Just received a post card invite from the Gowanus Dredgers, the non-profit organization dedicated "to providing waterfront access and education to the public."
I attended last year and it was really a great event. The Dredgers have done a great job at drawing attention to the canal. Theirs is a simple idea: combining their love of canoing with educating people about this very polluted waterway. Its a worthwhile organization. Which begs the question:
Why is this event sponsored by:
The Toll Brothers, Monadnock Cosntruction, Leviev Boymelgreen, Douglaston Deveolpopment and the Hudson Companies, Inc., all big development companies standing at the ready to build along the canal as soon as the city changes the areas zoning? The big guys logos were all over the invite. Can anybody explain?
Here are the details for the event:
An evening of family fun, food and music on the Gowanus Canal.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
2nd Street Boat Launch on the Gowanus Canal
165 2nd Street (off of Bond Street)
Brooklyn, New York
Take the F or G train to Carroll Street and walk 3 blocks to the Gowanus Canal
Join is for live music, all-u-can-eat BBQ from Schnack, canoe tours, kids' entertainment, silent art auction and raffle prizes from area shops and restaurants. Kids under 12 free with paid adult!
adult tickets $25.00
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5 comments:
Well in that case you KNOW I won't be attending!
and what's with the $25.00? With the looks of the sponsership I guess the price is a reflection of who those developers are looking to move into their buildings.
Also, why are the dredgers in line with people who willl be destroying the ecosystem of the canal...very very strange...shame on them.
That is my feeling exactly. It is a nice event and I love what the Dredgers are doing, but the name of those "big bad boys" of high rise development just spooks me out.
We believe it is better to work with the changes taking place to ensure that future development is responsive to the ecosystem and allows for on-water access to the canal. Members from our organization have had very productive meetings with future developers and have provided invaluable information about the combined sewer system and the wildlife around the canal. We view ourselves as protectors of the canal and advocate for responsible redevelopment and restoration of the Jewel of Brooklyn.
I have no doubt that you have provided invaluable information about the canal and its wildlife. As I mention, I know that yours is a very worthwhile organization. I just don't buy into the idea that the big name developers are going to do anything but build, take the money and split. Does someone like Boymelgreen really care about the canal and wildlife?
Could it be that they are just playing nice until they get what they want?
If you can't figure out the path of development, clean up the waterfront, the developers will follow.
What I want to stay in New York is the pollution, the power plants and then the developers will stay away. you folks only bring it on yourselves, if you could only see what happens after you clean up the gowanus and the newtown creek, you won't be able to enjoy it that's for sure.
Maybe you can "pioneer" another place perhaps outside of nyc.
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