Construction of Farm Fresh RI Food and Agriculture Campus

Background:
ES&M is proud to be part of Farm Fresh RI’s mission “to grow a local food system that values the environment, health, and quality of life of the farmers and eaters in our region.”

We have helped pave the way for construction of the Farm Fresh RI Food and Agriculture campus.  When construction is complete, the campus will include a hub for the aggregation and distribution of locally grown food and produce; production facilities; retail markets for both the individual consumer and the wholesaler; job training; and opportunities for nutrition education.

Project Description:
In early 2016, Farm Fresh Rhode Island decided to undertake environmental assessment activities with the goal of purchasing the 498 Kinsley Avenue property in Providence and converting this Brownfields site into a Food and Agriculture campus. ES&M was retained to conduct the initial ASTM Phase I and II investigations. These investigations revealed several recognized environmental conditions, including the presence of metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, TPH and LNAPL, and two underground storage tanks still buried on the property.
 
Next, ES&M successfully assisted Farm Fresh in obtaining RIDEM brownfields assessment funding to further define the nature and extent of contamination and to identify potential remediation strategies. ES&M prepared a Remedial Action Work Plan, which was approved by RIDEM and assisted Farm Fresh RI with an application for storm water pollution control and brownfields grant funding.

During the summer of 2018, ES&M removed the two underground fuel storage tanks remaining on the property. Because of high water levels on the property, dewatering systems were necessary during this work.  Both tanks showed evidence of leaking; therefore, ES&M removed impacted soil from the tank area as well as from a separate portion of the property.
 
ES&M was also part of the project design team, completing all the civil site design and state permitting requirements through CRMC and RIDEM. The proposed redevelopment of this Site includes the addition of a 61,600 square foot distribution and sale facility, a loading dock with three truck spaces, a parking lot, a rain garden, grassed landscape areas, concrete walkways and patio areas.

Storm water Best Management Practices (BMPs) were designed such as a rain garden along with an underground infiltration system which will utilize a total of three hundred twenty-four (324) chambers to provide groundwater recharge and storm water quality management to 100% of the facility.
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Once the subsurface met all state and local environmental regulations for redevelopment and obtained city and state permits, Farm Fresh RI began construction of The Farm Fresh RI Food Hub, a purpose-designed 60,000 square foot facility, half of which will house all of Farm Fresh RI’s programs and operations, including a year-round farmers market and the remaining space will be leased to food- and farm-related small businesses. ES&M has been responsible for all civil site design on this project with an expected completion in the fall 2020. ES&M conducts weekly site visits during construction and we are working closely with the Farm Fresh contractors to respond to any questions or site issues during construction activities.