Bravo! State Senator Montgomery Firmly Against Gowanus Rezoning Before Environmental Clean-Up

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Councilman Brad Lander with State Senator Velmanette Montgomeryduring the first 

Bridging Gowanus meeting in 2013

3D model of a fully built-out Gowanus after rezoningby 

New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) students

State Senator Velmanette Montgomery's letter to NYC Department of City Planning

Thank YOU, State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, for categorically saying "NO" to the proposed Gowanus area upzoning!

A letter from May 24, 2019 from Montgomery to New York City's Department Of City Planning was distributed to members of the Gowanus Canal Community Advisory Group last night. It states:

"I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed re-zoning of the community surrounding the Gowanus Canal prior to the completion of the superfund remediation. After decades of uncertainty, there is finally a plan in place to perform desperately needed environmental remediation of a famously polluted site. Cleaning up the canal and working to handle the continuing problem of combined sewer overflow (CSO) pouring into the canal after each major rainfall or snowmelt is of paramount importance."

She concludes:

"I stand firm in my position that this rezoning must be put on hold until a genuine environmental cleanup can take place. We need to improve the quality of life in the Gowanus community before we add thousands of housing units and people to an already overburdened infrastructure system."

Her firm stand is significant since Montgomery is one of the five elected officials who, in 2013, convened "Bridging Gowanus", which was meant to develop a "framework for the infrastructure and land use needed for a safe, vibrant and sustainable Gowanus".

Many residents who participated in the Bridging Gowanus meetings have expressed their frustration that very few of the community's inputs ultimately made it into NYC Department of Planning's proposed rezoning of the area, which calls for 22 to 30 story buildings.

This is the second time that Senator Montgomery showsu real leadership regarding Gowanus.
In 2009, she was one of the first elected official to support the designation of the Gowanus Canal as an EPA Superfund site. In a letter to EPA, she wrote ten years ago: "Since one-half of the Gowanus Canal lies within the 18th New York Senate District, the development and health of the area, for both the current and future residents and businesses are my top priorities. While the economic development of this artery is crucial to the future of New York City sustainable, healthy development is only possible in a sustainable, healthy environment.
Much of the development proposed for the areas surrounding the Gowanus Canal, such as the Public Place project, envision much needed affordable housing with parks and playgrounds for the families living there. However I cannot in good conscience support development on contaminated land. The area must be made safe for current and future generations."

Senator Montgomery's position on the rezoning aligns with Voice Of Gowanus, a newly formed coalition of Gowanus area residents and groups, who have asked for environmental remediation BEFORE a rezoning