Project Overview

The City of Astoria is moving forward with the Heritage Square Brownfield Cleanup Project, an important step toward preparing the site for future redevelopment. The City was awarded a $2 million Brownfields Cleanup Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to support environmental cleanup and related technical services. 

Project Background

Heritage Square occupies approximately 1.37 acres at 1153 Duane Street in downtown Astoria, between 11th and 12th Streets and Duane and Exchange Streets. The property is part of Astoria’s historic downtown waterfront, an area significantly shaped by the Great Astoria Fire of 1922. Following the fire, much of downtown was rebuilt over former tidal flats using dredged fill and deep timber pile foundations.

Over the years, the Heritage Square property supported a variety of commercial uses, including automobile repair and painting facilities, automobile sales, dry cleaning operations, and newspaper printing. A Safeway grocery store operated on the west side of the property beginning in 1941 before relocating to the center of the block in 1957. The store remained downtown until 2002, when it relocated to the east end of town. The City acquired the vacant property in 2003, and the former Safeway building was demolished in 2005.

Environmental investigations conducted over the years following identified contaminants of concern associated with historical site uses, including dioxins and furans, metals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and petroleum hydrocarbons. In 2012, the City received an EPA Brownfields Multipurpose Pilot Grant to support environmental assessments and partial cleanup. Although this work made progress toward addressing environmental concerns, cleanup was not completed, and the site has not received a No Further Action determination from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

Today, much of the property consists of a large excavation approximately 10,000 square feet in area and nearly 10 feet below the surrounding street level. The excavation is secured with temporary fencing for public safety. Elevated sidewalks and adjacent parking areas are supported by a chairwall structure with underlying void spaces, adding engineering and construction challenges to the cleanup.

The City’s current $2 million EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant will support the work needed to complete environmental remediation and prepare Heritage Square for future redevelopment. The project builds on earlier assessment and cleanup efforts while moving the property closer to the community’s vision for its long-term use.

Project Documents and Planning

Two key documents help explain the environmental cleanup process and the community’s vision for Heritage Square.

Draft Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA)
The draft ABCA describes the environmental conditions identified at Heritage Square, evaluates potential cleanup approaches, and outlines the proposed remedy for addressing contamination at the site. It provides the technical basis for selecting a cleanup approach that protects human health and the environment while preparing the property for future use.

Heritage Square Place Guide – First Forty Feet
The Heritage Square Place Guide was developed by First Forty Feet through a community engagement process to help establish a shared vision for the site’s future. The guide outlines community priorities, design principles, potential uses, and concepts for creating a welcoming and functional public space that supports downtown Astoria. It provides a framework for future redevelopment planning alongside the environmental cleanup effort.

Planned Cleanup and Improvements

The City will work with a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) and other project partners to plan, design, and oversee the cleanup. The project includes environmental investigation and evaluation, cleanup planning and design, regulatory coordination, community outreach, construction procurement and oversight, and confirmation sampling to verify that the cleanup remedy has been implemented successfully.

The planned work includes placing an engineered cap over affected areas and filling the existing pit as part of the cleanup. These activities will help prepare the site for future redevelopment while accounting for site conditions and protecting nearby infrastructure.

Funding and Community Benefits

The $2 million EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grant, awarded through funding provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will support eligible cleanup activities and the technical services needed to carry out the project. The grant allows the City to address environmental challenges that could otherwise be a barrier to future investment in Heritage Square.

The project is intended to protect human health and the environment, improve the site's readiness for redevelopment, and support the long-term use of Heritage Square as a community asset. The City will continue coordinating with environmental professionals, regulatory agencies, and community stakeholders as the project advances.

Project Timeline

The project is in the planning and design phase, including development of the cleanup approach and preparation for construction. The City will share updates as key milestones are reached and the construction schedule is confirmed.