Planning Details Gowanus Proposal
The Department of City Planning finally released its proposal for rezoning Gowanus last night at a community board meeting and, as expected, the plan will affect about 25 blocks in the neighborhood, changing those blocks’ designation from manufacturing to mixed-use. Gowanus Lounge was on the scene and reports the following: -The rezone will run between…
The Department of City Planning finally released its proposal for rezoning Gowanus last night at a community board meeting and, as expected, the plan will affect about 25 blocks in the neighborhood, changing those blocks’ designation from manufacturing to mixed-use. Gowanus Lounge was on the scene and reports the following:
-The rezone will run between Fourth Avenue and Bond Streets, bounded on the south by Third Street and on the north by Butler Street.
-In the area’s “waterfront district,” between the canal, Bond Street and Third Avenue, buildings will be able to reach a maximum height of 12 stories, with density bonuses for including an affordable component. In most of the rest of the rezoned area, buildings will be able to rise between 5 and 8 stories.
-The tallest buildings would go up in the “waterfront south” area shown above. According to a Planning rep, “the plan will ‘create a sense of openness around the Canal that doesn’t exist’ because it’ll require a public esplanade and setbacks. Many residents last night said that the level of density being proposed in this section would lead to out-of-scale structures, with permanent shadows in some sections of the canal.
-Community members also voiced concerns about environmental issues, saying the rezone will allow for residential construction on areas that haven’t been properly cleaned up. A member of the Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus group said that the plan involved a little bit of deception and that a lot doesn’t incorporate what the community wants.
25 Blocks Worth of Change in Gowanus [Gowanus Lounge]
Meet Gowanus Waterfront North & South [Gowanus Lounge]
Photographs of maps from GL.
I always wonder when it comes to one’s neighborhood people don’t like others freedom. They want their freedom to be as controlling of other peoples property without paying for it. Manufacturing will go where there is easy and cheap transportation…doesn’t sound like Brooklyn does it. I don’t know why people try to blame this on the Unions, I guess its ok to be exploited but not join together for decent wages and benefits(I wonder how many benefits most of you would have if it wasn’t trying to keep the Unions out).
the tallest proposed building is 12 stories! Its not 25 or 30. I oppose Ratners development because of the density of the develop which will be among the densest in the US….but I don’t oppose everything….I think its a Max brothers movie that has a song “whatever it is I am against it no matter who began or who commenst it I’m against it”….and they were trying to be funny…
I don’t think it’s a matter of opposition to redevelopment 5:06, it is a matter of being opposed to the proposed redevelopment.
I hate how that tired argument gets tossed around. People, especially the residents of a neighborhood, have the right to care about how their home hood gets tinkered with.
Reminds me of how republicans and conservative others threw out the “unpatriotic” dagger at anyone opposed to the war in its early stages, and is certainly reminiscent of how anyone opposed to Ratner’s deceptive AY plans are “anti development” and are responsible for the dirt pit that sits.
Ridiculous.
Who are these crazies posting about “revitalizing industry”? Are they serious?
Even Mexico is losing manfacturing jobs left and right because labor costs have risen too high. NYC is one of the most expensive places on earth to do business.
The fact that anyone would oppose redeveloping this area shows that there are people who will oppose anything no matter what…
my question is this: who wants to live on the edge of the canal? p-u.
Yeah, maybe the city can revitalize industry here whereas in rest of country loosing it.
Cost of labor is just so much cheaper here than China or Mexico.
And most people I know in area – are more or less against just about everything.
toxicondos at that.
I agree, 3:17. Just seems inevitable at this point, though.
I dunno, 3:06, because I don’t live there, but it seems weird to me that the city couldn’t find a way to revitalize industry. Instead, more condos. Isn’t there more than one way to create economic stimulus? Wouldn’t know it from city’s actions the last several years.