http://www.planNYC.org/ PlanNYC | New York City Planning Information Portal en-us ja3n@earthlink.net http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=75#4513 Two Biology Professors from New York City College of Technology, who have been studying the waters of the Gowanus Canal for nearly three years, believe that some of the microbes might serve as antibodies to diseases. The team of professors are hopeful that the extracts that they have pulled from the water might be used in anti-inflammatory medications that can fight heart disease and other more serious illnesses. 2008-07-31 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=75#4486 The City Council approved a zoning change for parts of Carroll Garden that will limit the size of new structures. The zoning change designates some streets as “narrow” from their previous designation as “wide”. The neighborhood is made up of brownstones with large gardens in the front yards. 2008-07-24 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=75#4417 A new park is being planned between the 3rd Avenue and Carroll Street Bridges that will act as a “sponge” for contaminants and odors from the Gowanus Canal. The goal of the park is stop the combined sewer overflow (CSO) and the park's design will help manage the storm runoff using environmental measures. The park designers and advocates include the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, dlandstudio llc and local community members and groups. 2008-07-03 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=75#4418 A plan to define streets as “narrow” in Carroll Gardens was approved by the City Planning Commission. The redefinition will change the zoning permitted, including lowering permissible heights for buildings. The City Council is expected to vote on the plan on July 23rd. A more comprehensive rezoning for the neighborhood is still a couple of years away. 2008-07-02 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=75#4348 Another hotel is in the works for the Gowanus Canal section of Brooklyn. Alec Shtromandel plans to develop what will be the ninth hotel in this area. His hotel, to be built at 611 DeGraw St., will be a four-story, 10,000 square-foot structure with 45 rooms. Kutnicki Bernstein Architects will design the hotel and will keep it contextual with the surrounding neighborhood. 2008-06-16 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=75#4306 Council Member Bill de Blasio is calling for a ban on hotels in the northern section of the Gowanus area of Brooklyn. Referencing the City’s recent draft rezoning proposal for a 25-block area of the mostly industrial area, de Blasio argues that “there’s no place for hotels in the Gowanus Canal area. They just don’t fit.” The Council Member, along with other hotel opponents, believes that hotels will compromise the local manufacturing industry and create undesirable changes in the neighborhood. Hotel proponents, including the Department of City Planning, believe that the hotel industry is critical for economic growth. The City’s vision for the area includes mixed uses like light industrial, residential, retail, and office. 2008-06-06 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=75#4302 Council Member Bill de Blasio and some community activists have called upon the City to ban further hotel development in the Gowanus neighborhood. There are three new hotels and four additional hotels being built in the area. Some are concerned that these developments will infringe upon the character of the largely industrial neighborhood. Additionally, many hope to prevent any new development while the City's current rezoning plan goes through the official land use review process. 2008-06-04 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=75#4288 The City Planning Commission unveiled plans last night for rezoning a 25-block area in the Gowanus area of Brooklyn. The rezoning would convert the 25-block area from manufacturing to mixed use, while maintaining the manufacturing designation for 35 other blocks in the area. The most controversial aspect of the rezoning permits buildings to rise 12 stories in the area between Bond Street and Third Avenue. Many in the community are opposed to this change for the development that it will likely encourage. The City hopes to submit the rezoning for the land use process early next year. 2008-05-30 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=75#4264 Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz has approved a zoning text amendment in Carroll Gardens that will re-classify in the zoning code six streets that were previously considered “wide.” The “narrow” designation, which will limit building density in the area, was approved by Community Board 6. The measure continues along the ULURP process, where it now awaits approval by the City Planning Commission and the City Council. 2008-05-23 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=75#4225 The Toll Brothers launched a website for their Gowanus development that will provide the community with updates about the project as it moves through the city’s public review process, the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP). The developer said that it hopes the new website, www.tollbrothersgowanus.com, will help foster a “continuing dialogue with the Gowanus community,” noting that neighbors can use the site to send in comments and concerns about the project. 2008-05-13 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=75#4161 The Department of City Planning (DCP) is moving forward with plans to downzone six streets in Carroll Gardens. The plan is to reclassify six streets that are currently considered “wide” to “narrow” streets. This would affect floor area ratio, setback requirements, and height limitations. Some residents were concerned that the zoning amendment would limit future construction, namely additions to their homes, if passed. Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz supports the downzoning as does City Council Member Bill de Blasio. The amendment must be approved by the City Council. 2008-04-29 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=75#4134 The Gowanus Canal Conservancy has proposed a series of “sponge parks” along the canal that will create open space and act as rainwater collection sites. The Conservancy says that these parks, although they will be small, will increase public access to the canal and create a solution to the environmental problem of stormwater and sewage overflows. The Conservancy has received support from the local Member of Congress and is requesting funding from the New York State Council for the Arts. 2008-04-22 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=75#4039 Cleanup efforts are underway on the Gowanus Canal at the site of Public Place. As part of the cleanup effort, Keyspan, who owns the company responsible for the pollution, will remove almost eight feet of soil that is contaminated and will put in place a barrier to block tar from seeping into the river from under the site. The city presentation the clean up efforts to Community Board 6 this week, saying that efforts could take nearly three years to complete. Odors and dust are likely nuisances during the clean up efforts. The site must be fully remediated before any new development can happen on the site. 2008-04-05 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=75#4040 The property owned by developer Shaya Boymelgreen is for sale, signaling his plans to build the “Gowanus Village” is no longer in the works. Boymelgreen had planned on using the site for mixed income housing totaling nearly 400 units. The sale of the property brings the discussion of what is to happen around the Gowanus back on the table. Some groups are pushing for a light-use industrial mixed with some residential space and believe that the Boymelgreen site is a good place to do this. Other groups remain committed to residential space with significant amounts of affordable housing, open space and access to the waterfront. 2008-04-05 00:00:00 http://www.plannyc.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issues&file=index&catid=1&issueid=75#4019 A new hotel is being proposed in the Gowanus area. With this proposal, the number of planned affordable chain hotels has reached seven according to Brownstoner. Some speculate that developers are hoping to convert hotel properties into condos once the area is rezoned. 2008-03-31 00:00:00