Brownfields
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a brownfield as a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. It is estimated that there are more than 450,000 brownfields in the U.S. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties increases local tax bases, facilitates job growth, utilizes existing infrastructure, takes development pressures off of undeveloped, open land, and both improves and protects the environment.
There are over 100 brownfields in the NRPC region. The goal of the NRPC Brownfields Assessment Program is to cover the costs of environmental assessments on qualifying brownfield sites to help facilitate their clean-up and redevelopment into economically viable uses. In May 2022, NRPC was awarded a $500,000 Brownfields Assessment Grant from the EPA.
Project Site Status (click to view more information about each site)
Project Name: Ultima-NIMCO
Address: 1 Pine St Ext, Nashua, NH
Building/Site Size: A single 60,000-sq. ft. building on a 3.8-acre site.
Former & Current Uses: Store House and Support Structures for Textile Manufacturing; Machine Shop; Paint Retail Business; Radio Broadcast Station; Currently vacant.
Redevelopment Proposal: Part of the envisioned mixed-use mill yard redevelopment, which will include a business incubator and residential use. An Request for Proposal was issued in May 2023 for redevelopment.
Current Status: A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment is currently underway.
Program Accomplishments: The NRPC Brownfields Assessment Program funded a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, which assesses potential hazardous contamination on-site/in the building through visual observations, historical use reviews, and regulatory records.
Hazardous Materials Analysis: The assessment suspects there are petroleum, other organic chemical compounds, and chlorinated solvents (CVOCs) contaminants from past industrial uses, alongside asbestos-containing materials (AEM) and lead-containing paint (LCP) – two hazardous building materials commonly found in older buildings.
Site History: The site was historically part of the Nashua Manufacturing Company, a cotton textile manufacturer, which was chartered in 1823. The building is composed of three primary sections: an original eastern portion built as a storehouse in 1902, central machine shop additions built between 1963 and 1966, and a western portion that was originally built as a stand-alone transmission building sometime between 1919 and 1923. Other now-demolished buildings and structures on the site include two separate storehouses and various above-ground and under-ground oil storage tanks. A paint storage/retail business operated out of one of these storehouses between 1955 and 1977.
After the textile mill complex closed in 1948, Ultima Nashua Industrial Corporation (Ultima-NIMCO) converted the building into a machine shop in 1955 and operated it until as late as 2007. The City of Nashua purchased the property in 2000 as part of eminent-domain proceedings associated with the Broad Street Parkway project. The building and site remained vacant except for a radio broadcast company that operates out of the transmission building.
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Address: 1 Pine St Ext, Nashua, NH
Building/Site Size: A single 60,000-sq. ft. building on a 3.8-acre site.
Former & Current Uses: Store House and Support Structures for Textile Manufacturing; Machine Shop; Paint Retail Business; Radio Broadcast Station; Currently vacant.
Redevelopment Proposal: Part of the envisioned mixed-use mill yard redevelopment, which will include a business incubator and residential use. An Request for Proposal was issued in May 2023 for redevelopment.
Current Status: A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment is currently underway.
Program Accomplishments: The NRPC Brownfields Assessment Program funded a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, which assesses potential hazardous contamination on-site/in the building through visual observations, historical use reviews, and regulatory records.
Hazardous Materials Analysis: The assessment suspects there are petroleum, other organic chemical compounds, and chlorinated solvents (CVOCs) contaminants from past industrial uses, alongside asbestos-containing materials (AEM) and lead-containing paint (LCP) – two hazardous building materials commonly found in older buildings.
Site History: The site was historically part of the Nashua Manufacturing Company, a cotton textile manufacturer, which was chartered in 1823. The building is composed of three primary sections: an original eastern portion built as a storehouse in 1902, central machine shop additions built between 1963 and 1966, and a western portion that was originally built as a stand-alone transmission building sometime between 1919 and 1923. Other now-demolished buildings and structures on the site include two separate storehouses and various above-ground and under-ground oil storage tanks. A paint storage/retail business operated out of one of these storehouses between 1955 and 1977.
After the textile mill complex closed in 1948, Ultima Nashua Industrial Corporation (Ultima-NIMCO) converted the building into a machine shop in 1955 and operated it until as late as 2007. The City of Nashua purchased the property in 2000 as part of eminent-domain proceedings associated with the Broad Street Parkway project. The building and site remained vacant except for a radio broadcast company that operates out of the transmission building.
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Project Name: Former Telegraph Building 
Address: 54 School Street, Milford, NH
Building/Site Size: A single 7,000-sq. ft. building on a 0.52-acre parcel.
Former & Current Uses: School; Sewing Factory; Newspaper Office and Printing House; Contractor Shop. Currently under construction.
Redevelopment Proposal: Milford Cabinet, an 18-unit affordable senior housing development, is under construction and on pace to open in fall 2023.
Current Status: Brownfields Assessment activities completed.
Program Accomplishments: The NRPC Brownfields Assessment Program funded both Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment. The Phase II assessment investigated the presence and prevalence of hazardous contamination on-site/in the building, including laboratory testing of collected building material and soil samples. The assessment informs the owner and other stakeholders about the site conditions and potential remediation, paving the way toward redevelopment.
Hazardous Materials Analysis: The assessment found asbestos-containing materials (AEM) and lead-containing paint (LCP) – two hazardous building materials commonly found in older buildings.
Site History: Once known as the “Old Brick School House”, the original part of the building was built in 1853, which served as the town’s school until 1926. The building housed a sewing factory between 1946 and 1950. Two newspaper companies – the Cabinet Press and the Telegraph, operated out of this building successively between 1951 and 2015. A warehouse addition was built circa 1968 and office space was added in 1980. The Housing Initiatives of New England Corporation (HINEC) currently owns the property. The warehouse portion is leased to Son’s Chimney Services & Stove Shop while the remainder of the building is vacant.
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Address: 54 School Street, Milford, NH
Building/Site Size: A single 7,000-sq. ft. building on a 0.52-acre parcel.
Former & Current Uses: School; Sewing Factory; Newspaper Office and Printing House; Contractor Shop. Currently under construction.
Redevelopment Proposal: Milford Cabinet, an 18-unit affordable senior housing development, is under construction and on pace to open in fall 2023.
Current Status: Brownfields Assessment activities completed.
Program Accomplishments: The NRPC Brownfields Assessment Program funded both Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment. The Phase II assessment investigated the presence and prevalence of hazardous contamination on-site/in the building, including laboratory testing of collected building material and soil samples. The assessment informs the owner and other stakeholders about the site conditions and potential remediation, paving the way toward redevelopment.
Hazardous Materials Analysis: The assessment found asbestos-containing materials (AEM) and lead-containing paint (LCP) – two hazardous building materials commonly found in older buildings.
Site History: Once known as the “Old Brick School House”, the original part of the building was built in 1853, which served as the town’s school until 1926. The building housed a sewing factory between 1946 and 1950. Two newspaper companies – the Cabinet Press and the Telegraph, operated out of this building successively between 1951 and 2015. A warehouse addition was built circa 1968 and office space was added in 1980. The Housing Initiatives of New England Corporation (HINEC) currently owns the property. The warehouse portion is leased to Son’s Chimney Services & Stove Shop while the remainder of the building is vacant.
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Project Name: Marjan-Corban 
Address: 124 Turkey Hill Road, Merrimack, NH
Building/Site Size: Vacant 11.84-acre site.
Former & Current Uses: Homestead/Farm/Hayfield; Automobile Salvage Yard; Sludge Repository for the Municipal Waste Treatment Plant; Currently vacant.
Redevelopment Proposal: Merrimack Turkey Hill Farms, LLC is assessing the Site for feasibility of residential housing, as the surrounding land is predominantly residential, and subdivision plans were formerly developed for the Site in 1987.
Current Status: Finalize Phase II ESA
Program Accomplishments: The NRPC Brownfields Assessment Program funded both Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment. The Phase II assessment investigated the presence and prevalence of hazardous contamination on-site, including laboratory testing of test pit soil and monitoring-well water samples. While the assessment recommends further studies on soil and groundwater, it provides critical information and confirmation on the character and extent of the contamination on site.
Hazardous Materials Analysis: The assessment found Perchloroethylene (PCE) concentrations in site groundwater in exceedance of New Hampshire’s groundwater standard. PCE was likely used as a metal-degreasing solvent during the automobile salvage operation. Perfluorooctanoic and perfluorooctanesulfonic acids (PFAS/PFOS), industrial surfactant most frequently associated with Teflon, were also detected in groundwater samples but the assessment was inconclusive on the source of these chemicals.
Site History: The site was a farm before 1959, with a house, garage, and barn. In 1959, Richard Corbin purchased the property and operated an automobile salvage yard until 1985. For an approximately 6-month period in early 1971, the site received sludge from the Town’s wastewater treatment plant. The sludge was buried in shallow trenches along the eastern edge of the site.
In 1985, Marjan Associates purchased the site intending to develop it into a residential subdivision. This effort was suspended after a 1987 Environmental Site Investigation revealed environmental concerns about buried municipal sludge and contamination related to auto salvage operations. A series of environmental assessment and groundwater monitoring efforts were made until 2011. All buildings had been razed but scattered automobile parts can be found throughout the site.
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Address: 124 Turkey Hill Road, Merrimack, NH
Building/Site Size: Vacant 11.84-acre site.
Former & Current Uses: Homestead/Farm/Hayfield; Automobile Salvage Yard; Sludge Repository for the Municipal Waste Treatment Plant; Currently vacant.
Redevelopment Proposal: Merrimack Turkey Hill Farms, LLC is assessing the Site for feasibility of residential housing, as the surrounding land is predominantly residential, and subdivision plans were formerly developed for the Site in 1987.
Current Status: Finalize Phase II ESA
Program Accomplishments: The NRPC Brownfields Assessment Program funded both Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment. The Phase II assessment investigated the presence and prevalence of hazardous contamination on-site, including laboratory testing of test pit soil and monitoring-well water samples. While the assessment recommends further studies on soil and groundwater, it provides critical information and confirmation on the character and extent of the contamination on site.
Hazardous Materials Analysis: The assessment found Perchloroethylene (PCE) concentrations in site groundwater in exceedance of New Hampshire’s groundwater standard. PCE was likely used as a metal-degreasing solvent during the automobile salvage operation. Perfluorooctanoic and perfluorooctanesulfonic acids (PFAS/PFOS), industrial surfactant most frequently associated with Teflon, were also detected in groundwater samples but the assessment was inconclusive on the source of these chemicals.
Site History: The site was a farm before 1959, with a house, garage, and barn. In 1959, Richard Corbin purchased the property and operated an automobile salvage yard until 1985. For an approximately 6-month period in early 1971, the site received sludge from the Town’s wastewater treatment plant. The sludge was buried in shallow trenches along the eastern edge of the site.
In 1985, Marjan Associates purchased the site intending to develop it into a residential subdivision. This effort was suspended after a 1987 Environmental Site Investigation revealed environmental concerns about buried municipal sludge and contamination related to auto salvage operations. A series of environmental assessment and groundwater monitoring efforts were made until 2011. All buildings had been razed but scattered automobile parts can be found throughout the site.
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Project Name: Former Milford Texaco 
Address: 168 South St, Milford, NH
Building/Site Size: A gas station (with a 375-sq. ft. commercial building under an overhead canopy) on a 0.26-acre site.
Former & Current Uses: Railroad depot; Foundry; Soapstone store; Furniture manufacturing; Warehouse; Gas station; Currently vacant.
Redevelopment Proposal: The Town is planning to convert the site into a municipal parking lot, which will provide parking for the Bicentennial Park across the street, which features the Harriet E. Wilson Memorial.
Current Status: Brownfields Assessment activities completed.
Program Accomplishments: The NRPC Brownfields Assessment Program funded both Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment. The Phase II assessment investigated the presence and prevalence of hazardous contamination on-site, including laboratory testing of soil and groundwater samples. Furthermore, all three underground storage tanks were removed as part of the Phase II assessment. The assessment recommends continued groundwater monitoring but concludes no further assessment or removal of soil is warranted.
Hazardous Materials Analysis: The assessment found volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and lead levels in groundwater in exceedance of New Hampshire’s groundwater standard. The assessment also found methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and several pyrogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the soil samples. All of these chemicals are associated with gasoline.
Site History: Before becoming a gas station, the site had been a railroad depot, a foundry, a soapstone company, two different furniture factories, and a furniture warehouse at different times. The first gas station was built on-site circa 1940 and the gas station began operating as the Milford Texaco from 1969 onwards. There were six active underground storage tanks on-site by 1987 and one tank was removed in 1989.
In the early 1990s, a new owner acquired the site, built the current gas station, and replaced the aging underground storage tanks with three new ones. A series of environmental investigations took place from 1996 to 2000 due to concerns about residual petroleum impacts from the former gas station operations. The current owner purchased the site and continued gas station operations until 2016 when the site was abandoned.
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Address: 168 South St, Milford, NH
Building/Site Size: A gas station (with a 375-sq. ft. commercial building under an overhead canopy) on a 0.26-acre site.
Former & Current Uses: Railroad depot; Foundry; Soapstone store; Furniture manufacturing; Warehouse; Gas station; Currently vacant.
Redevelopment Proposal: The Town is planning to convert the site into a municipal parking lot, which will provide parking for the Bicentennial Park across the street, which features the Harriet E. Wilson Memorial.
Current Status: Brownfields Assessment activities completed.
Program Accomplishments: The NRPC Brownfields Assessment Program funded both Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessment. The Phase II assessment investigated the presence and prevalence of hazardous contamination on-site, including laboratory testing of soil and groundwater samples. Furthermore, all three underground storage tanks were removed as part of the Phase II assessment. The assessment recommends continued groundwater monitoring but concludes no further assessment or removal of soil is warranted.
Hazardous Materials Analysis: The assessment found volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and lead levels in groundwater in exceedance of New Hampshire’s groundwater standard. The assessment also found methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and several pyrogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the soil samples. All of these chemicals are associated with gasoline.
Site History: Before becoming a gas station, the site had been a railroad depot, a foundry, a soapstone company, two different furniture factories, and a furniture warehouse at different times. The first gas station was built on-site circa 1940 and the gas station began operating as the Milford Texaco from 1969 onwards. There were six active underground storage tanks on-site by 1987 and one tank was removed in 1989.
In the early 1990s, a new owner acquired the site, built the current gas station, and replaced the aging underground storage tanks with three new ones. A series of environmental investigations took place from 1996 to 2000 due to concerns about residual petroleum impacts from the former gas station operations. The current owner purchased the site and continued gas station operations until 2016 when the site was abandoned.
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Project Name: Abbott Memorial Trust 
Address: Adjacent to 7 Burns Hill Road, Wilton, NH
Building/Site Size: Vacant 0.15-acre site with walking path, retaining wall, and a dam.
Former & Current Uses: Mill complex (general manufacturing, sawmill, gristmill, coal storage); Hazardous waste disposal site; Currently municipal parking and public park.
Redevelopment Proposal: There is currently no proposal for redevelopment, the main reason being that if anyone were to take ownership of the lot, one would also have to assume the responsibility for any future environmental hazards from the buried cyanide.
Current Status: Brownfields Assessment activities completed.
Program Accomplishments: The NRPC Brownfields Assessment Program funded a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, which assesses potential hazardous contamination on-site through visual observations, historical use reviews, and regulatory records.
Hazardous Materials Analysis: Following up on the Phase I assessment, the U.S. EPA conducted a subsequent assessment at the request of NH DES. None of the water and soil samples collected in the EPA assessment contain cyanide level exceeding NHDES or the EPA standards. EPA concludes that there are no known threats to public health, welfare of the United States, or the environment at this time.
Site History: The site was formerly part of a larger tract of land before its subdivision in 1991. A dam existed on the property since 1837 while the earliest manufacturing activity on the site happened when a boiler house chimney was erected for the Whiting’s Box Company in 1872. The Whiting mill complex expanded over the years, which includes a mill building, sawmill, gristmill, and multiple auxiliary buildings. Circa 1906, the current dam was reconstructed at the site.
The Whiting mill structures were demolished in 1960 and E.J. Abbott, who operated Abbott Machine Company (AMC) – a manufacturer of metal textile machinery, and whose facility was located approximately 0.5 miles southeast of the site, purchased the property in 1961. In about 1964, AMC disposed of six 55-gallon drums and four-furnace boxes containing ash from spent sodium cyanide case hardening solution at the site. The waste was disposed of in an excavation of the oil mill building’s foundation and the material was encased in concrete. There is little documentation of E.J. Abbott’s use of the property besides the ash disposal. In 1968, the property expanded in size with fill along the river.
In 1984, the E.J. Abbott Memorial Park, consisting of municipal parking and park, was established on the property. In 1991, the property was subdivided, with the stipulation that no use or improvements are to be made on the current site due to suspected cyanide disposal. In 2000, the Town purchased the adjacent lot and constructed the Wilton Police Department with an adjoining parking lot. In the process, a walking path, an information board, and grass landscaping were added to the current site.
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Address: Adjacent to 7 Burns Hill Road, Wilton, NH
Building/Site Size: Vacant 0.15-acre site with walking path, retaining wall, and a dam.
Former & Current Uses: Mill complex (general manufacturing, sawmill, gristmill, coal storage); Hazardous waste disposal site; Currently municipal parking and public park.
Redevelopment Proposal: There is currently no proposal for redevelopment, the main reason being that if anyone were to take ownership of the lot, one would also have to assume the responsibility for any future environmental hazards from the buried cyanide.
Current Status: Brownfields Assessment activities completed.
Program Accomplishments: The NRPC Brownfields Assessment Program funded a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, which assesses potential hazardous contamination on-site through visual observations, historical use reviews, and regulatory records.
Hazardous Materials Analysis: Following up on the Phase I assessment, the U.S. EPA conducted a subsequent assessment at the request of NH DES. None of the water and soil samples collected in the EPA assessment contain cyanide level exceeding NHDES or the EPA standards. EPA concludes that there are no known threats to public health, welfare of the United States, or the environment at this time.
Site History: The site was formerly part of a larger tract of land before its subdivision in 1991. A dam existed on the property since 1837 while the earliest manufacturing activity on the site happened when a boiler house chimney was erected for the Whiting’s Box Company in 1872. The Whiting mill complex expanded over the years, which includes a mill building, sawmill, gristmill, and multiple auxiliary buildings. Circa 1906, the current dam was reconstructed at the site.
The Whiting mill structures were demolished in 1960 and E.J. Abbott, who operated Abbott Machine Company (AMC) – a manufacturer of metal textile machinery, and whose facility was located approximately 0.5 miles southeast of the site, purchased the property in 1961. In about 1964, AMC disposed of six 55-gallon drums and four-furnace boxes containing ash from spent sodium cyanide case hardening solution at the site. The waste was disposed of in an excavation of the oil mill building’s foundation and the material was encased in concrete. There is little documentation of E.J. Abbott’s use of the property besides the ash disposal. In 1968, the property expanded in size with fill along the river.
In 1984, the E.J. Abbott Memorial Park, consisting of municipal parking and park, was established on the property. In 1991, the property was subdivided, with the stipulation that no use or improvements are to be made on the current site due to suspected cyanide disposal. In 2000, the Town purchased the adjacent lot and constructed the Wilton Police Department with an adjoining parking lot. In the process, a walking path, an information board, and grass landscaping were added to the current site.
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Project Name: Milford Library Site 
Address: 49 Nashua St, Milford, NH
Building/Site Size: A single 10,651-sq. ft. building on a 2.08-acre site.
Former & Current Uses: Currently a library
Redevelopment Proposal: The Town has planned for a Library Expansion Project.
Current Status: Phase I Brownfields Assessment underway.
Program Accomplishments: Phase I, II, III Assessment planned.
Hazardous Materials Analysis: Assessment pending; suspecting asbestos and lead.
Site History: Wadleigh Memorial Library moved into the current building in the 1950s from the library's original location across Nashua Street, now houses the Town Hall. The current building was built in 1920 and expanded in 1986. Hazardous materials are suspected in the fill materials that predate the building.
Address: 49 Nashua St, Milford, NH
Building/Site Size: A single 10,651-sq. ft. building on a 2.08-acre site.
Former & Current Uses: Currently a library
Redevelopment Proposal: The Town has planned for a Library Expansion Project.
Current Status: Phase I Brownfields Assessment underway.
Program Accomplishments: Phase I, II, III Assessment planned.
Hazardous Materials Analysis: Assessment pending; suspecting asbestos and lead.
Site History: Wadleigh Memorial Library moved into the current building in the 1950s from the library's original location across Nashua Street, now houses the Town Hall. The current building was built in 1920 and expanded in 1986. Hazardous materials are suspected in the fill materials that predate the building.
Project Name: Former Police Training Building 
Address: 82 Pine St Ext, Nashua, NH
Building/Site Size: A single 4,025-sq. ft. building on a 1.25-acre site.
Former & Current Uses: Mill complex (West Auto House); Police training facility; Currently vacant.
Redevelopment Proposal: Part of the envisioned mixed-use mill yard redevelopment, which will include a business incubator and residential use.
Current Status: Phase I Brownfields Assessment underway.
Program Accomplishments: Phase I, II, III Assessment planned.
Hazardous Materials Analysis: Assessment pending.
Site History: The existing building was built in 1917 as the West Auto House, which supported the mill yard operation. There were 3 other smaller buildings, now demolished, adjacent to the existing building (visible in 1998 aerials).
Address: 82 Pine St Ext, Nashua, NH
Building/Site Size: A single 4,025-sq. ft. building on a 1.25-acre site.
Former & Current Uses: Mill complex (West Auto House); Police training facility; Currently vacant.
Redevelopment Proposal: Part of the envisioned mixed-use mill yard redevelopment, which will include a business incubator and residential use.
Current Status: Phase I Brownfields Assessment underway.
Program Accomplishments: Phase I, II, III Assessment planned.
Hazardous Materials Analysis: Assessment pending.
Site History: The existing building was built in 1917 as the West Auto House, which supported the mill yard operation. There were 3 other smaller buildings, now demolished, adjacent to the existing building (visible in 1998 aerials).
Project Name: 7 Pine Street Extension North Parking Lot 
Address: 7 Pine St Ext-Nrth, Nashua, NH
Building/Site Size: A 1.80-acre parking lot
Former & Current Uses: Mill complex (Picker Building #6); Currently a parking lot
Redevelopment Proposal: Part of the envisioned mixed-use mill yard redevelopment, which will include a business incubator and residential use.
Current Status: Phase I Brownfields Assessment underway.
Program Accomplishments: Phase I, II, III Assessment planned.
Hazardous Materials Analysis: Assessment pending.
Site History: Built in 1899 and now demolished, the Picker Building #6 once encompassed almost the entirety of the current parking lot (visible in 1998 aerials).
Address: 7 Pine St Ext-Nrth, Nashua, NH
Building/Site Size: A 1.80-acre parking lot
Former & Current Uses: Mill complex (Picker Building #6); Currently a parking lot
Redevelopment Proposal: Part of the envisioned mixed-use mill yard redevelopment, which will include a business incubator and residential use.
Current Status: Phase I Brownfields Assessment underway.
Program Accomplishments: Phase I, II, III Assessment planned.
Hazardous Materials Analysis: Assessment pending.
Site History: Built in 1899 and now demolished, the Picker Building #6 once encompassed almost the entirety of the current parking lot (visible in 1998 aerials).