We are posting it here to encourage Gowanus residents to attend. It behooves all of us to make sure that such discussions on the proposed up-zoning do not get highjacked by Councilman Brad Lander and by organizations that claim to speak for the community, especially because some of them receive money from New York City and from developers.
Here is a description of the event:
The pressure is on – massive population displacement is forcing cities to develop areas that are scarred by 19th and 20th century industry, have insufficient infrastructure, or are at risk with the rapid environmental changes wrought by global warming. If we want to create sustainable and equitable development amongst these conditions, Designers must get political. An Architect, a Lighting Designer, an Activist, an Environmental Steward, and a Politician, present ongoing work, both realized and theoretical, happening in Gowanus Brooklyn, showing the potential for community-based and cross-disciplinary approaches to design and planning.
Speakers: Andrea Parker (Executive Director of the Gowanus Canal Conservancy), Catherine Zinnel Deputy Chief of Staff, New York City Council Member Brad Lander, David Briggs (Founder Gowanus By Design / Principal at Loci Architecture), Zac Martin (Founder of Trellis), Alexandra Pappas-Kalber (Part-time Faculty MFA Lighting Design / Principal at Sighte Studio)
Host: Francesca Bastianini (Part Time faculty, MFA Lighting Design / Principal at Sighte Studio)
Could Councilmember Lander and the organizations mentioned above still argue that the upzoning "offers a potential community-based approach to design and planning? "
Bridging Gowanus was advertised as "a community planning process to shape a sustainable, livable, and inclusive future for the Gowanus neighborhood-in the face of ongoing change, the Superfund clean-up, and real estate pressure."
Instead, it has now become clear that New York City's Gowanus Draft Zoning Proposal, which claims to have incorporated the community's wishes into account, is a big fat lie and a give-away to developers.
Nothing in the proposed upzoning guarantees us new schools, better infrastructure, studios for artists, or, most importantly, environmental remediation that would adequately address the fact that the City has no plans to capture the additional Combined Sewer Overflow that will continue to flow into the Gowanus Canal after the rezoning.
Neither does the plan address the ever worsening floods due to climate change which have caused billion dollar disasters in coastal cities like New York.
Nothing in the proposed upzoning guarantees us new schools, better infrastructure, studios for artists, or, most importantly, environmental remediation that would adequately address the fact that the City has no plans to capture the additional Combined Sewer Overflow that will continue to flow into the Gowanus Canal after the rezoning.
Neither does the plan address the ever worsening floods due to climate change which have caused billion dollar disasters in coastal cities like New York.
Gowanus Politics; Community Approaches To Designing Sustainable and Equitable Cities
THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019 AT 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
2 West 13th Street, Sky Room, L12012 West 13th Street, 10011, 12th floor
Additional reading:
Behold Landersville!: What Gowanus May Soon Look Like If The Neighborhood Rezoning Becomes Reality
Same As It Ever Was In Gowanus: It Is Clear That New York City Plans To Allow New Housing First, Deal With Extra Sewage Later.
Read more
Same As It Ever Was In Gowanus: It Is Clear That New York City Plans To Allow New Housing First, Deal With Extra Sewage Later.
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