Park Slopers Petition for a Greener Whole Foods
Whole Foods Market is working on their plans for a new branch on Third Street and Third Avenue along the banks of the Gowanus Canal, and the local organization Park Slope Neighbors is hoping to convince them to build a cleaner, greener supermarket. Their petition, addressed to Whole Foods Chairman and CEO John Mackey, requests…
Whole Foods Market is working on their plans for a new branch on Third Street and Third Avenue along the banks of the Gowanus Canal, and the local organization Park Slope Neighbors is hoping to convince them to build a cleaner, greener supermarket. Their petition, addressed to Whole Foods Chairman and CEO John Mackey, requests the reduction of the store’s planned 420 parking spaces by at least 100. It all calls to replace parking spaces planned for the building’s rooftop with a green roof or solar panels. To fight the onslaught of neighborhood traffic jams, it recommends the implementation of a jitney service, ample bike parking, and a fleet of pedicabs, among other strategies…
Eric McClure, campaign coordinator for Park Slope Neighbors, writes in yesterday’s press release:
“We think a Whole Foods Market would be a great addition to the neighborhood, but it’s disappointing that they appear intent on implementing a suburban-style plan. Since only about 40% of households in this area own cars, we’d like to work with Whole Foods to de-emphasize vehicle traffic in favor of other modes of transportation to and from the store. We also think Brooklyn deserves environmentally friendly measures like green or solar roofs, which Whole Foods has implemented or planned for in other markets.”
Due to cold weather and snow, PSN volunteers have not been able to hit the streets — but nevertheless, more than 500 residents have already signed the petition. If you’re interested in supporting their cause, Park Slope Neighbors’ Whole Foods petition can be signed online here.
anon, 4:27: lumi rolley and eric mcclure are married? those evil-doers!
3rd Ave. is a dangerous alternative to the BQE for many aggressive, road-raged drivers simply trying to get from point A to point B and using 3rd Ave. as their means – having risked my life in the bike lane on numerous occassions, I can only hope that WF honestly attempts to help alleviate this reality rather than add to it. Only time will tell.
Park Slopers shop at the Park Slope Food Coop. And they walk there.
Amen, 5:42.
yeah right, like park slopers don’t drive to Fairway in Red Hook. I guess it’s fine to drive and park in the poor people’s neighborhood.
I believe that eric mcclure is married to lumi rolley of no land grab. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are the entire membership of park slope neighbors. This plan is just plain silly.
Brooklyn is becoming suburbia. Resistance is futile.
I will be shopping at the BROOKLYN Whole Foods, and I will be driving. If they reduce the size of the parking lot and I can’t find parking, I will shop somewhere else.
This WF is meant for Brooklyn, not Park Slope. The NIMBYs should stop being so selfish.
I will be writing a letter to the CEO requesting that WF make this store a model of green building. Furthermore, I will express that Brooklyn is not necessarily the suburban-esque picture that our Marty likes to paint. He dreams of Detroit (Vanderbilt Yards), we dream of Zurich (most walkable city). There is nothing worse than dodging the yacht sized SUVs and grumpy toyota drivers trying to get in and out of Target, most of whom are convinced that they live in Detroit.
I have to agree with 5w30 about the parking issue.
What’s the basis of the assumption that reducing parking there has fewer negative effects than going as planned?
Honest question, not offered rhetorically.
Thoughts?