Check out "Gowanus by Design".

I stumbled upon this blog called Gowanus by Design and it's a great resource for most everything Gowanus.

Here is a description in their own words.....

"Gowanus by Design proposes a new development strategy going forward for the Gowanus area, showcasing different options for the canal and including the many voices of canal stakeholders. GbD will develop speculative projects that point to the potential for what the canal can be, and GbD will track the coordination of clean-up and development efforts between the many city agencies whose individual decisions impact those of us who live and work near the canal.

Within this site explore the potential for development and improvement (not always the same thing) of the Gowanus Canal and its environs:
1.Blueways and Greenways
Exploring the canal as a park and recreation amenity
2.Transportation Issues and Opportunities
Exploring improvements to public transportation
3.Current Events
Links to recent online news and blogs
4.Canal Developments
Planned development projects, plot by plot
5.Links to Gowanus area stakeholders
6.About the Area
Statistical information
7.Urban Design 101
Learn about community based urban design
8.Letters and Opinions
As if we hadn’t said enough"

The community stakeholders link is especially useful as it lists all the local community groups as well as how to reach our local pols. Their current events section is an archive of almost all the recent press coverage of the battle over the Gowanus. I especially like that they say " development and improvement (not always the same thing)"!

Check it out here!

REMINDER! Gowanus E.P.A. SuperFund Meeting this Tuesday Night

Public Information Forum with the U.S Environmetal Protection Agency Regarding the Gowanus Canal Nomination for Superfund
Tuesday April 14th
PS 32 317 Hoyt Street
7pm


If you have any interest at all in the clean up of the Gowanus Canal I URGE you to attend this meeting. There have been a lot of twists and turns regarding clean up and development. Residents tirelessly have dragged themselves to meetings, hearings, have sent comments regarding the rezoning of the canal for the past year. Last month the city gave approval for a spot rezoning to take place so that developers the Toll Brothers could build their condos between Carroll and 2nd Street on the banks of the canal. Any cleanup that was to be done on this site was in the hands of the developers, a frightening thought in this day and age of people being screwed by corporations and banks. There are members of the community such as Buddy and Debby Scotto, who supposedly want a clean canal but are now balking about this highly toxic site receiving Superfunds so that the Environmental Protection Agency can do a proper job before any building takes place. Now, any rational person would think that one would clean BEFORE building but NO! Scare tactics from the developers have quickly occurred. Today I received a press release from the Toll's "public policy consultant's claiming:
Superfund Designation is Wrong Way to Clean Up the Gowanus Canal With No Funding and the Promise of Lengthy Litigation, Federal Involvement Will Only Diminish Property Values, Stunt Development and Muddy the Waters" and a business on Smith Street had a stack of papers published anonymously (hmm i wonder just who it is?) pablum along the same lines. They are inviting people to come to the meeting with local real estate people and other scare tactics. The general theme is all about property values going down with no THOUGHT at ALL about just WHY the EPA feels that this area needs clean up or about health issues or the future.

Judging by the media blitz I am sure in addition to people being for or against this on their own terms, there will also be a ton of paid union guys talking about being willing to endanger their health for a job.

I would like to quote a long time member of F.R.O.G.G (Friends and Residents of the Gowanus Canal, a neighborhood group has tirelessly fought for the clean up of the canal through the correct channels:

"It would be a great loss to this community to pass up the financial help and expertise that the Superfund listing will bring to this area wide Gowanus Cleanup. It may be the only opportunity that will lead to the water complying with the Clean Water Act. (Nothing else could be better for our home values than this, nothing!Nothing else could be better for our health and well being, NOTHING! No amount of affordable housing could take the place of havinga clean waterway for our future! Having a clean waterway that supports planned developments is the only way to go.)

It would be a great loss to the community and the city as a whole if Toll and Buddy put their clout behind stopping this when,it looks like Toll Inc may not be in the financial position to build now anyway. The news on condo sales in the city is that values are to drop for another 4-5 years. With these kind of financial indicators, we should all take a step back. This may be the perfect timing to addressthe Gowanus Canal. The Pump tunnel work is to begin this spring. The Army Corp is part of that whole aeration process that will be put into place soon with much water quality testing going on during this process. The Army Corp has already done much study work--there is good science going on here--not the lopsided science that pops up in EIS's to support one opinion.

Touche!

Doubts About Toll Brothers? - C.B 6 Meeting Tonight

Waterfront property anyone?

Despite the fact that luxury condos stand largely unrented, despite the fact that condo projects languish unworked on due to lack of funds and the big one: despite the fact that this project needs a huge enviromental cleanup which STILL has not been addressed in any serious detailed manner, The Toll Brother's think now is the perfect time to build. Recently, local Community Board 6, which had given their O.K on the rezoning so they can build this project has questioned the if the Tolls are going to include affordable housing in the project. Affordable housing was essentially the deal breaker for their OK. NOW with public monies drying up it is likely the Toll's won't get that funding. They don't have any intention in funding it themselves which would make the project an entire village of luxury condominiums.

A quote from Toll Brothers V.P and relentless optimist David Von Spreckelsen:

" the fiscal crisis is not expected to disrupt Toll’s plan, or prevent it from securing funding from the city.

Read the whole article by Gary Buiso in the Courier here.

Meeting is Monday February 23rd.

Public School 32
317 Hoyt Street
Brooklyn NY
TIME: 6:30 PM

Also on the plate at the meeting is recent happenings at Public Place, the other neighborhood toxic site.

Toll Brothers Public Hearing with City Planning * WEDNESDAY

This was written on this building, a couple months before the "crash".
Well, with the economy as it is and with vacant condos throughout the city I am hoping the Toll Brothers will just throw in the towel on the 363-365 Bond Street condo project, just too many health and environmental risks on top of the financial ones! Toll Brothers' condos on the Williamsburg waterfront are fairly vacant and "renting to own" at this point. I hope big Daddy Robert Toll puts the final kabosh on this one, I heard he was never really keen on the city projects and that VP for Development David Von Spreckelsen had to work hard to convince him, kill it Robert!!!PLEASE!!!!

Anyway, The City Planning Commission is holding a public hearing for the Toll Brothers' project at 363-365 Bond Street . Anyone can speak their mind, please attend if you are lucky enough to be able to make it on this Tuesday morning.

The hearing is scheduled for:
January 7
22 Reade Street in Manhattan.
The public meeting begins at 10:00AM.

Defend Gowanus! NO LOVE CANAL HERE! Please sign!

Even though CB6 approved the Toll Brothers project the community is still fighting, FOR GOOD REASON! I quote the Urban Divers comment on the petition here- because they tell it like it is:
"The Gowanus Canal has historically and continues to be the catalyst for the severe environmental denigration that challenges public health and has caused the economic decline of the community. CLEANING THE GOWANUS CANAL FIRST, before IMPOSING ENCROACHING LUXURY HOUSING and or OTHER HUMAN DENSITY DWELLINGS, is the only way to PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH, and RESTORE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY and SUSTAINABILITY. THE CLEANING AND RESTORING OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY OF THE GOWANUS CANAL FIRST, is the only way that the community, the city and the state will ever reap a REAL BENEFIT, and restore economic viability of the Gowanus Canal community and beyond."

Click here to sign the Defend Gowanus petition.

This petition is targeted at:Mayor Bloomberg, Borough President Marty Markowitz, Councilman Bill de DeBlasio.

Two Important Meetings This Week Regarding Gowanus Corridor and Toll Brothers Project.

Would you want to live here? The Toll Brothers project.
There are two very important meetings this regarding the development of the Gowanus Canal area.

FIRST MEETING, MONDAY:

The Executive and Landmarks/Land Use Committees of Brooklyn Community Board 6 are pleased to host A Forum with Amanda Burden, Chairperson of the City Planning Commission

An update by Commissioner Burden on the department's land use activities related to the Gowanus Canal corridor. Developed from January through July 2007, the Department of City Planning created a land use framework for the Gowanus Canal corridor. The framework is a set of guiding principles relating to issues including use, density, bulk, and waterfront access, intended to provide standards for formulating and evaluating proposals for future land use changes. in May 2008 the Department of City Planning shared its draft rezoning proposal for 25 blocks along the Gowanus Canal with Brooklyn Community Board 6 and the community-at-large. Commissioner Amanda Burden will meet with the community to give an informational update on the statusof the department's land use activities and address any concerns.

THE TOLL BROS PROJECT IS BASED ON THIS REZONING PROPOSAL AND WILL SET A PRECEDENT FOR IT – ANY CONCERNS YOU MAY HAVE REGARDING TOLL BROTHERS PROPOSAL CAN BE ADDRESSED TO THE WHOLE FRAMEWORK.

DATE: Monday, November 17, 2008
TIME: 6:30 pm
PLACE: P.S. 32 Auditorium
317 Hoyt Street, (between Union/President Streets) Brooklyn, NY 11231

This Toll Brothers rep is just SO excited to build build build on toxic land! Say good bye to that background cause it's gonna be all glass and steel if he gets his way!
SECOND MEETING, WEDNESDAY:

Brooklyn Borough President’s Hearing on Toll Brothers Project

The Toll Brothers ULURP application to change Zoning to allow their Gowanus Canal project is now at the Borough President’s Office for review (after passing CB6’s review). This is our chance for the community to be heard again. John Hatheway and I will be making an updated presentation making the case for an 8 story height limit. This will bring the building height below the horizon from most Carroll Gardens vantage points, and equally important allows enough sunlight into the Canal Esplanade to make it a viable park. Our proposal has the same floor area as Toll’s, same affordable housing amount, same possibility for high end units, same economics for union labor. It differs from Toll Bros in that it has very little impact to Carroll Garden’s skyline AND it provides much better sun to the canal park.

PLEASE COME AND SUPPORT OUR PROPOSAL OR VOICE YOUR OWN CONCERNS.

DATE: Wednesday, November 19, 2008
TIME: 5:30 pm
PLACE: Brooklyn Borough Hall
209 Joralemon Street Brooklyn, NY 11201

Yes We Did! and Amanda Burden comes to Gowanus...

Lame picture I know but it is OF THE MOMENT!!!
Yes I am floating on a cloud that Barack Obama is our new President! Yesterday I heard a kid say in the school that I work in which is predominately African American and Latino that he "wants to be President when he grows up" and it really hit me. It's not just "a dream" anymore, it's a reality.I was at Freddy's the night of the election and was so glad to be out in the world. People were crying during his acceptance speech and they weren't even from America! Anyway I had did a post at 3am when I got home but it was so crazy basic juvenile that I pulled it, something I never did, but hey I am still feeling that "gee whiz" uber optimistic feeling I had that night. Walking home up 5th Avenue was an experience I will never forget. People celebrating on the corners and even the cops and the firemen were beeping their horns. Too bad my camera died but lately I have been taking less pictures anyway, as I feel that the world is getting over documentated! I just want to BE. And I say that with no pretention, just want to get back to living. Blogging was fun for a while but now I won't be posting as much. Long story.

BUT I do want to say that THE Amanda Burden of the NYC Department of City Planning is coming to PS 32 Monday night to discuss the development of the Gowanus corridor. Wish I could go, but grad school (one of the reasons I won't be blogging as much I am sooooooo in another headspace these days) calls me. Here are the details and if you go please make sure to let that woman know that the Troll Brothers condo is an environmental Love Canal boo boo just waiting to happen. But they don't care. Let's get Obama to help us!!! Cause Community Board 6 certainly WON'T!

The Executive and Landmarks/Land Use Committees of Brooklyn Community Board 6 are pleased to host.

A Forum with Amanda Burden,
Chairperson of the City Planning Commission

An informational update by Commissioner Burden on the department's land use activities related to the Gowanus Canal corridor.

Developed from January through July 2007, the Department of City Planning created a land use framework for the Gowanus Canal corridor. The framework is a set of guiding principles relating to issues including use, density, bulk, and waterfront access, intended to provide standards for formulating and evaluating proposals for future land use changes. Building upon the developed framework, in May 2008 the Department of City Planning shared its draft rezoning proposal for 25 blocks along the Gowanus Canal with Brooklyn Community Board 6 and the community-at- large. Commissioner Amanda Burden will meet with the community to give an informational update on the status of the department's land use activities and address any concerns.

DATE: Monday, November 17, 2008
TIME: 6:30 pm
PLACE: P.S. 32 Auditorium
317 Hoyt Street, (between Union/President Streets)
Brooklyn, NY 11231

Bring your neighbors! Bring your friends! Find out what's going on.


and P.S for those that know my personal traumas of the last 6 months, I'm home once again!

I would just LOVE to take a break from this but I can't.

I'm tired (grad school is a lot more work than I imagined!) and I haven't ranted about the Toll Brothers project on Bond Street in a while but after coming home from a highly charged F.R.O.G.G meeting, that's FRIENDS and RESIDENTS of the GOWANUS CANAL y'all (contact me to get involved and not a member of the Gowanus Conservancy or Dredgers) one of the issues discussed was hurricanes and flooding, the latter being a HUGE problem around the Gowanus, although the Toll Brothers feel they can fix all that,but I digress. The other day I crossed the canal and we hadn't had rain in days and the tide was abnormally high. Just imagine what will happen in a hurricane, we will be getting them more with global warming y'know!

I would also like to add my two cents or have a cathartic little rant about the Toll Brothers. O.K we are in a recession. A big part of it is home mortgages defaulting. The Toll Brothers have made their fortune building the huge excessive suburban McMansion Homes that are largely the ones defaulting. The Toll Brothers take no responsibility, interviews with Robert Toll usually run a "no remorse" attitude, like "it's not my fault these people signed the dotted line". ANYWAY so the government bailed them out. So isn't that our money now? To use more wisely? WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT A CORPORATION SUCH AS THIS TO BE TRUSTED WITH A FRAGILE ECO SYSTEM SUCH AS THE AREA THEY WANT TO PLUNK DOWN A BUNCH OF CONDOS WITH A PRECIOUS "ESPLANADE"? and of course a parking garage.

Why are people in opposition to this project vilified and mocked (hello Brooklyn Paper!!) because they have ENVIRONMENTAL concerns? Flooding, raw sewage, pathogens, brownfields etc. And these corporate self involved, dried out, consciousless Toll Brothers reps and their political aliases (hello Bill DiBlasio and Community Board 6!!) just will not take the actual people who live in the communities opinion as a concern. The scary thing is that we have a Mayor who thinks in this fashion as well, term limits schmerm limits is has attitude and to hell with what the democratic process is.

Our world is majorly screwed up right now. War and greed have the country hurting. Can't we all just take a break and just LIVE our lives? Isn't this recession enough of a sign?

signed
Found in Brooklyn
naively simple
and wants people to just stop it.
(war and greed)

OK I feel better now. Check out this link over at my compadre Pardon Me for Asking (who was also at this evenings meeting) to find out more about the photo above of what the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel will look like with a type TWO hurricane,it's just around the corner y'know.

Gowanus? Love Canal? NO! It's the Clap Canal!

The result of the vote on the resolution for the Toll Brothers spot zoning approval that occurred last night at the Community Board 6 meeting was basically a wash as there was no majority rule, it will have to be brung again before the board next month. More people were for the resolution to disapprove the spot zoning than against it. The board members for the resolution had legitimate reason to question this project. Environmental cleanup being number one. Many local residents spoke passionately and with concern about the project, no one I might add, was against something happening along the canal- it’s just that this particular project is not the right one. There are certain board members that have the twisted philosophy that in order to clean the canal you must build first. The ONLY folks in community who spoke on their side were union construction workers who basically used the guilt card that this project means jobs. Well, I have nothing against jobs but I would think that they wouldn’t want to be working on a job where they may be endangering their lives putting their hands in toxic soil. Does anybody recall the after effects of working down at the former world trade center? Hello! Cancer?! There is most likely asbestos and worse in the soil down on the shores of the Gowanus! They did have a representative to answer environmental cleanup questions but he was a tad casual and actually admitted that he “didn’t know much about that project” when someone brought up the languishing Whole Foods site. He stressed that there are broken ceramics in the soil more than heavy metals and other carcinegeous materials. And don’t get me started on their sewage solution. They are going to take care of their own shit. That board member also said that in order for the city to repair the strained sewage system on Bond Street, you must build first. (I want some of her drugs, or maybe the ones the woman who said the “canal has the clap”! and "let's get some "nice" people down there"!)

And again I have to say the most apparent thing about this meeting is that there were no REAL "pro" voices from the community other than members of the Gowanus Canal Development Corporation who for whatever reason have a huge hard on for this project, unknown health issues be damned! And oh yeah, Councilman Bill De Blasio made a brief appearance saying he is for affordable housing but if it’s not cleaned properly he’s not for it. Then he left and didn’t bother to listen to the community speak.

To read a much more detailed coverage of this three hour circus, click here to read the Pardon Me For Asking Blog’s coverage.

CB6/Toll Brothers Meet Thursday 6pm

Recently added to the building on 3rd and 3rd. Very timely.

The Toll Brothers comes before the Community Board 6 on Thursday night for the next round in the rezoning process. Be there if you care and you can speak for or against if you want to. Read the details below for the specifics.

Discussion and formulation of a recommendation on ULURP No. C090047ZMK, an application for an amendment of the Zoning Map.

Discussion and forumation of a recommendation on ULURP No. C090048ZSK, an application for a special permit to modify height and setback requirements, rear yard regulations and inner court regulations at 363-365 Bond Street (Block 452, Lots 1, 5, 15, 19 and Block 458, Lot 1).

Also! Has any one read this pro-Toll Brothers editorial in the Brooklyn Paper? I always knew they were all for it as their journalism has been slanted throughout (under reporting the amount of people that show up for community meetings for one example!) They claim that the Toll Brothers are saving "the soul of the Gowanus"! What a load of raw sewage Batman!

Read the crap here and prepare to roll your eyes.

The meeting is being held at:

P.S. 32 - Auditorium
317 Hoyt Street
(Union/President Streets)

6:00 PM

Photo compliments of Brian Berger.

Gowanus Canal "Conservancy" Hypocrisy and other Gowanus News.

The Gowanus Canal Conservancy is hosting a festival called "Gowanus Goes Green" this Sunday. Much of the festivities will be held at The Yard, which in case you live in the neighborhood and wonder just what the heck is going on with the music and the hipsters walking back and forth between the deli on Hoyt (for beer) and the bridge, click here to find out just what goes on behind those big gates. Don't get me wrong I like the Yard and have attended a couple of events there but I know many of the locals don't really know who or what they are.

The photo above is what may be built by the Toll Brothers should the canal area be rezoned to build condos.

Anyway it is quite confusing to me as The Gowanus Conservancy (a brilliantly deceiving name) is for the most part in cahoots with many of the developers who have great condo development plans for the Gowanus. Many of them for the greening of the Gowanus but not the type of green ($$$) they are trying to promote in this fair. Just check out the list of their sponsers here. You see, the Conservancy doesn't come right out with it but they are for the most part pro-development and the enviromental clean up in their opinion will be done with the help of the developers (yeah right!!!!), they mask it very well and I have heard that the Park Slope Food Co-Op has been hoodwinked by them as well. The conservancy presented them with some sort of award for being "green". Oh please. I noticed that the Toll Brothers name is not on their sponser list but now that more is known about the brother's Troll it's probrably a good p.r move not to include them. The people responsible for their great work in New Orleans (The Army Corp of Engineers) will also be there to assure you that they will "do the best they can" to clean up and fix the pumping station for good. It's soooo comforting to know that they are involved too!

Anyway if you want to attend this shiny happy shindig, click here for details.

ALSO! Important City Planning meeting tonite at PS 32 at 6pm regarding what's going on with the rezoning at this point. P.S 32 is located at Hoyt and Union Streets.

ALSO! I received a press release that Councilman Bill deBlasio who will be holding a press conference outside the school at 5pm. He is against the building of more hotels/motels around the Gowanus. I can't argue with that. The potential for them to turn into "hot sheet" motels are pretty high with the close proximity to the BQE and convenient to the long existing skin trade around Nevins and Third Avenue and they could also very well displace the current functioning businesses in the area.


Related posts:
This is the open sewer where Toll Brothers want to build...

Toll Brothers Make the Bad Boy List


*All photos lifted from The Toll Brothers/Gowanus website.

Forum on the "Future of the Gowanus" al fresco * Wednesday Night

Sit down by the Gowanus waterfront and talk to Councilman Bill de Blasio and friends about Gowanus development happenings, not sure if folk guitars will be involved.

COUNCIL MEMBER DE BLASIO TO HOST FORUM ON THE FUTURE OF THE GOWANUS

City Hall— Councilmember Bill de Blasio will host a forum tomorrow night to discuss the future of the Gowanus area. The event will focus on the Gownaus Canal corridor that is outlined in the framework developed by the Department of City Planning and the future development of the Public Place site. With Brooklyn's current state of hyper-development it is important that we plan for the impact that the growing population has on our borough's aging infrastructure. Topics will range from transportation, combined sewer overflow, traffic, schools, affordable housing and more.

The open discussion will include officials from various New York State and City agencies. Co-sponsors include Community Board 6, Gowanus Dredgers, Gowanus Canal Development Corporation and the Gowanus Canal Conservancy.

Who: Council Member Bill de Blasio, Metropolitan Transit Authority, Department of Environmental Protection, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, NYPD, FDNY, NYC Parks and Recreation, and Department of City Planning.

When: 6:30PM-8:30PM, Wednesday, May 7th

Where: 2nd Street at the Gowanus Canal (off Bond- near the public dock). * Take the G/F train to the Carroll Street Stop, get off and walk on 2nd Street in the direction of Hoyt St until you hit the canal. The event will be held outdoors and a tent will be provided in case of rain.

What: Plan For the Future Forum: The Gowanus

DeBlasio's Thoughts on Gowanus Up-Zoning.

Some very interesting information came into my mailbox regarding Bill de Blasio's thoughts on the future of the Gowanus. Keep it in mind if you plan on attending the al fresco meeting Wednesday night. Our sender questions the lack of consideration taken to the landscape and enviromental factors, also it is quite insulting that he considers the loss of small businesses such as auto shops as "not displacing anyone".

Council Member de Blasio's published thoughts on up-zoning in our neighborhood.
___________________________________________________________________
BKLYN Magazine
bklynmagazine.com

Summer 2005

4th AVENUE RISING
by Jem Aswad
with contributions from Alec Appelbaum

page 20:
"In terms of choosing appropriate places for development," says City Council Member Bill de Blasio, "I think the rezoning struck a very good balance by basically freezing the area up the slope from Forth Avenue the way it is and keeping its human scale. And it was a rare opportunity in a city where we are short literally hundreds of thousands of units of housing: Forth Avenue is essentially in a valley, so you can build higher, and there are a lot of auto shops and small stores and even vacant lots, so you are not really displacing important elements of our community." (An assessment that might come as a surprise to those who work at and own those auto shops and small stores.)

**The article goes on to conclude with another statement from de Blasio**
page 21:
"I think there's nowhere to go but up," says de Blasio. "The only real limitation is physical space, which means that after Fourth Avenue and then Third Avenue and then the canal--you're done. And then parallel to Park Avenue is particularly germane: There is no place else to go, and values will be set accordingly."
________________________________________________________________________

Our emailer comments:

Clearly our Council Member has some sense that "human scale" communities are something to be protect, at least from his neighborhood. But does he know anything of landscapes and earth science given his vision of putting the tallest buildings down in the swamp which he thinks is "essentially a valley".

Equating building 14 stories structures built all the way to this canal with Park Avenue in Manhattan is a parallel that requires a great leap, along with denial of the actual landscape we are dealing with here. But others should be concerned about the long term results de Blasio sees from all this construction when "values are set accordingly". Just how does this thesis of his serve his deep desire to provide affordable housing when he sees the finality of all the building leading up to 4th Avenue becoming a neighborhood like Park Avenue--that is, a dense and pricey place that lacks human scale.

We all need to take a real look at what high rise construction along the Gowanus Canal might actually bring to our neighborhood. What will it mean to have 12-14 story structures on both sides of the 100 foot wide canal; a canal that is actually an inland estuary that is used to drain a highly urbanized city? De Blasio needs to show us some pictures of his vision; what will it look like in his Gowanus canyon, especially at low tide when the water level drops 4-6 feet lower, what might it feel like in that canyon especially if those buildings do make the water less clean?

Help Make an Impact, Send Copies of your Scoping Commentaries to...

I've heard through the Gowanus grapevine that a very impressive amount of people in the community have gotten their written commentary in regarding the Toll Brothers Project on Bond Street. From individuals to groups, many took the time to write very well thought out and researched comments. They are currently being compiled and copies will be sent to our elected officials early next week. Our pols need to be aware of the community's voice so if you have sent in a commentary, please send a copy to so it can be added to the very impressive stack.

It can be sent to this email address: mmaugenest (at) aol (dot) com

Also, I did go to the Toll Brothers presentation last night. Considering they are planning to build on toxic swampland with major sewage issues,they managed to make it sound sooo idyllic. Some of the adjectives they used were very creative, like who knew Bond Street "has grace"? Take a look at Pardon Me for Asking's take on the whole dog and pony show.

Toll Brothers Presentation at CB6 Meeting Thursday at 6pm

Want to hear about the possible Toll Brothers project on Bond Street from a representative from the company? You can on Thursday night at 6pm.

From Community Board 6 Calendar:
Informational presentation by representative for Toll Brothers, Inc. of a pre-certified application, known as 363-365 Bond Street, that would allow the redevelopment of two blocks fronting on the Gowanus Canal including the block bounded by 2nd Street, the canal, 1st Street and Bond Street (Block 458, Lot 1) and part of the adjacent block bounded by Carroll Street, the canal, 1st Street and Bond Street (Block 452, Lot 1 and 15) with a mixed-use development. The proposed project would result in approximately 447 dwelling units, 1,500 gross square footage (gsf) of neighborhood retail space, 1,500 gsf of community facility space, 260 below-grade parking spaces and 0.6-acres of publicly accessible open space along the Gowanus Canal.

P.S 32 Auditorium
317 Hoyt Street
(at Union/Hoyt Streets)
Brooklyn, NY 11231

6:00 PM

Also, if you are into Gowanus Real Estate Wheelings & Dealings, click here to read an "Exclusive" from Who Walk in Brooklyn about some happenings on 3rd Avenue.

Final Reminder to get Scoping Comments In on Toll Brothers Gowanus Project.

The deadline is Monday if you care to comment on the proposed Toll Brothers project on Bond Street. The Friends of Bond blog has some excellent instructions to guide you through the complicated task and provide links to the Scoping document and Technical manual. Click here for that.

Also the Brooklyn Star attended the Scoping Hearing last week, go here to read it.

Positive News

Isn't it hopeful that....

Our local Community Board Manager, Craig Hammerman (CB6) eloquently spoke up for the Gowanus Community at the Toll Brothers Scoping Hearing? (PMFA)

Our new Governor David Paterson has already addressed the issue of Emminent Domain? And he is AGAINST IT! (The NY Sun)

The Toll Brothers continue to have financal problems. (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

Made me feel a little less fatalistic this morning anyway...

Reminder! Thursday is the Public Scoping Meeting regarding the Toll Brothers Project!

This is a typical hunk of raw sewage that appears on the Gowanus Canal after a good rain. Imagine HOW much more there is going to be once there are 1000's of new residents in the area? Clean up of the canal is not slated to happen until after construction starts! FUN!

Just a reminder about the public scoping hearing happening on Thursday. If you aren't much of a speaker but have something to say about it you can also send in written comments. The below is taken from the "Friends of Bond" blog. Go there for more information.

My compadre Katia over at Pardon Me for Asking blog has made an excellent point about how the schools may be effected by the rezoning. Read it here.

Get the whole Public Scoping Document here.

PUBLIC SCOPING HEARING

When: THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2008
Where: NYC DEPT OF CITY PLANNING, SPECTOR HALL, 22 READE STREET, NYC, 10007
Times: SESSION ONE: 2-5:30 PM
SESSION TWO: 6-8:45 PM

Dear Neighbors,
As many of you are aware, the Toll Brothers, a very large, luxury developer has set its sights on two blocks in our neighborhood. Some of you may have attended the community meeting on Monday, March 3rd to learn more about this project. Toll Brothers wants to build approximately six hundred units of housing, ranging in heights up to twelve stories in that three acre space.

Since the area is not zoned for this type of development, several steps must be taken with the city before any construction work can begin.

One of these procedures is a scoping hearing with City Planning where the residents of our neighborhood get to speak their mind, raising important questions and issues about the things they like or dislike about the proposed project.

The following is a list of subjects that the developer must address according to a Scoping Document which must be filed with the city before work can begin on the site. Look over the list. Whether you are concerned, for instance, about how larger-sized buildings might affect your sunlight, how almost 600 new units and their occupants will affect the amount of raw sewage flowing into the canal, or how the additional cars might affect parking and traffic conditions, this is your chance make your voice heard.

At the scoping hearing, each person has three (3) minutes to orally communicate their concerns. It’s best to speak from the heart, sharing a personal anecdote or experience related to your question or area of concern.

Here is the list of subjects:

Land Use, Zoning and Public Policy, Socioeconomic Conditions (what will happen to the residents and businesses as a result of this project), Community Facilities and Services (this includes schools, emergency response availability, health services) Open Space, Shadows, Historic Resources,Urban Design/Visual Resources, Neighborhood Character, Natural Resources,Hazardous Materials, Waterfront Revitalization Program, Infrastructure, Solid Waste and Sanitation Services, Energy, Traffic and Parking, Transit and Pedestrians, Air Quality, Noise, Construction Impacts, Public Health, Alternatives (what kind of development/ improvements could you envision there?)

PLEASE PARTICIPATE IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT PUBLIC PROCESS!

There is also an opportunity to address your concerns in writing. Written comments must be sent in before March 24, 2008 and should be focused on a particular area of concern, using factual data to support your points. If you are planning on writing a letter, one copy should be sent directly to City Planning, to the following address:

Robert Dobruskin
Dept. of City Planning
22 Reade St.
New York, NY 10007

A copy of the same letter should be sent to Community Board 6, to be kept on file:

Community Board 6
250 Baltic St.
Brooklyn, NY 11231

Surprise visit by the Toll Brothers at Gowanus Community Meeting.

The neighborhood meeting hosted by Friends of Bond regarding the SCOPING hearing for the Toll Brothers project along the Gowanus Canal between Carroll and 2nd Streets drew quite a large and concerned crowd from the immediate area around Bond Street. The whole premise of the meeting was to discuss how to strategize for the upcoming Scoping Hearing on March 13th with City Planning. Why does the neighborhood need to strategize you may ask?

Well, mostly because the neighborhood currently lacks the infrastructure for an influx of about 1,000 new residents, especially with potentially more coming in with all the other development projects that will descend once the zoning is changed. Why are the current residents justifiably concerned? Schools, traffic, FIRE HOUSES (response time?! C.G. lost their fire house) shopping and at the top of the list seemed to be the uh…..sewage problem.

A big unexpected surprise was that at about 15 minutes into the meeting, we learned that the Toll Brothers themselves or at least some representatives of the Toll Brothers were in attendance. I give them credit for putting themselves out there. What did they have to say? Well, they still haven’t closed on the property where the condo development is slated to be built. The sale is contingent on the rezoning. Rezoning? Well, right now the land between the Gowanus Canal and Bond Street is not zoned for residential, the zoning is for light industry and manufacturing. This upcoming Scoping meeting will have a lot to do with whether that zoning change goes through or not.

Special guest speakers Craig Hammerman (District Manager Community Board 6), Queens Councilman Tony Avella and Williamsburg community organizer Phil DePaolo of the NY Community Council spoke plainly about what the community needs to do in order to fight this thing. It is VERY IMPORTANT that people from the community SHOW UP at this scoping meeting on March 13th. It is everybody’s chance to speak his or her mind. Mind you, make sure when you speak you can back up everything you say with statistics, YOU HAVE GOT TO BE SPECIFIC, which was a very important pearl of wisdom. Tony Avella is actually ON the NYC zoning committee and painted a very depressing picture about how money talks, that’s why big projects like these get pushed ahead of things like the brownstone area of Carroll Garden wanting rezoning as their streets are too narrow for big condo projects. It’s all about the moola. And Toll Brothers has PLENTY of that! BUT he did say that we shouldn’t just give up and go along with the process.

I urge anyone who lives around this area and is concerned to PLEASE come up with a statement to read at the Scoping meeting on March 13th. Relate your personal experiences and be VERY specific.

The Scoping Hearing will be on Thursday, March 13, 2008 from 2:00 to 5:45 PM and from 6:00 to 8:45 PM at the City of New York Department of City Planning, Spector Hall, 22 Reade Street, New York, New York 10007

Craig Hammerman can be reached here if you need get help in framing your objections.

If you have any questions or need any other help email here at lisannemct at yahoo dot com. and I can direct you to the right people.

Get the whole Public Scoping Document here.

If you want to read about some of the Toll Brothers more unsuccessfull projects click here

Neighborhood blog, Pardon Me for Asking and Brownstoner also attended the meeting, check their synopsises.

IMPORTANT GOWANUS NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING ON MONDAY!

The rezoning of Bond Street is happening quicker than anticipated. Many of us in the neighborhood are concerned about the enviromental issues involved in the Toll Brothers Condo Complex. Just to name a few.We are concerned about our health (the site is located on a brownfield),the canal's fragile ecosystem, the fact that the condos are being built in a flood zone with a major sewage problem, the fact that they intend on building before a new flushing tunnel is installed, there is A LOT to be concerned about. This meeting on Monday has some good people attending (see below)I urge anyone who is concerned about this project to attend.

It’s coming and it’s big.577 new apartments on the Gowanus.The Toll Brothers have unveiled their plan for a 605,380 square foot project between Bond and the Gowanus, Carroll and Second Streets.What does it mean for our neighborhood?

Come hear Craig Hammerman (District Manager Community Board 6),
Phil dePaolo(Community Organizer), Tony Avella (City Council member) address our concerned response the Toll Brothers development.

Help plan for the upcoming Public Scoping Meeting at City Planning on 13 March.

Monday, 3 March
Mary Star of the Sea
41 First Street (between Hoyt and Bond)
Community Room
6:30