Attendees, CAG Members: Joan Salome-Rodriguez, Moderator. Eymund Diegel, Peter Reich.
Guests: Irene Baker, National Grid.
You can watch a video recording of the meeting here. Please enter passcode %dnk9Fyh for access.
Commemorative sites
Besides discussion about the items below, we had a long discussion about Eymund’s ideas to make sites along the Gowanus into commemorative sites. He suggests the 1st Street Turning Basin could be named Marylander Park because the Maryland contingent defended the Revolution from Old Stone House at that site. There is currently a letter of support from Kim at the Old Stone House. It would be tied to the Path of Freedom concept from Old Stone House. Also, the education building we think is planned there could recall Denton’s Mill which used to sit at the 1st Street Turning Basin.
Flood Reduction
There was also some discussion of flood reduction on 4th Avenue that would be better addressed in Water Quality meeting but basically suggested advocacy around EPA taking the U-Haul lot that used to have a sewer pipe from 1876 on to 1956 when that pipe got closed up. Lo and behold, 4th Avenue started to flood.
StoryMap
Since no representative from the Gowanus Remediation Trust was present, we did not get answers to questions below about the StoryMap and whether or how it could be published to the CAG Website. GRT already approved this.
Can the StoryMap also be in book form? Follow up with Aaron as to whether GRT still has the original draft StoryMap that was much more geared to kids. It would be nice to have both. We know the Clinton and Union Street library is scheduled to open in the fall. Joan suggested a visit first to find out who to talk to about it at the library. At our last meeting Aaron was going to follow up on whether the StoryMap can be shared with BPL.
Sharing Dredged Items – Show?
There are materials including images of the dredged items that could also be shared. Discussed briefly how we want to share these. Jason suggested posters with QR codes and flyers. If we get the flyers it would be nice to frame and have them hung in new spaces. Joan suggested we see if GRT can help with costs.
Work with outreach and GRT – See Brian Carr’s email below. Also, Michael was unable to reach out to John Quadrozzi re: the items he has but will follow up per his email pre-meeting.
If we cannot move all of Quadrozzi’s items to a show location we could use the photos we have of them already. Just need frames. How can this committee raise money or can it come from GRT? See Brian Carr’s email below.
Gowanus Graffiti
Waiting on Celeste’s input on the power point.
Email Addendum
—– Forwarded Message —–
From: Carr, Brian
To: JOAN RODRIGUEZ
Sent: Friday, August 7, 2026 at 10:27:56 AM EDT
Subject: Re: Archeology Committee Meeting Agenda 3/3/2025
The Trust is required to do archaeology and preservation related work to conserve and display artifacts, and to make up for impacts to the historic fabric of the canal.
As EPA has noted, the regulations do not allow us to order the PRPs to create a new museum, but other preservation things short of that are permitted.
Happy to discuss with the committee and the Trust folks at a meeting.
Brian E. Carr
Assistant Regional Counsel
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region 2
Office of Regional Counsel
290 Broadway, 17th Floor