On The Passing Of Gowanus Activist And Historic Preservationist Linda Mariano

Linda Mariano at Yesterday's News 2018

Dear Readers,

The news that Gowanus resident Linda Mariano has passed last night after a brief illness was shared amongst those who knew her with infinite sorrow.  This morning, it feels as if a huge empty space has opened up in the neighborhood, which she called home and loved so dearly.

To have known Linda will forever be one of the greatest privileges of my life. She could brighten the cloudiest day with her huge smile and laugh. She was a fearless activist, and passionate advocate for Gowanus. She always spoke truth to power and taught many that one never gives up fighting for what is right.  Over the years, she became a mentor to many of us and we all aspired to become just like her. She was fiercely loyal to her friends and her house was always open for a glass of wine, some food and stimulating discussions. 

Most neighborhood residents might remember her from Yesterday's News, the Court Street vintage store, where she worked on week-ends for many years.

Linda moved to Gowanus with her husband Joseph Mariano and daughter Rachel over 40 years ago from Manhattan. They bought a dilapidated house on President Street in the 1970's, which they lovingly restored into a welcoming home. They displayed a black and white photo of what the building had looked like when they first laid eyes on it, as a reminder of how they had saved this piece of neighborhood history.  In the spring, Linda would plant her window boxes with the brightest fuchsia geraniums, making the house the prettiest on the block.

Linda was one of the founding members of Friends Of Greater Gowanus (F.R.O.G.G.), a group that was founded in 2002 to safe the Green Building on Union Street near the canal when the old brick building was slated for demolition to make way for a high rise.
Together with F.R.O.G.G., Linda became a very vocal supporter of the Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund designation of the Gowanus Canal and was a founding member of the Gowanus Superfund Community Advisory Group after the designation in 2010.

However, as passionate as she was about the environment, it was preservation of the neighborhood that was always her main focus. She tirelessly worked with the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), the Historic Districts Council (HDC), and the NYS Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), to pursue historic designation of the Gowanus Corridor as an Urban Industrial District.

In 2019, because of her perseverance, five important Gowanus buildings were landmarked by New York City.  But of course, she wanted to save many more. It comes at no surprise that she vehemently opposed the massive rezoning for Gowanus which is currently being discussed.

On a personal note, I cannot express the deep sadness I feel at knowing that I will never sit around her kitchen table with other members of FROGG again,  envisioning a better and more sustainable future for the neighborhood than the plan cooked up by developers.  

She will forever be my role model, and I will try, in my way, to continue to make her Gowanus dreams a reality.

My deepest sympathy goes to her daughter, son-in-law and granddaughters, whom she loved passionately.

We share your sorrow.

To hear Linda tell her own story, please visit the Preservation Archive Project

Joseph and Linda Mariano at their home in 2009

With Marlene Donnelly and Bette Stoltz, receiving a Preservation League grant

As Miss Gowanus at a 2011 Gowanus Canal Flushing Tunnel Centennial Parade

Linda leading a Municipal Arts "Gowanus Jane's walk" 2016

Linda with Brad Vogel of Gowanus Landmarking Coalition in front of 

the Gowanus Station building in 2018

Linda Mariano of FROGG and Gowanus Landmarking Coalition

Gowanus' very own Jane Jacobs 2019

A very happy moment with FROGGS in 2019.

from left to right, Margaret Maugenest,  Marlene Donnelly, Linda Mariano and me.

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The Municipal Art Society Of New York's 'Jane's Walk 2016' Included A Fascinating Tour Of Gowanus Led By Long-Time Resident Linda Mariano

Linda Mariano, long time resident and guide of the Municipal Art Society Of New York's 'Jane Walk 2016 Gowanus'.

This past week-end, the Municipal Art Society Of New York organized more than 200 citizen-led neighborhood walks around New York City as part of the sixth annual Jane's Walk.

Inspired by activist and journalist Jane Jacobs, who authored The Death And Life Of Great American Cities in 1961, the walks are meant to get people to explore their city and connect residents to their communities.

One of the walks was organized by my good friend and long time Gowanus resident Linda Mariano, who is a passionate advocate of her neighborhood in her own right. The walk included a tour of the Gowanus Canal Pumping Station and Flushing Tunnel at Butler Street, a tour of J&M Special Effects at 524 Sackett Street and a visit to the Old Stone House at Washington Park, located at the corner of Third Street and 4th Avenue.

It was a fascinating look at Gowanus' history, industry and infrastructure.

The Gowanus Canal at Butler Street

Kevin Clarke. left, of NYC Department Of Environmental Protection explaining about the Gowanus Canal pumping station and flushing tunnel

The first stop on the walk was at the head of the 1.8 mile Gowanus Canal. Kevin Clarke, an environmental engineer for New York City's Department Of Environmental Protection, gave the group an overview of the facilities at Butler Street  that are designed to flush out and oxygenate the fetid canal by pulling in clean water from Buttermilk Channel.

The original flushing tunnel was completed in June 1911 but it relied on a huge steam-powered ship propellor that failed in the 1960's. For more than 30 years, the tunnel and the flushing mechanism lay in disrepair.  In 1999, the City refurbished and reactivate the system, but the attempt was less than successful.
Finally, in 2013, DEP began a thorough upgrade of both the tunnel and the flushing system.

The upgrade included significant improvements, which replaced the ship's propeller with vertical turbine pumps. All three pumps were switched on in May 2014. This new piece of infrastructure has increased the flow of fresh water into the canal from 150 million gallons a day to 215 gallons a day.

Allison Aaron of J&M Special Effects

The second stop of the Gowanus walking tour was a visit to J&;M Special Effects, a very unique business located in an old brick warehouse adjacent to the canal at Sackett Street.

J&M has been serving the entertainment industry since 1985, supplying the entertainment industry with pyrotechnics, smoke, rain, fire, wind, snow, and unique custom effects along with theatrical weapons, and blood.  J&M's effects are used in theaters, for films, TV, still photography and commercials and can currently been seen in 'The Crucible' on Broadway and in 'American Psycho'.

Co-owner and pyrotechnical Allison Aaron led the group around the facility and explained that this industry is highly regulated and finding a suitable location is difficult since the business needs to be in a self contained, free standing space, with high ceilings and lots of ventilation.
More importantly, proximity to the performing arts community it serves is crucial to its existence.

Gowanus has been home to J&M for the past 11 years and the business has clearly thrived here despite severe damage during Hurricane Sandy. (Parts of the building were under four and a half feet of water.) What will happen after J&M's lease runs out in 9 years? For the past several years, New York City and our Councilman Brad Lander have been talking about a Gowanus rezoning which would re-map a lot of industrial spaces for residential use.

It would be difficult to imagine Gowanus without businesses like J&M. One hopes that they will have a future in this neighborhood and will be allowed to grow in this City, despite the pressures of developers and politicians.

Kim Maier, Executive Director of The Old Stone House

The last stop on the Jane Walk 2016 tour of Gowanus was at the Old Stone House, a reconstructed 1699 Dutch farmhouse that was central to the Battle of Brooklyn. The house is located in Washington Park and JJ Byrne Playground, at the border of Gowanus and Park Slope.

Kim Maier, Executive Director of this historic site and museum, explained that the home was originally built in 1699 by the Vechte family, Dutch immigrants who farmed the land along Gowanus Creek and transported their produce to lower Manhattan. It was sold to the Cortelyou family in 1790 and in 1852, it was bought by Edwin Litchfield, a rich railroad developer.

The house became a significant landmark of the American Revolutionary war. On August 27, 1776, the first battle in the conflict between George Washington's Continental Army and the British took place right in front of its doorsteps.

A visit to the Old Stone House's museum is certainly worthwhile.  Don't forget to walk up the steps to see the long room upstairs and take time to admire the wonderful plantings in the small garden surrounding the house.


I would like to thank my friend Linda Mariano for allowing me to join her Gowanus tour.  Linda is a true inspiration to me.  She has been fighting to protect the integrity of Gowanus as a vibrant industrial neighborhood, has fought tirelessly for a thorough clean-up of the canal, and knows virtually everyone in the neighborhood.  I could not have imagined a better guide for this walking tour.
Linda, you are a modern day Jane Jacobs and my hero.  Keep on fighting!

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At Small Ceremony, Preservation League Of NYS Presents FROGG with Grant

Linda Mariano of FROGG reading a statement

from l. to r.: Erin Tobin of the Preservation League of NY, with FROGG members Marlene Donnelly, Linda Mariano, Bette Stoltz, Lisanne McTiernan and Lizzie Olesker

Founding FROGG Members Marlene Donnelly, Linda Mariano and Bette Stoltz

Lisanne McTiernan with Susan Golberg

Old map from c. 1839 of the Gowanus area showing the original creek, marsh and mill ponds.

John Vetter, EPA archeologist for the Gowanus Canal Superfund, Marlene Donnelly and Eymund Diegel

A deservedly proud Linda Mariano

from l. to r. Linda Mariano,NY State Senator Velmanette Montgomery, Marlene Donnelly, Eymund Diegel, Bette Stoltz and Leslie-Arlette Boyce, author of newly published The Glory Of Brooklyn's Gowanus

Erin Tobin of the Preservation League of New York State  presented a  $7,500 grant to The Friends and Residents of Greater Gowanus (FROGG) today at a lovely ceremony at the Old American Can Factory, 232 Third Street. The grant will be used to fund a survey of the industrial landscape surrounding the Gowanus Canal.

According to the Preservation League of NY: "This neighborhood, listed as a Six to Celebrate by the Historic Districts Council, has many landmarks and architecturally significant structures, including the Carroll Street Bridge, the oldest retractile bridge in the country. Buildings within the Greater Gowanus neighborhood include not only industrial structures, but also small laborer housing, and the area has retained much of its 19^th century industrial architecture and cultural heritage."

Linda Mariano, one of FROGG's founding members and tireless advocate for historic preservation of the Gowanus corridor stated:

"Acceptance of this grant comes with a great responsibility to complete our project "The Architectural Survey Of The Gowanus Canal Corridor". The purpose of the Survey is to authenticate the buildings, the vistas, the bridges and all else which may be discovered along the way that constitute a link to New York City's and the nation's industrial past.It is our hope that the Survey will justify the placement of the Gowanus Corridor on The National Register of Historic Places as an Urban Industrial District.The Gowanus Canal Corridor is the Gowanus Canal and the areas adjacent to the Canal, which contain many architecturally significant buildings that once formed the backbone of one of the nation’s most important industrial centers. Placement on the National Register will help preserve and protect those buildings which continue to growas a vibrant industrial sector, and to preserve and protect the remaining buildings to be conditioned for re-use and for new industry.There is a need for continuance of light industry in the GC Corridor. Most of the architecturally significant buildings are being used for noninvasive industry. FROGG and this community of caring people hope to maintain and sustain this need.  An additional outcome of the Survey will be to use the special district designation as a tool for preventing other kinds of zoning or even re-zoning .To work toward preservation rather than against it, to coordinate historic preservation policy with zoning. We could establish a citizen based planning process rather than so called "experts" who take the community out of community and transform our neighborhoods into an artificial landscape. Although some buildings are currently vacant, it does not mean they are useless. They can be adapted for future reuse.A special district gives us a sense of identity and a chance to preserve something of the past. It is an opportunity to share in community pride .We must preserve and protect the past for the future."

Personally, I would like to thank my friends at FROGG for their vision, for their tireless engagement and for their advocacy on behalf of the Gowanus Community.


And last, but not least, thank you to Joseph Mariano for sharing some bottles of his very own Vinum Nostrum, made right here in the Gowanus.  It was delicious.

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Celebrating A Giant Plumbing Device: Last Night's Gowanus Canal Flushing Tunnel Centennial Parade

100 years later, the Gowanus Still Smells

The original Gowanus Canal Celebration to observe the opening of the Flushing Canal was an elaborate affair back in June 21, 1911. Then mayor Mayor Gaynor attended with other dignitaries, speeches were made, businesses along the canal were decorated for the occasion and invited guests went down the canal in adorned vessels. There was also a parade and a young 9-year-old girl was crowned "Miss Gowanus."

That day, the new flushing Tunnel was ceremoniously put into action to "clean the dirty and the malodorous canal" by pumping fresh water from Buttermilk Channel into the industrial waterway.

One hundred years to the day later, a much smaller crowd took part in the Gowanus Canal Flushing Tunnel Centennial Celebration, but spirits were equally high as participants paraded from the flushing tunnel at Butler Street between Bond and Nevins, to the Union Street Bridge. This time, there was not one, but a few Miss Gowanus' on hand, including Linda Mariano, one of the founding members of Friends And Residents Of Greater Gowanus (FROGG). And as in the past, white lilies, symbols of purity, were thrown into the murky waters of the waterway with the hope that soon, the canal would be cleaner.

Ironically, the Gowanus was particularly malodorous on Tuesday night, and quite a few parade participants had to hold their nose while standing on the bridge.

The event's organizer, Angela Kramer Murphy of Proteus Gowanus pointed out the parallels between what happened a 100 years ago and today. "Back then, the Gowanus Canal smelled. The Gowanus still smells. Back then, people were debating about what to do about the Gowanus Canal" she said. "You could say that its kind of depressing that we are gathered here today to celebrate the anniversary of something and the Gowanus Canal still stinks, you could say that its a sign that no progress has been made. I like to look on the bright side and think that it's a great thing that I have so many people here to celebrate the 100th anniversary of a giant plumbing device."

The New York City Department Of Environmental Protection is currently updating the Gowanus Canal facilities, including the flushing tunnel and the pumping station. However, by the agency's own admission, the project will only reduce the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSOs), the major source of the foul odor, by 34 %.

Not good enough...and we, as a community, should demand that the city stop using the canal as an open sewer. Otherwise, we will still be holding our noses at the bicentennial celebration.

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