South Brooklynites have a whole lot of questions about the 577 units of housing Toll Brothers wants to develop alongside the Gowanus Canal. And, if the overflow crowd that filled the community room in St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Residences last night was any indication, there’s a great deal of fear in the community that those questions won’t be answered before the city gives Toll the go-ahead to build their project. Among the concerns raised: That the development’s impact on already overcrowded schools and subway lines will be disastrous; that the compromised sewage system near the canal will be made even worse; that mom-and-pop business will be displaced; that the project shouldn’t be approved ahead of the wider rezoning Planning is brewing for the area; that the Environmental Impact Study will be a compilation of half-truths; and that the site’s toxic land might not be adequately cleaned up.

Representatives from the Toll Brothers were in attendance, and some of their comments were revelatory. To start, Toll VP David Von Spreckelsen told the crowd that the firm does not own the parcels in question (between the Gowanus Canal, Bond Street, Carroll Street and Second Street) outright—they’re in contract for them—and that they wouldn’t close on the purchases unless the city approves the rezoning. Von Spreckelsen also said that Toll would adequately clean up the property: We wouldn’t be able to sell one condo at this site unless we properly remediated it.

The gathering, which was organized by Friends of Bond Street, was ostensibly held in order to educate residents about City Planning’s public scoping hearing about the project next week, and speakers included CB6 District Manager Craig Hammerman (above left) and Queens City Councilman Tony Avella (right). While there was a great deal of talk about how residents can make their voices heard at the scoping meeting next week, there was also a lot of commentary from Avella in particular (the Council’s zoning/land-use chair and a mayoral candidate) about how the city stacks the deck in favor of developers at the expense of residents’ concerns. Development projects will always be put on the front burner, said Avella. It has nothing to do with a project’s merit. It has to do with the mayor thinking that’s what the city needs. The real estate industry controls the agenda in this city. There was also some chit-chat about a politician who wasn’t present at the meeting. Where is our councilman, asked one person. His name is De Blasio. Where is he?

More coverage of the meeting at Pardon Me For Asking and Found in Brooklyn.
Toll Brothers’ Gargantuan Gowanus Plans Revealed [Brownstoner]
A Look at What Toll Bros. Wants to Redevelop [Brownstoner]