Gowanus Framework Ideas and Feedback
Thank you to those who submitted ideas and input on the framework, which helped shape the draft zoning proposal and framework updates. The comment period has ended and the feedback has been archived.
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Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this linkView All Ideasover 3 years ago
Green Spaces
Although the preservation of Thomas Greene Park is wonderful it was sad that there were not more proposed green spaces for Gowanus. Green spaces are GOOD! and make for healthy communities. Some of the greatest NY neighborhoods, have an abundance of green spaces. With such a polluted past it would wonderful too see Gowaus do about face and become a leader in neighborhood green spaces. Gowanu deserves its day in the sun and in more than one park.
over 3 years ago
STOP DEMANDING CONCESSIONS FROM DEVELOPERS
The more requirements, requests and delays we impose with this "feedback", the more it jacks up the price for the housing that will eventually be built. We cannot delay and demand concession after concession on every development project. The Gowanus area as it is now, is a hell hole. To delay these re-development projects as long as we have ,while we are in the midst of a housing shortage is just crazy. We cannot let a few dozen loud mouths block progress in an area of prime location and a prime need for revitalization. JUST DO IT ALREADY
over 3 years ago
Do a thorough pollution assessment of the department of transportation Hamilton Ave. plant and other industrial plants in Gowanus
Frequently the plant on Hamilton Ave. emits enormous amounts of smoke. Sometimes, the air smells like sulfur or other toxic chemicals. It is clearly unsafe. There is also considerable truck traffic on 3rd avenue. Air pollution is a serious and so far neglected issue in this neighborhood.
over 3 years ago
Publish a report on the website that shows how toxic the water is. Keep it up-to-date every day. Show a map of where the pollution is and
and where it's coming from.
over 3 years ago
Don't shoot me, but what about parking?
The plan ignores many realities in Gowanus, including parking needs. With more people, come more cars: PLAIN AND SIMPLE, no matter how many use public transportation. A search of the complete proposal mentions "parking" 35 times. More than half of those references are included in language similar to this: "Alleviate unnecessarily high parking requirements for new construction and enlargements." As a lifelong resident of this area, parking used to be simple to understand. If you moved your car from a Gowanus spot during the workday, you wouldn't be able to get a parking spot until the factories closed at 3-5pm. But after 5, and on weekends, no worries. Heck, we'd have weekends where there were no cars on 2nd avenue at all. Since the residential development began on 4th Avenue, losing spots to bioswales/ CitiBike, and the changes in the mixed commercial/industrial use blocks, including the Parole Center, parking is a nightmare ALL THE TIME and it is impacting residents and businesses alike. We've lost many wonderful, long-time, businesses in Gowanus to parking problems. Why should we care about cars and parking? Because: parking availability means jobs for our industrial friends in Gowanus, cars & parking mean jobs for many blue collar workers, cars mean mobility for our disabled residents, cars help keep our older residents more engaged and active, and, essentially, cars, and more parking, make it easier to live here. We pay a premium to live in Brooklyn, and that premium has been growing exponentially lately. Parking is a commodity, and it's becoming reserved for the affluent in our community, and that's not fair. I am ALL for more people coming to Gowanus, for many reasons. I am privileged to live my life here, and raise my family here, but let's be real. Unless we make a REAL plan for PUBLIC SCHOOLS, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC PARKING, and SOLVING THE RAIN WATER/SEWAGE RUN OFF PROBLEM, bringing more people to Gowanus is just going to make it a mess. This plan helps make a lot of money for a small group of people, at the expense of many more.
