You did not really think that real estate developers and our politicians have given up on developing along the shores of the Gowanus Canal, have you?Their vision of a Brooklyn Venice lined with 12-story luxury condo buildings might have been deferred for a few years while the Environmental Protection Agency cleans the heavily polluted waterway, but the temptation of millions of dollars of profit is just too great.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 12, the Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute of Baruch College will host a public forum on a 'future vision of the Gowanus.' But a quick look at the list of panelists reveals that some of the staunchest opponents of the Superfund designation, who would have had no problem developing the shores of the Gowanus BEFORE a major clean up, are included on the panel: Public Advocate Bill De Blasio, Borough President Marty Markowitz and Bill Appel, Executive Director, Gowanus Canal Community Development Corp.(Salvatore "Buddy Scotto was included in the original line-up, but must have dropped out.)
The only question is, where is David Von Spreckelsen of the Toll Brothers?
I, myself, wouldn't miss this for the world and have just signed up for the event. I urge members of this community to do the same.
See the details below:BARUCH COLLEGE PRESENTS PUBLIC FORUM
ON FUTURE OF GOWANUS CANAL
“Reconsidering Gowanus” will be held on May 12 at Brooklyn Borough Hall; Panelists Include NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz; Report on Gowanus Canal Neighborhood Will be Released
On Wednesday, May 12, Baruch College’s Steven L. Newman Real Estate Institute presents a public forum, “Reconsidering Gowanus,” on the many issues facing the Gowanus Canal area in light of its recent designation by the EPA as a Superfund site. While the environmental degradation of the Gowanus area has drawn much attention of late, the area’s enormous economic and development potential has been overlooked. At this event, Baruch College brings together an array of prominent community, real estate and business leaders for a discussion about Gowanus Canal—the problems, the solutions and the great promise that Gowanus holds. A report from the Newman Institute on the Gowanus Canal area, “Reconsidering Gowanus: Opportunities for the Sustainable Transformation of an Industrial Neighborhood,” which looks at demographic trends in the area and makes recommendations for development, will be released at the event.
For more information, please visit: http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/
realestate/ .
WHAT:
“Reconsidering Gowanus: Opportunities for the Sustainable Transformation of an Industrial Neighborhood”
FREE TO THE PUBLIC
WHEN:
Wednesday, May 12, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
WHERE:
Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn (Take the 2, 3, 4 or 5 to the Borough Hall Station in Brooklyn. Borough Hall is on Joralemon between Court and Adams streets.) Note: Enter Borough Hall from the back of the building.
WHO:
Bill Appel, Executive Director, Gowanus Canal Community Development Corp.
Michelle de la Uz, Executive Director, Fifth Avenue Committee
Honorable Bill de Blasio, Public Advocate, New York City
Carl Hum, President & CEO, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
Purnima Kapur, Director, Brooklyn Office, NYC Dept. of City Planning
Honorable Brad Lander, City Council Member, NYC District 39
Honorable Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough President
Thomas McMahon, President, TLM Associates, LLC
Maria Pagano, President, Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Assoc. (invited)
Stuart Pertz, Architect and Planning Professional
Rosemary Scanlon, Clinical Associate Professor, NYU Schack Institute
Harry Schwartz, Planning and Development Consultant
Hilary Semel, Real Estate, Evnironmental and Construction Law, Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt, LLP
Daniel Wiley, Community Coordinator, U.S. Rep. Nydia Velazquez, 12th Congressional District
CONTACT: Jennifer Pauly; 646-660-6129; Jennifer.pauly@baruch.cuny.edu
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3 comments:
HYPOCRITES!
One of the reasons Toll Brothers isn't there is probably because their presence and support of future development wouldn't look good for their court case.
This should be a popcorn worthy event.
Hypocrites is right!
The only person that I trust on that panel is Dan Wiley.
Most of the rest, especially politician DeBlasio & Markowitz held a deaf ear to the community's plea to consider the environmental hazzards of developing before the EPA stepped in.
Our complaints and concerns were practically mocked and met with absolute disrespect. I know. I heard and saw DeBlasio lose his temper (and you have it on tape Katia!) at one of the final spot zoning hearings with the Toll Brothers.
I guess they have finally given up on the "stigma" mantra cause that was another load of self-interested hooey. No thought to the future until now. To some people it is always about dollar signs. But they love to disguise it under guises of eco buzz words such as "sustainable".
ugh - can't believe i missed this - would have been nice to be there - think its time to fight the fight on 12 story buildings so what happened to wreck Smith Street and 2nd doesn't happen to the part of the neighborhood that lives below hoyt.
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