Gowanus Canal

Gowanus Canal

Gowanus sewage still a hot topic in Superfund negotiations, by George Fiala

A giant concrete tank, built underground to hold the raw sewage that currently gets pumped in the Gowanus Canal whenever it rains, has become the main focus of attention of the planners of the Gowanus Canal cleanup. The long-polluted canal was cited as one of the most toxic sites in America and declared a Federal EPA Superfund site in 2009 […]

Gowanus Canal

Developer tries to give Gowanus a free park, but city doesn’t want it, by George Fiala

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was tasked with the job of cleaning up the toxic Gowanus Canal in 2009, following over 100 years of unbenign neglect on the part of New York City. The canal was declared a Superfund site over the objections of New York City, who felt that passive measures, such as building bioswales, would clean the canal […]

Gowanus Canal, Parks

City makes case for retention tank location at EPA meeting, by George Fiala

A major part of the EPA’s plan to clean up the Gowanus Canal is the prevention of future contamination. In addition to chemical toxins that have leached into the canal as a byproduct of the 19th century gas plants that abutted the canal, organic poisons from sewage overflows continue to contaminate. Overflows happen during rain events when the sewers become […]

Gowanus Canal

Superfund project on schedule, by George Fiala

It’s been a rough winter for meetings, as the weather has cancelled quite a few, including the January meeting of the Gowanus Community Advisory Group (CAG). The CAG serves as a conduit between the community and the EPA and was set up to monitor the Superfund cleanup of the Gowanus Canal. The January meeting was held February 10 and featured […]

Column, Gowanus Canal

THE GOWANUS CANAL NOW, by Mark Shames

Everyone around these parts knows that the Gowanus Canal is a highly polluted waterway due to a legacy of industrial uses along its banks. Those toxin-generating uses are now gone. This has given us an opportunity to remediate the area and we have seized upon that opportunity. Progress has begun as “flushing tunnel,” which has the ability to draw water […]

Environment, Gowanus Canal

EPA deal with Lightstone up for public comment

The EPA issued a press release today announcing a potential deal with the Lightstone Group regarding remediation of toxic poisons.  Lightstone has agreed to spend approximately $20 million to cleanup the land that they will be building on. EPA has the authority to name Potentially Responsible Parties (PRP’s) who then must pay for a Superfund Cleanup. In the case of […]

Community Organizations, Gowanus Canal

In Dynamic Neighborhood, Conservancy’s Mission Remains Unchanged, by Keith J. Klein

Gowanus means many things to the community. For most it is a neighborhood, to others a polluted canal, but to the Gowanus Canal Conservancy (GCC), it represents more. To the GCC, Gowanus is a watershed. A watershed, also known as a drainage basin is an area where water from rain and melting snow or ice converge to a single point […]

Gowanus Canal

Take Back Gowanus challenges Brad Lander’s “Shared Values,” by Harrison Neuhaus

On Wednesday evening, July 9, Gowanus business owners and local residents arrived mere steps from the pollution-ridden Canal to attend “Take Back Gowanus.” The meeting was called in reaction to City Council Member Brad Lander’s “Bridging Gowanus” series. Though he claimed that his goal was to find a “shared vision” for the future of the industrial neighborhood, Lander’s community meetings […]

Gowanus Canal

Take Back Gowanus

Brad Lander’s Bridging Gowanus series of meetings has spurred some local Gowanus activists to hold their own meetings. “Take Back Gowanus” will be held Wednesday evening at 7 pm at the Green Building, normally home for weddings and other celebrations. It is at the corner of Bond and Union Streets. The Green Building is itself a symbol of the change in […]