"Tomorrow’s Yesterdays: Historic Districts of the Future": A Panel Hosted By Historic Districts Council

"Tomorrow’s Yesterdays: Historic Districts of the Future"

March 18, 6:30 PM

ShapeShifter Lab

18 Whitwell Place

Gowanus

The Historic Districts Council, an advocacy organization for all of New York City’s historic neighborhoods, is launching its 2015 Annual Preservation Conference Series throughout the month of March. The focus of this year's conference is a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the New York City Landmarks Law.

This year’s conference consists of three panels, one of which is entitled "Tomorrow’s Yesterdays: Historic Districts of the Future". It will take place in Gowanus and will, in part, focus on preservation of industrial buildings such as the ones that can be found in this mostly manufacturing neighborhood.

From HDC:

When Brooklyn Heights was designated the very first New York City historic district in 1965, the architectural styles found there exemplified the types of buildings that the Landmarks Preservation Commission saw as worthy of protection. While protecting classic Federals and grand rowhouses has never gone out of style, over the past 50 years, the question of what types of buildings can be landmarked has slowly been re-examined. 

Beginning in 1973 with the designation of the SoHo-Cast-Iron District, acceptance has slowly warmed to the potential diversity of historic districts, including with vernacular or industrial buildings. This panel will include a presentation of the evolution of historic districts by architectural historian Francis Morrone, before considering the issues of the present and future. The panelist, urban planner Paul Graziano, Gowanus advocate Marlene Donnelly and Ward Dennis, Columbia University professor and Brooklyn Community Board 1 member, will discuss potential historic districts, technological and bureaucratic strategies for looking ahead, and questions such as Can Gowanus ever be designated? and Is there a place for a historic district in suburban Queens?

Tickets for this panel are $20 and can be purchased here.

All information about the conference and other panels, click here.

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Bravo To Organizers Of Sunday's TEDx Gowanus Event

Skull of Sludgie the Whale, who died in the Gowanus Canal

TEDx Gowanus organizer Sean Gannet

Joseph Alexiou: "The most important swamp in American history"

T.M. Rives: "What the sale of Manhattan doesn't tell us about Native Americans"

Marlene Donnelly: "The Case for Gowanus: National Registry of Historic Places"

Proteus Gowanus: "Collaborative Art and Historical Inspiration"

Joselin Linder: "Stopping a genetic disorder in its fourth generation"

Ate Atema: "Street Creeks: A Call to Action"

Natalie Loney: "Inside a New York City Superfund"

Monica Byrne: "Changing the Disaster Relief Paradigm"

Coney Island River Rats's Lenny Speregen

John D'Aquino of Coney Island River Rats: Dive into the Gowanus Canal

Calloway's Salon: Cabaret improvisation

I had only intended to stay for part of the TEDxGowanus event held this past Sunday at The Green Building and 501 Union Street, but the speakers were so compelling, the different subjects so fascinating, that I ended up staying all day.  The focus of the talks was "Inspiring Community" and inspiring it was.

Though many of the 9-minute speeches focused on the history of Gowanus, it's legacy as an urban industrial waterway, the challenges of addressing the pollution in the canal, and its rebirth as an incubator for small businesses, there were stories of personal journeys, global challenges and advances in science that will surely affect all of us.

Add to that footage of an actual dive into the Gowanus Canal and a fake German guy in Lederhosen, and this was the place to be yesterday.

When it was all done, there was an after party and a chance to continue the conversation at Royal Palms.

How can you beat it?

I would like to thank TEDx Gowanus organizers Sean Gannet, Stone Dow, and Joseph Alexiou for bringing this event to Gowanus. It is exactly this all-encompassing conversation we need to have to help shape the neighborhood's future.

Well done, guys!

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TEDxGowanus' Official Speaker Line-Up For This Sunday's Event

"We are passionate about bringing TEDx to Gowanus because this area is a perfect representation of the culture, innovation, and change that are dominating the new Brooklyn landscape" –Sean Gannet, Organizer TEDxGowanus.

TEDxGowanus, an independently organized TED event, will be held this Sunday, January 26th, 2014 at The Green Building and 501 Union Street in GowanusThe theme of this all-day event is "Inspiring Community". It will bring together area designers, entrepreneurs, artists, historians, and community leaders to share ideas and discuss a full range of topics from the neighborhood's history, industry, ecology, to evolution.

Organized and presented by Sean Gannet, Stone Dow, and Joseph Alexiou, this conversation about Gowanus will feature an impressive list of over twenty speakers, some of whom are probably familiar to many in Gowanus.

Below find the speaker line-up and the schedule for Sunday.

SESSION 1: ORIGINS, 12:15—1:45pm

Joseph Alexiou, The most important swamp in American history
T.M. Rives, What the sale of Manhattan doesn't tell us about Native Americans
Marlene Donnelly, The Case for Gowanus: National Registry of Historic Places
Andrew Gustafson, Why the Baseball Hall of Fame Belongs in Brooklyn

Kate Orff, Rebuilding eco-infrastructure: Marine Gardening with Blue Mussels
Proteus Gowanus, Collaborative Art and Historical Inspiration
Joselin Linder, Stopping a genetic disorder in its fourth generation
Break 2:00—3:00

SESSION 2: IMMERSED, 3:00—4:40pm

Coney Island River Rats, LIVE DIVE OF THE GOWANUS!
Ate Atema, Street Creeks: A Call to Action
Natalie Loney, Inside a New York City Superfund
Monica Byrne, Changing the Disaster Relief Paradigm
Calloway's Salon, A delicious romp through debauchery and laughter with a tune or two
Rachel Fershleiser, Why I <3 bookternet="" br="" the="">Reggie Ossé, Hip Hop: From Counter Culture To Popular Culture

Dinner Break 4:45—6:15

SESSION 3: #GOWANUSINSPIRED, 6:15—8:00pm

Leah Selim, Food is more than culture, it's diplomacy
Pete Raho, Bringing back the American manufacturing sector
Councilmember Brad Lander, Democracy in Local Budgeting
Susannah Drake, Designing a Sponge Park
Eymund Diegel, Unearthing the Ghost Streams of Gowanus's past
Ed Woodham, Public Art, Private Awakening
Blind Ear Music, Live and improvised composition and performance

Cocktails and Conversation at ROYAL PALMS

The event has been sold out for a while. If you did not score tickets for TEDxGowanus, no worries. The entire event will be live streamed.  Or you can attend one of the viewing parties.  Click here for the info.

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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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From Russia With Hope: Delegation Visits The Gowanus Canal

Russian Delegation visiting the Gowanus Canal with members of the US EPA Washington and New York Region 2 offices as part of the United States-Russian Bilateral Presidential Commission's Environmental Working Group

(4th from left is Christos Tsiamis, EPA Gowanus Project Manager, then me,  second from right is Marlene Donnelly of FROGG, and first from the right is Natalie Loney, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator)

Proteus Gowanus

A sample of Gowanus Water at Proteus

The Old American Can Factory

Aerial view of the Gowanus Canal area from the rooftop of the Old American Can Factory

Photo-op

On Friday, December 3rd, a delegation of Russian Federal and Regional administrators toured the Gowanus Canal as part of the United States-Russian Bilateral Presidential Commission. The Commission was created in July 2009 by President Obama and President Medvedev of the Russian Federation to recognize common national interests and to coordinate relations amongst various agencies of both countries. This particular delegation was part of the Working Environmental Group and was here for technical exchange and training on the US Environmental Protection Agency's experience in management of hazardous waste.

The delegation first spent a few days in EPA's Washington office to learn about the Superfund program and then traveled to New York where Christos Tsiamis, EPA's Gowanus Canal Project Manager gave a presentation on his work. The presentation was followed by a visit to the polluted waterway.

Marlene Donnelly of FROGG and I had been invited to join the tour by Christos Tsiamis and Natalie Loney, EPA Community Involvement Coordinator, to speak about community involvement.

Currently, the Russian Federation is in the process of creating its own environmental program to address past environmental damage. Therefore, understanding the complexities and decision-making process of the Superfund program as it relates to the Gowanus Canal was of particular interest to the delegation.

The tour started on DeGraw Street, then proceeded to the Union Street Bridge. The next stop was Proteus Gowanus at 543 Union Street where Sasha Chavchavadze, the founder and director, welcomed the delegates in Russian and talked about Gowanus' vibrant artist community. The group toured the gallery's Hall Of The Gowanus and its display of art, artifacts, books and maps pertaining to the canal's history.

The tour continued on to the the Old American Can Factory at the corner of Third Avenue and Third Street. The old manufacturing building is home to over 200 people who work in the creative industry. Nathan Elbogen, its founder, accompanied the group to the building's rooftop to give them an aerial overview of the Gowanus Canal. Christos Tsiamis took the opportunity to point out the Whole Food site and the cement companies along the waterway.

I would like to thank Christos Tsiamis and Natalie Loney for inviting me to join the group on its tour. As always, it was fascinating to hear about the EPA's work on the canal.

It was a great pleasure to meet members of the Russian delegation.

Members Of The Russian Delegation

1. Vygon, Grigory Vladimirovich, Director, Office of Economics and Finances, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation

2. Nefediev, Nikolai Borisovich, Deputy Director, Deputy Director, Office of State Politics and Regulations in Environmental Protection and Environmental Security, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation


3. Burkanova, Olga Anatolievna, Office Director, Department of State Politics and Regulations in Environmental Protection and Environmental Security, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation

4. Sahno, Elena Vladimirovna, Referent, Referent, Office of Control and Execution, Department of Business and Human Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation

5. Krivov, Ravil Alexeevich, Referent, Office of Economics and Finances, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation

6. Shpinkov, Viachslav Igorevich, Senior Specialinst/Expert, Office of International Cooperation, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation

7. Sergeeva, Daria Alexandrovna, Assistant Director, Office of Economics and Finances, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation

8. Ishutin, Vadim Borisovich, Deputy Chairman of Committee on Property and Duty of Voronezh Duma, Voronezh Regional Duma

9. Berlin, Jan Ernestovich, Deputy Head Administration of Nenetz Autonomous District on Infrastructure Development

10. Kungurtsev, Sergei Stanislavovich, Lead Consultant, Department of International and Inter-regional Relations, Information, and Mass-communications, Administration of Nenetz Autonomous District

11. Barsukov, Vladislav Valerievich, Director, Office of International Relations, “Ecobezopasnost” Institute

12. Kuznetsov, Dmitry Alexandrovich, Deputy Director, Office of International Relations, “Ecobezopasnost” Institute

13. Chernov, Alexander Efimovich, Minister, Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning of Kaluga Region

14. Vasutin, Alexander Sergeevich, Deputy Head of Representation of the Government of Kaluga Region in the Government of the Russian Federation, Representation of Government of Kaluga Region in the Government of the Russian Federation, Office of Representative of the Government of Kaluga Region in the Government of the Russian Federation

15. Sychev,Yury Fedorovich, Advisor to Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctic, State Duma

16. Nicolaev Venedict Venedictovich, Director, “Ecobezopasnost” Institute

17. Agranovsky, Alexander, Director General, “GreenTeam” Ltd

18. Bratchikov, Alexander, Embassy of the Russian Federation

19. Shamrai, Pavel, Embassy of the Russian Federation

Interpreters:
Svetlana Guggenheim, RussianWorks, Inc.
Anna Mazurova, RussianWorks, Inc.

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