Community Activists Fight To Save Historic Gowanus Station Building On Butler Street From Potential Demolition

You may remember that in June of 2016, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized an agreement with the City of New York that secures the design of the larger of two combined sewage and storm water overflow (CSO) retention tanks, mandated by the Federal Agency as part of Gowanus Canal Superfund cleanup.

The agreement allows New York City to locate an 8 million gallon retention tank in New York City’s preferred location, known as the “Head-of-Canal” location. It also stipulates that the EPA can require New York City to place the tank at the EPA preferred Thomas Greene Park location instead "if certain activities do not occur on schedule, including if New York City is not able to acquire the land at the Head-of-Canal location within approximately four years."

The City's plan relies on the taking of two privately owned sites, 234 Butler Street and 242 Nevins Street, by eminent domain. A third site, 270 Nevins Street will also be seized and then leased by the City for staging purposes.

An application submitted by New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) for the acquisition of these three privately-owned parcels needed for the Gowanus CSO Facility is currently moving through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) process.

The next step in the ULURP proceeding is a public hearing in front of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams on November 27, 2017.

Community Board 6 as already held a public hearing and voted to support the eminent domain action. The Board however, asked DEP to "consider an alternative design to save the historic structure" on the parcel at 234 Butler Street.

Indeed, the charming brick building on that site is the historic City of New York Water Supply Gowanus Distribution Station, which is beloved by many in the area. 

So far, DEP has not agreed to save the structure under its current plan to build a Combined Sewer Overflow tank at the head of the Gowanus Canal. This prompted Olivia Brazee, the Historic Site Restoration Coordinator for New York State Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation, to write a letter to EPA, in which she stated:

"To destroy this intact, architecturally distinctive example of Brooklyn’s civic and industrial heritage would be a disservice to the Gowanus neighborhood and to the city as a whole."

A group of Gowanus activists are echoing this sentiment and have released the following statement.

November 16, 2017

A group of Brooklyn residents called on Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams today to stop

the proposed demolition of the historic Gowanus Station building. The City Department of Environmental Protection's current plan to build a Combined Sewer Overflow tank at the head of the Gowanus Canal calls fordemolition of the historic structure at the corner of Butler and Nevins Streets. Residents seek to prevent the unnecessary demolition of an iconic building imbued with neighborhood character.

"This magnificent building is over 100 years old," said Linda Mariano of Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus. "Its design and sculptural elements tie directly into the history of the Gowanus neighborhood's relationship with water. It can and should be saved."

While the residents support the DEP effort to build a CSO tank as part of the EPA's Gowanus Canal superfund cleanup, they do not see that the Gowanus Station building needs to be demolished to build the tank. TheGowanus Station structure occupies a very small corner of the larger planned site and could be incorporated into the overall site design.

"We're calling on the Borough President to do the right thing -," said Peter Reich, a long time Gowanus resident. "I can accept the necessity of an 8 million gallon CSO tank being buried next door, but NOT at the expense of this irreplaceable Architectural landmark. Preservation and progress can easily coexist on that corner!”

The Borough President will hold a public hearing on November 27th regarding the DEP proposal.

Finally, the concerned residents noted that the State Historic Preservation Office called on the EPA to preserve the building in an October 19, 2017 letter to EPA project manager Christos Tsiamis:

"Based on our review of the project details to date, it appears feasible to retain and incorporate the historic former Gowanus Station building (234 Butler Street) into the project. This building, which has a prominent street presence at the corner (and very edge of) the city’s preferred site, has overarching significance for the National Register eligible Gowanus Historic District. Its demolition would adversely affect both the building and the National Register eligible Gowanus Canal Historic District. To destroy this intact, architecturally distinctive example of Brooklyn’s civic and industrial heritage would be a disservice to the Gowanus neighborhood and to the city as a whole."

"This unique building should be incorporated into the tank site design," said Gowanus resident Brad Vogel. "We all want distinctive neighborhoods: here is a chance for the Borough President to help us achieve that in Gowanus by refusing to sign off on a site design that calls for demolition."

The Gowanus residents also have the backing of a citywide preservation group.

“This building, with its terra cotta and brick facade is the only building in the Gowanus neighborhood that bears the neighborhood's name in masonry: Gowanus,” said Kelly Carroll of the Historic Districts Council. “Losing this edifice because of a lack of a creative alternative will reflect poorly on all parties involved and will be a serious loss to the built environment of this historic, industrial neighborhood.”

I urge everyone to make an effort to attend the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure Public Hearing related to the NYC DEP Proposal to voice your opinion on this matter.

Office of Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams

November 27, 2017, 6:00 PM 

Community Room of Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street

And if you can't attend, please consider sending an email to help preserve this iconic part of the Gowanus neighborhood today:
1. Open a new email. Put in following subject line: Prevent Demolition of Gowanus Station
2. To: askeric@brooklynbp.nyc.gov
CC: rbearak@brooklynbp.nyc.gov; brad.vogel@gmail.com; loney.natalie@epa.gov
3. Drop in following text:

Dear Brooklyn Borough President,

In advance of the hearing on Nov. 27 at 6 p.m. at Borough Hall, I would like to note for the record that I strongly oppose demolition of the historic Gowanus Station Building at Butler and Nevins Streets. Please refuse to approve the DEP CSO Tank proposal unless it is changed to expressly incorporate the preservation of Gowanus Station. While the CB 6 ULURP review finding did not make preservation of the building a true condition to approval, I am asking you to help us save this building that is part of Gowanus - and Brooklyn - neighborhood identity in a meaningful way. The building constitutes a very small portion of the overall site and can be accommodated.

Respectfully,

4. Add your name and street address and send the email.

Thank you!

See, it's really easy.