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February 18, 2009
Environmental Health of CG?
I have a question for everyone. I am considering buying an apartment in Carroll Gardens, on the side of Court closer to the BQE. My only hesitation is that I recently heard that the City is cleaning up the plant on the corner of Smith and Huntington. Does anyone who lives in CG know anything about the environmental safety of the neighborhood? Has anyone heard of any cancer clusters as a result of all the industrial activity? I'm new to the area, so any info anyone has would be great.
Comments
Citizens Gas was there from the 1860's until Bklyn Union Gas finally shut it down in the mid 1950's. The Federal Gov't also had a toluene operation there during WW1. NYC took over the land in the 1970's.
I don't think it's technically a Superfund site, but with a century of chemical-industrial activity, there must be some highly toxic stuff underground. Benzene, naptha, toluene.
I've never heard of cancer clusters in the neighborhood, but you are right to be concerned.
Posted by: buttermilk channel at February 17, 2009 4:04 PM
as i remember the survey for the site found a plume of benzene
Posted by: eman1234 at February 17, 2009 4:18 PM
as i remember the survey for the site found a plume of benzene crossing smith st from the "public place" site...to my knowledge there has been no survey regarding a cancer cluster similar in this specific area, but i could be wrong
Posted by: eman1234 at February 17, 2009 4:21 PM
I noticed temporary fencing going up around the site in question over the weekend, looks like they are ready to tear that thing down. I have a friend who lived on Huntington right underneath the F/G line, he loved it there but did say when he opened his windows there was always a layer of black dust left everywhere. I have not heard anything about a "cancer cluster" and am also looking at buying in that area. I'm not too concerned about possible health issues for my wife or kids but I probably wouldn't grow tomatoes that close to the Gowanus Canal.
Posted by: twc at February 17, 2009 4:31 PM
Eman1234 -- when you say "crossing smith street", do you know where it went? did it cross smith street over to court? what was the cross street? i guess that can't be good, anyway. thanks for the info.
Posted by: anonymous83 at February 17, 2009 4:54 PM
as i remember the test holes were drilled in front of the parking lot across from the public place site..that is huntington to nelson i think
Posted by: eman1234 at February 17, 2009 5:18 PM
my bad ...that is luquer to 4th
Posted by: eman1234 at February 17, 2009 5:41 PM
the benzene and the lead are acutually from the BQE highway and the millions of cars that used lead based gasoline up until the 1960's. After that benzene was used so it is not only a question of the power plant but also the highway. But since most people were only concerned with the price of real estate going up and not doing or saying anything bad to bring them down. No one really ran detailed tests on the soil,
Posted by: hannible at February 17, 2009 9:55 PM
hannible... you are wrong... they actually ran drill tests a year or two ago and you obviously do not know what you are talking about
Posted by: eman1234 at February 17, 2009 10:35 PM
why do you even bother to post stupid shit like that? are you lonely are you alone, have you been drinking?
Posted by: eman1234 at February 17, 2009 11:04 PM
Yeah, I read a report by Citizen Gas that said that there was Benzene found on the site. That's not so great. I was wondering if it was also found in soils surrounding the site, which would seem like the obvious scenario, especially since the report said that the Benzene and other contaminants existed more than 100 feet below the surface. I guess if they're doing a clean-up, that's great, but I'm not sure how safe it is to live next to a brownfield clean-up. Anyway, all things to consider. It is a great area for many other reasons. Thanks to everyone for their input.
Posted by: anonymous83 at February 18, 2009 8:09 AM
It is niesty mc niesty there. Forget the environmental issues, check out the comments re 505 Court from a few years ago: http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2005/06/505_court_stree.php -- "crack alley", "prostitutes on 9th and Smith", "muggings on huntington". I know this was was a few years ago, but how much could a few yuppie buildings and restaurants change the area? Anon83, if your set on living in CG, I'd run from that spreading benzene plume and crackheads, and head north at least 5 blocks.
Posted by: anon1111 at February 18, 2009 11:10 AM
Here's the National Grid site regarding the clean-up. http://www.citizensmgpsite.com/site_descr.html. It indicates that the main contaminants of concern at the site are benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PHAs). The website indicates that there is no known human risk, so I guess we have to trust that. But, it does all get you wondering ...
It's annoying to have to worry about this, because CG is really such a wonderful neighborhood.
Posted by: anonymous83 at February 18, 2009 11:19 AM
I lived in a house in Carroll Gardens three houses from the BQE and indeed there was black dust on the window sill every day. It was filthy and disgusting. You couldn't really clean it off either. It was surely from the highway and carcinogenic. I wouldn't eat anything grown on that block. I don't think it's safe to live on that block. I don't know how it is in other locations farther from the BQE.
As for muggings, Carroll Gardens has one of the lowest crime rates of all neighborhoods in New York City. About 800 major crimes in 2007.
Posted by: mopar at February 18, 2009 11:20 AM
http://nycitynewsservice.com/2007/06/21/brownfield-of-dreams/ -- Check out this short video done in 2007 about the site. Apparently some developers see this as a prime area for senior housing. Nice, put granny on a toxic heap of crap for her golden years. 83 keep running...
Posted by: anon1111 at February 18, 2009 11:53 AM
eman123 if they are drilling underground to find toxic pollutants they must be as smart as you.
Posted by: hannible at February 18, 2009 12:13 PM
I wouldn't worry about it. I have lived about a block or so from thier for 14 yrs and know just about everyone in the hood and I haven't heard of anyone with health problems related to that site.
Posted by: harrythehat at February 18, 2009 1:02 PM
a83, while I am not one to run away from brownfields, asbestos, or other alleged risks, it should be noted that benzene is a definite and known carcinogen per your government agencies.
Posted by: denton at February 18, 2009 9:21 PM
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