News

News

Business Improvement District provides “fantastic opportunity” to support Gowanus redevelopment, by Oscar Fock

On Nov. 14, the Gowanus Oversight Task Force — a community-based group tracking the 56 commitments that were part of the Gowanus rezoning — convened for the fourth time this year, this time to share with the public information about the Gowanus Business Improvement District (BID) and the city’s plans for green spaces in the neighborhood. The Gowanus Rezoning Points […]

Gowanus, News

Lawsuit won’t delay Public Place cleanup, but will they ever break ground? by Oscar Fock

At the beginning of October, National Grid, the energy company primarily responsible for cleaning up the Gowanus Canal and the former Citizens Manufactured Gas Plant site (also known as Public Place), filed a lawsuit against 40 defendants, claiming they’re not doing their part to clean up the canal. Following the news of the lawsuit, concerns arose among community members that […]

Education, News

Harbor Middle School celebrates Hispanic heritage, by Nathan Weiser

PS 676 / Harbor Middle School hosted Hispanic heritage family night on October 22 from 4-6 pm in the cafeteria. This was one of their many theme nights throughout the school year. There were many activities at the different tables, Spanish music to listen to and different Red Hook organizations at the event. There was information on a table about […]

Environment, News

Residential composting takes big strides throughout the city, by Katherine Rivard

In a time when the City’s Administration seems awash with scandals and resignations, few NYC bureaucrats have been as effective as Jessica Tisch, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY). The citywide composting program, which requires all residents to compost their organic materials, is just one of several sweeping DSNY initiatives implemented during her tenure. The program was rolled […]

News

I went to a BMT feedback session, by Brian Abate

There have been a few large community meetings and some smaller ones following Mayor Adams’ May 14 announcement about a  planned transformation of the local waterfront. This has been the plan of the NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC) who is tasked with leading the transformation. I attended one of the smaller sessions on October 23. Four people showed up to […]

Columbia Street, Land Use, News

63 Tiffany brings out politicos on Halloween morning, by Brian Abate

Residents of 63 Tiffany Place, neighbors, community members, and politicians all gathered for a rally outside of the 70-unit apartment building. There were about 100 people in total including all local city and state politicians, including even Shahana Hanif, who came over from Park Slope office. The building’s Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) is expiring and that means all […]

News

DEP, EPA propose alternatives for next phase of CSO tank construction, by Oscar Fock

In early August, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection announced they had finished the first phase of the construction of the combined sewer overflow (CSO) tank that will sit between the Gowanus Canal and Nevins Street. This phase, which included building a deep underground concrete perimeter around the site, has been a source of concern for neighbors for […]

News

The city now wants blue highways. Jim Tampakis has advocated for it for years, interview with Oscar Fock

New York City is remaking the Brooklyn Marine Terminal into a waterfront fit for the 21st century. One plan the city has for the marine terminal is to act as a hub for its “blue highways” initiative, an effort to move some freight from the streets to the city’s waterways. 120,000 trucks pass through the city each day, with many […]