Hazardous Substance Research Centers/South & Southwest

Organizations requesting assistance

Rock Hill Council of Neighborhoods

Summary of TOSC/TAB interaction with community

The Rock Hill Council of Neighborhoods represents 18 neighborhood associations dedicated to addressing environmental justice issues as they relate to community revitalization efforts in the Rock Hill's Arcade-Westside area. The city's once-thriving textile industry has suffered significant losses, leaving social, educational, and economic problems. Unemployment is high, and 21% of the Arcade-Westside residents have incomes below the poverty level.

The Council and the City of Rock Hill have begun to address revitalization of the area, and have developed a three-phase work plan to develop old mill sites and inject new life into the blighted areas. Rock Hill was awarded an EPA Brownfield Pilot Grant in 2003 targeting the area around former textile mills. Unemployment is high in this area, and nearly one quarter of the population has income levels below the poverty line. The Arcade-Westside neighborhood is the target of Phase II environmental assessments of the former mills, along with community outreach activities and redevelopment planning. Under a Letter of Agreement signed with the Rock Hill Council of Neighborhoods, TAB will evaluate technical documents (Phase I and II assessments), and has participated in several outreach activities.