation of 597 Auburn Avenue NE prior to the renovation of the existing building as the future location of its Community Building Studio. The site is currently developed with a one-story building built before 1910s. Originally constructed as a residential building, it has been used as a church since the 1940s.

 As part of the due diligence for the purchase of the parcel, Remerge had a Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments conducted, which included the collection and analysis of soil samples. The analysis identified Barium and Lead contamination in the soil above Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s (EPD) Notification Concentrations (NCs). In addition, an inspection for asbestos-containing materials (ACM) confirmed the presence of asbestos in the roof flashing and in exterior cementitious siding. The soil will be remediated by excavation and off-site disposal of contaminated soils. All Regulated ACM (RACM) will be removed and disposed of at an approved landfill.

The City of Atlanta’s Qualified Environmental Professional prepared several environmental documents required by EPA for sites receiving Brownfield Revolving Loan Program funding. These are :

• the Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA), and
• the Site- Specific Quality Assurance Project Plan (SSOAPP)

The Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) includes a review the site’s history, exposure analysis, cleanup objectives and cleanup alternatives (No action, Implementation of institutional controls such as capping and barring access to contaminated soil and excavation and removal of contaminated soil).  The most effective cleanup option is the removal of contaminated materials from the parcel to limit the impacts to human health and the environment

The Site-Specific Quality Assurance Project Plan (SSQAPP) outlines the participants involved and their roles in the cleanup, cleanup activities to be conducted, data quality objectives, sampling design, analytical sampling methodologies, and quality control/quality assurance (QA/QC) requirements.

 A subgrant to Remerge for $50,000 will pay the remediation costs. The Invest Atlanta Board approved the subgrant to Remerge at its November 17, 2021 meeting.

Get Involved 

A community meeting to discuss the subgrant to Remerge for the remediation of 597 Auburn Avenue NE will be held on Thursday January 26^th from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm at Remerge’s office at 340 Auburn Avenue.

The official 30- day public comment period is from January 23 to February 22, 2023.

Comments and questions regarding the BRLF subgrant to Remerge Inc for 597 Auburn Avenue NE can be sent to Jessica Lavandier at jlavandier@atlantaga.gov  and at 404-450-6442.

For additional information please click the links below.

• 597 Auburn Avenue NE BRLF Fact Sheet
• January 26, 2023 community meeting notice
• Community Involvement Plan
• Community Meeting Presentation