tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post7127061900243643340..comments2024-03-28T13:46:38.346-04:00Comments on Pardon Me For Asking: At Yesterday's BSA Hearing On Gowanus Whole Foods VarianceKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17882047670852126739noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-89181152777721100432011-12-30T20:14:24.129-05:002011-12-30T20:14:24.129-05:00I left the earlier message in support of the Whole...I left the earlier message in support of the Whole Foods project. I actually agree with you Margaret. The US does need more manufacturing and industry, but we've all watched manufacturing and industry deteriorate in the US over the past 20 years. Unbalanced trade brought on by cheap goods and even cheaper labor in foreign countries has left the US in a precarious position, with regard to manufacturing, that won't be easily reversed. The now vacant Whole Foods lot...is just that..a vacant lot in an area where gentrification can support the limited number of jobs that such a facility can provide. It's certainly not ideal, but has the potential to provide some measure of improvement to the community in a number of possible areas. I've read some articles, which suggest that Whole Foods often has to bargain their way into the neighborhood. For instance, at the Jamaica Plain store in Boston, MA, the Jamaica Plains Neighborhood Council proposed a "Community Benefits Agreement" with Whole Foods. Since the Company appears to want to become part of the neighborhood...Carroll Gardens/Gowanus should take this opportunity to help its own. Here's a copy of the report to the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council...interesting reading...http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/Ad%20Hoc%20WF%20Committee%20Report%20-%20June%2028%202011.pdf.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-30287513763889351912011-12-27T14:15:12.271-05:002011-12-27T14:15:12.271-05:00@10:13 You are perpetuating a myth that the Gowanu...@10:13 You are perpetuating a myth that the Gowanus Canal area is underutilized with abandoned warehouses. You could not be more wrong. As a matter of fact, current industry is THRIVING in Gowanus, because it is one of the LAST places zoned for Industrial manufacturing in the ENTIRE city. Any place that is empty around Gowanus is either charging too much or is warehousing. I know, because I interviewed many industries in Gowanus. Some wanted to expand but couldn't because rents were too high. Some were concerned that once their lease is up, gentrification will have taken hold of the area, and they have nowhere else to go. So your mischaracterization of Gowanus is either misinformed, or purposely misleading. Either way, you are doing a disservice to what this country needs more than any oversized food store planned in an inappropriate spot. This country needs manufacture and industry.Margaretnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-71325545807884029802011-12-26T22:13:29.662-05:002011-12-26T22:13:29.662-05:00I hope the project gets approved as well. Whole F...I hope the project gets approved as well. Whole Foods development of the canal area will improve the area & boost property values. There are enough abandoned warehouses in the neighborhood that could be converted to manufacturing uses if need be. The lack of manufacturing in the US is not the fault of Whole Foods.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-20088937171974912362011-12-17T09:26:51.965-05:002011-12-17T09:26:51.965-05:00self-imposed hardship (which is what WF did in get...self-imposed hardship (which is what WF did in getting this inappropriate site) should not be rewarded (by letting them build way big,etc) but exposed and discouragedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-5854667005579158122011-12-16T14:12:05.516-05:002011-12-16T14:12:05.516-05:00I can't fathom justifying Whole Foods being ab...I can't fathom justifying Whole Foods being able to get what it wants on the basis of hardships caused by the site. They should NEVER have considered this site in the first place. As a Gowanus resident of 30 years, I don't want them here. This is one of the last protected industrial/manufacturing zones in all of NYC. I know these comments have been made before. I just wonder where someone saying Whole Foods, Yay comes from - physically, how connected they are to the community, and to what is going on here politically.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-59865737824537832522011-12-15T17:54:25.205-05:002011-12-15T17:54:25.205-05:00Yay Whole Foods YAY!!Yay Whole Foods YAY!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-34724476415468395822011-12-15T16:55:26.912-05:002011-12-15T16:55:26.912-05:00advice to Whole fOODS MOVE ON.advice to Whole fOODS MOVE ON.NOTJUSTTHEMRShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15842577202128995764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-88862542300401760192011-12-15T12:53:48.986-05:002011-12-15T12:53:48.986-05:00Will the new bulkheads that Whole Foods plans to p...Will the new bulkheads that Whole Foods plans to put in stand up to the work that the EPA may carryout in the basin? Will Whole Foods be looking for even more give back form the community and taxpayers should the EPA action have an effect on the edge of their site? <br />And where is the financial "hardship" given the very generous state tax benefits they get under the brownfield program--isn't the state taxpayer covering 25% of the cost of this development with give-backs from the State Brownfield Program?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-88755733226673358282011-12-15T11:04:55.254-05:002011-12-15T11:04:55.254-05:00If the site is such a problem, why the hell did Wh...If the site is such a problem, why the hell did Whole Foods buy it in the first place?Jimnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-23113187313655297182011-12-15T02:10:20.730-05:002011-12-15T02:10:20.730-05:00I hate Whole Foods and hope this project gets axed...I hate Whole Foods and hope this project gets axed. I love my smaller stores and we don't need this behemoth. The artists are right - we need to protect the zoning as is. We need our industrial/manufacturing areas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-48222275399936114462011-12-14T22:28:50.264-05:002011-12-14T22:28:50.264-05:00So let me understand this: Because of the hardship...So let me understand this: Because of the hardships associated with building on this site, Whole Foods needs huge variances. What happened to just NOT BUILDING ON A SITE that is that troublesome? Seriously, I would not put Whole Foods and hardship in the same sentence. Really.<br />'Look mum, when I put my hand in the fire, it hurts!' <br /><br />The response to that is so very OBVIOUSLY to call the fire truck. Feh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36892255.post-84453643945717117782011-12-14T20:34:46.850-05:002011-12-14T20:34:46.850-05:00I love Whole Foods -- I hope this project gets app...I love Whole Foods -- I hope this project gets approved!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com