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February 6, 2008
DOB Green Lights First Stage of Whole Foods Project
That collective sigh of relief you hear is from all the developers with buildings underway within shopping distance of the planned Whole Foods site at Third Street and Third Avenue in Gowanus. The DOB approved the grocer's plans for foundation work on the site yesterday, marking a huge symbolic moment in the project's—and neighborhood's—history. It's been a long time coming: Whole Foods held a ceremonial groundbreaking for the 68,000-square-foot store way back in '06, and it was supposed to open this spring. In the meantime, a number of community groups have expressed concerns about the site's environmental conditions (concerns that many say WF has ignored), and vandals have repeatedly torn down the property’s fence (it was playing peek-a-boo again this weekend, for example). It's probably too early to break out the champagne though: The application for the new building was disapproved yesterday. Stay tuned.
DOB Rejects Latest Whole Foods Plan [Brownstoner] GMAP DOB
Whole Foods Facing an Uphill Battle in Gowanus [Brownstoner]
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Comments
Between this and Atlantic Yards lawsuits finally being dismissed things are really starting to look up.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 9:50 AM
Gabby, do you mean to say that only developers of buildings care whether WF opens or not? No one else? No the residents of Brooklyn?
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 9:51 AM
What a ridiculous comment, 9:51. If you've got tens of millions of dollars riding on a property that you're trying to market in the area, you're going to be watching the Whole Foods situation like a hawk, which is why we (not Gabby) added that lede. Why you infer that we're saying no one else would care is beyond us.
Posted by: brownstoner at February 6, 2008 9:56 AM
This is an area that's a no brainer for everyone concerned. There's nothing in this wasteland. Nada. So Whole Foods will be good. Nimbys groups are often shortsighted for whatever reason only their selfish misinformed selves know. I'm not for or against both sides. But the kvetch should be banned from buying food there when it's built.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 9:58 AM
Mr. B,
As much as I love to snark on your site, I totally agree.
9:51 is way off the mark.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 10:00 AM
Of course, 9:51--it's big news for everyone, developers and residents alike.
Posted by: gabby_w at February 6, 2008 10:02 AM
When does site cleanup begin?
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 10:13 AM
I'm going to move into one of the rooms in LeBleu (Chelsea Hotel Style) and spend each day wandering the aisles of WF, living off the samples.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 10:15 AM
The opening of a WF in Brooklyn has nothing to do with condo developers, just as the opening of Fairway in Red Hook had nothing to do condo developers.
It has to do with improvements in services and quality of life for any and all Brooklyn residents who would use those new stores.
It's also a story of the development of the Gowanus, a wasteland, and part of the story of the overall revival of Brooklyn.
Why position this as a condo development story? The perspective is wrong, unless you are implying that WF, like all of the other changes, will make Brooklyn a more attractive and livable place. But that's something that everyone shares in equally, not some building developers.
Your agenda is showing, as usual.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 10:19 AM
I live in Carroll Gardens and Whole Foods matters to me... but it would matter much more if I had millions at risk in a development.
When I lived in DC a WF opened at 14th and P St. Not somewhere that people were clamoring to live (there were two paint stores on the block where guys would hang out trying to find work for the day), but it was only a few blocks from Dupont/17th St. Since then the area has changed into a flourishing residential area - due to all of the development.
The location reminds me of their 3rd and 3rd location as it's only a few blocks from Park Slope and a few blocks from Carroll Gardens. It will help bridge the gap.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 10:35 AM
Will never open
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 11:18 AM
9:51 & 10:19:
Please get a grip. Nobody "positioned" the story as a condo pitch. It was a throw-away lead-in line.
People will complain about anything on this site!
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 11:35 AM
well said, 11:35
Posted by: brownstoner at February 6, 2008 11:36 AM
Stoner has insinuated that the Whole Foods store is practically a canard for the benefit of developers to sell condos that he hates. He further suggests that many residents don’t want the store, by continuing to repeat the claims of ‘community groups’, despite what their own poll showed about community feelings towards the store.
The fact is, Whole Foods will be great for everyone. And it will provide much-needed competition to the food coop.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 12:01 PM
Yep, with their high prices. Fake heath foods and other bullshit.
I wonder where the money is coming from?? Money for dumbass things is coming to a end.
Flame on
The What
Someday this war is gonna end...
BTW If you look in your neighborhood grocery store, you can find most if the shit they sell in WF. No Bullshit.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 12:08 PM
Welcome back, The What.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 12:22 PM
Yeah, The What--welcome back... you Fucktard.
"BTW If you look in your neighborhood grocery store, you can find most if the shit they sell in WF. No Bullshit."
I guess, ShitTwit, if your neighborhood is Red Hook and your grocery store is Fairway. You simplistic old dimbulb. Stick to your Chicken Little Bloomberg linked diatribes and leave the food to those with taste.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 12:34 PM
Hey, did anyone see that the guy with the stolen Warhol was the dude who used to work at C Town???
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 12:42 PM
"Stick to your Chicken Little Bloomberg linked diatribes and leave the food to those with taste"
Ok I'll bite. It's not "Chicken Little" anymore, it's real assfuck. The Credit Crunch is in full effect. Sadly, this just the beginning.
Memo to Clinton Hill homeowners. Your house WILL be underwater this year. 3 Family closed at 800k in January in 11238. LMMFAO Whole Foods!
The What (Laughing His Fucking Ass Off Now)
Someday this war is gonna end....
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 1:02 PM
Your laugh reminds me of Tom Cruise in his Scientology video, Nutless. Maniacal, paranoid, hypnotized and downright creepy. Maybe you'll get lucky and he'll tool his Ducati by the trainwreck that is you and save your sorry ass.
Your expertise on everything is charming, but no surprise--as words ricochet off the walls of the echo chamber you've built entirely from your own failing brain matter.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 1:08 PM
"our laugh reminds me of Tom Cruise in his Scientology video, Nutless. Maniacal, paranoid, hypnotized and downright creepy. Maybe you'll get lucky and he'll tool his Ducati by the trainwreck that is you and save your sorry ass.
Your expertise on everything is charming, but no surprise--as words ricochet off the walls of the echo chamber you've built entirely from your own failing brain matter."
HUH??!!!! So fucktard you have a full creditcrunch going on. The Stock Market has lost 15% of it's value this year (today is Feb 6) and the housing market is gone to shit and I HAVE FAILING BRAIN MATTER????!!!
Hey Asshat you have serious denial issues!! Mayby if you take that cock out of your mouth you can see better. BTW I'm right now!!! And will be right for the next 10 years.
BTW Tom Cruse is worth about 500 million so I want to be crazy like him. Stupid!
The What (Jumping up and down on the Oprah's Couch)
Someday this war is gonna end...
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 1:17 PM
When wishing to be Cruise, you might want to refrain from calling others cocksuckers, cockchugger.
Yeah, you're right now and will be for 10 years. You've been screaming the end is nigh for about ten years prior to this, you broken clock. Enjoy being right for the minute that you are and then keep entertaining the masses with your vaudeville act. Sad skullfucker.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 1:22 PM
The broken clock has stop. It's over and yes I'm a skullfucker. open your eye. LMMFAO Open your eye, Oh thats rich. Can't you see LMMFAO. Go munch a dick.
The What (Sticking his cock in the next eye LMMFAO)
Someday this war is gonna end....
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 1:28 PM
It's all fun until somebody loses an eye...
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 1:35 PM
Good to see you're cracking open the Popov before sundown today, WhatTheFuck. Here's a tip: Why wait until lunch--your morning Wheatena at "the home" would go down a lot easier with a couple snorts from your plastic flask. Plus it should hasten your descent from mildly entertaining nitwit to cumguzzling guttersnipe.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 1:53 PM
"Good to see you're cracking open the Popov before sundown today, WhatTheFuck. Here's a tip: Why wait until lunch--your morning Wheatena at "the home" would go down a lot easier with a couple snorts from your plastic flask. Plus it should hasten your descent from mildly entertaining nitwit to cumguzzling guttersnipe."
What??!!! You back??!!! Thought I sent you to the Eye Doctor!! LMMFAO. Ok go away before I send you to the Rectal Surgeon.
OH, LMMFAO!!!!
The What (No Lube)
Someday this war is gonna end.....
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 3:16 PM
oh yea great another whole foods. Overpriced and catering to the wealthy. Fuck whole foods.
12:34-ass mucher
welcome back The What.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 5:20 PM
Dear The Twat and 5:20,
Congratulations on finding each other. I can't think of two pole-puffing manure spewers who deserve each other more. Now you can bathe in each other's fetid miasma of moronitude and pound each others roomy, abandoned skulls with your micrococks until the ever-impending apocalypse.
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 6:10 PM
yay for the area. gowanus is such a backwater.
gowanus = anus of brooklyn :p.
Posted by: armchairwarrior at February 6, 2008 9:24 PM
Gowanus sucks! Suck it anuses!
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 9:42 PM
anus suckers! yay!
Posted by: guest at February 6, 2008 11:25 PM
Oh my the false hope this story is trying to put out there to warm the cold hearts of those developers, and just in time for Valentines.
The DOB has not approved the architectural plans for this site. DOB has approved shoring and underpinning only. Whole Foods hasn't yet passed on their zoning and building code.
Posted by: guest at February 7, 2008 5:40 PM
Just wanted to say that to whomever said "yep, with their high prices... fake health food and other bullshit."
FYI: Whole Foods' high prices are only that way because the food is higher quality. Organic and sustainable farming is more expensive to produce, so you're paying for better food and for a solid contribution to help the planet. Whole Foods still only makes 3% profit on their sales, which is right in line with every other major grocer in the country.
Posted by: guest at March 10, 2008 3:26 PM
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