The Gowanus Canal, Which Once Mostly Stank, is Growing into a ‘Sustainable’ Future

By María Venegas

 

After years of community planning and speculation related to Brooklyn’s Gowanus Canal, the administration of Bill de Blasio administration released its rezoning proposal on Thursday.

If the plan is approved, the proposal would trigger a series of building projects and other developments in the area. The mayor’s plan would recast around 80 blocks in the residential/industrial neighborhood and would allow for the building of more affordable and market-rate housing.

The Director of the Department of City Planning, Marisa Lago, says the planned use of land surrounding the canal will boost job creation and create, as well as preserve housing. Lago stressed the need to “grow smart and grow green.”

The Gowanus zoning proposal will be a part of a package of city initiatives created to achieve multiple goals outlined in the Gowanus Framework, which aims to transform the neighborhood into a resilient, sustainable, and more affordable Gowanus for residents and businesses.

The Framework is the first major step toward adopting a neighborhood plan that includes public investments in housing, parks, schools and transportation. “The Gowanus draft zoning proposal is a strong next step toward the sustainable, inclusive, mixed-use neighborhood that the community has been envisioning for many years” said City Council Member Brad Lander.

Lander said that the draft proposal addresses issues of environmental remediation and sustainability, a dynamic and resilient waterfront, significant new affordable and market-rate  housing, public housing improvements, preservation of the “Gowanus mix” of arts, industry and manufacturing.