tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post5889209277845569432..comments2024-03-28T13:46:38.346-04:00Comments on Pardon Me For Asking: "Bridging Gowanus": Real Community Planning Or Dog And Pony Show?Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882047670852126739noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-3185857262331030772014-03-25T22:16:03.593-04:002014-03-25T22:16:03.593-04:00Because we are divided into small groups that may ...Because we are divided into small groups that may not be reflective of the Gowanus community (developer reps, City Planning reps, Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance reps and others who whose daily lives will not be directly impacted by an rezoning). <br />This small group process is not very transparent and I'm not sure how much trust we should have in it. My table was definetely being steered toward an anti industrial/commercial position. Maybe the community should call our own meeting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-87213743758171766172014-03-25T15:51:09.828-04:002014-03-25T15:51:09.828-04:00I absolutely agree...at one of the smaller meeting...I absolutely agree...at one of the smaller meetings the Pratt girls used the phrase "Our Clients". I can not help but feel this is a scouting mission for large developers.. Gowanus can not be allowed to be divided! Otherwise the west bank will become Carroll Garden, the area head of the Canal will become Boerum Hill, the east side will become Park Slope and the rest will fold into Red Hook and SunSet park. Gowanus should not be erased!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-28868097985348803272014-03-25T14:57:08.099-04:002014-03-25T14:57:08.099-04:00Missing from the conversation was what most people...Missing from the conversation was what most people believe to be the best future for the neighborhood: to allow for residential uses but only if existing mix of non-residential uses are preserved as a result. <br /><br />No one thought housing above the Bell House, Royal Palms or Neptune Machine works was a bad idea if the result was that those businesses (jobs) would be preserved or redeveloped. <br /><br />New developments in Gowanus cannot locate residential on ground floor because of flood regulations so if we don't mandate one of the other color uses at sidewalk level, we'll be stuck with parking at grade like 4th avenue. <br /><br />Whole Foods is 70% a parking lot on our waterfront and 30% of a retail use. How sad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-38739495289269951892014-03-24T23:19:53.916-04:002014-03-24T23:19:53.916-04:00Katia is correct about the event being pretty scri...Katia is correct about the event being pretty scripted and Pratt Cntr directed. <br /> In many ways it made one think of either a REBNY development promo, or of being colonized. Neither of those groups allow for other opinions.<br /> Also mentioned is that with the coming of the 2 lg residential developments (approved by variance) further infrastructure support is needed (schools, NYPD, NYFD, health care, parks, etc).<br /> If the real point is actually source Affordable Housing placement, then the entire Gowanus Community should be prepared for not only the increased bulk, but the major changes throughout the district that will ultimately follow.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-39721953192231410562014-03-24T21:01:00.234-04:002014-03-24T21:01:00.234-04:00the largest question is that who represents the co...the largest question is that who represents the community? were the attendee a diverse mix? did they represent the demographic mix of the neighborhood?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-69776186147938172352014-03-24T20:40:34.999-04:002014-03-24T20:40:34.999-04:00I wonder if all the paid help from Pratt have come...I wonder if all the paid help from Pratt have come to the same conclusion.<br />They'll have to sharpen their act.<br /><br />TOMAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-19324151234976159972014-03-24T17:12:11.836-04:002014-03-24T17:12:11.836-04:00You are right on target, Katia!You are right on target, Katia!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-83454561436029781342014-03-24T16:11:46.053-04:002014-03-24T16:11:46.053-04:00I noticed that my table didn't have much famil...I noticed that my table didn't have much familiarity with Zone 1 and it occurred to me that one of the reasons there may be that this zone not been strong was part of Sara Gonzales' district. It is now part of Lander's redrawn district. I wonder how much outreach Brad's new constituents received, if any. Were they invited to participate in the previous meetings? Same goes for Steve Levin's former constituents who are now with Brad.<br /><br />I also got the sense that my table was being steered toward housing and away from manufacturing and commercial uses. There also doesn't seem to be a lot of concern for how our aging and failing infrastructure can support large scale development. And of course we are losing public transportation, parking, hospitals, libraries, and our schools are at or over capacity.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com