Gowanus Odors/Floods?
I am looking at several properties on Bond St between Carroll and 2nd Streets. I’ve read thru the archives about any issues with odors and floods and have some concerns still. Friends who live on Warren St have told me that they have on several occasions smelled the canal during hot summer months and that…
I am looking at several properties on Bond St between Carroll and 2nd Streets. I’ve read thru the archives about any issues with odors and floods and have some concerns still.
Friends who live on Warren St have told me that they have on several occasions smelled the canal during hot summer months and that it permeates their apartment and is difficult to eliminate. Has anyone noticed this?
Has anyone had any flooding issues on Bond between Carroll and 2nd? The basements of all the properties I have seen, seem dry with no water issues, but I would appreciate anyone’s input. Thanks
I live on Warren st and have for the past 8 years and have never had any issues with smelling the canal. I also walk down this stretch of Bond st. a lot because my car is parked in a lot on 3rd and have never really smelled anything.
Also, the Goawnus canal is NOT a superfund site. It’s being considered for one but no decision has been made yet. The neighborhood community of Carroll Gardens would like it to be. If it does get listed as one by the EPA it will only benefit the neighborhood as they’ll actually clean it up.
I used to live in the Union/Nevins area, and I can attest that after a big rain, the neighborhood often smelled of sewage.
Thanks. I appreciate everyone’s input.
the whole city smells a bit on hot humid summer nights. I don’t think the canal is that much of an issue. I used to walk over the bridge daily years ago when not as clean as it is now. Also have never seen any flooding. (30 year resident of nearby vicinity)
I have lived in the neighborhood for about 12 years and I don’t ever remember street flooding on the block that you are talking about, other than one time when a storm drain was clogged. DEP came and cleaned it out and it hasn’t happened again.
I do know that the corner house on 2nd. and Bond used to have large amounts of water in the basement, and the dry cleaners that used to be in the building on the North East corner swore that there was a stream under the building and you could hear it running sometimes after a heavy rain. Neighborhood oldtimers back this up swearing that there is an underground stream. With that in mind, I have been in probably ten basements on both 2nd. Street and Carroll and have never seen evidence of it. Couldn’t say about Bond though, which is the low point geographically, so logically if there was a problem, it would be worse there.
As far as the canal, I kayak on it, so obviously I don’t have a problem with the smell, but I’m pretty oblivious.
We don’t like to use the word smell here. We have to keep property values up at over inflated prices so we prefer to use the word breeze.
I suggest you look at the Sanborn map for flooding related data (#306 039 may be the map). This will give you all the information you will need. Regarding the smell; the Gowanus was just names a Superfund site due to it’s severely polluted waters and coastline. It does, at times, smell of methane and petroleum distillates. When deciding on the place, also consider how much your insurance will be before due to it’s 100yr flood data. I do like Gowanus and have often considered property there so good luck!