The Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group’s Land Use Committee met on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, in the offices of the Gowanus Canal Conservancy at 543 Union Street.
Committee Members present:
David Briggs, Rafael Gomez de Luna, Katia Kelly, Louis Kleinman, Hildegaard Link, Andrea Parker, Peter Reich, Buddy Scotto, Maryann Young
Guests present:
Terri Thompson, National Grid
Item 1
The committee will not meet in January.
Action
None required.
Item 2
The disposition of the building at 234 Butler Street (corner of Butler and Nevins) and how it will be impacted by the headhouse/retention tank facility was discussed. Some committee members expressed concern that the building would be demolished.
Action
None required.
Item 3
Conversation expanded to address how the rezoning, remediation of coal tar under the Thomas Greene Park pool, and possible relocation of the headhouse/retention tank facility to the park will impact the neighborhood and its residents.
The committee drafted goals to help the community better understand and possibly mitigate the impacts:
- Preserve 234 Butler Street building
- Create accessible community space large enough for local groups
- Provide active recreation space above the retention tanks
- Require community input as part of visioning process for the neighborhood. Invite design team to participate
- Request DEP to share preliminary designs and concepts for the headhouse/retention tank facility.
- Develop/solicit design options for temporary pool
Action
Dave will reach out to CB6 and formulate a request to the Borough President and Councilmember Levin’s offices for a community visioning process.