State Senator Squadron's Testimony On The Gowanus Rezoning

Dear Reader, I thought you may be interested to read the testimony of our Sate Senator Daniel Squadron before the Department of City Planning regarding the Draft Scope of Work for the Environmental Impact Study for the proposed Gowanus area rezoning.

State Senator Squadron's Testimony

This rezoning is only one piece of the puzzle. Consideration of this area along the Gowanus Canal should be part of a more comprehensive process that includes the vulnerable neighborhood of Carroll Gardens and goes as far as the Columbia Waterfront. This area -- from the canal to the waterfront -- is historically, architecturally and culturally connected. While I feel that expediency in the rezoning of each is positive, it is critical to understand the entire context; this process should include it all.

Additionally, I want to ensure that this rezoning is conducted responsibly. I support the creation and maintenance of mixed-use zoning along the Gowanus. The Gowanus has the potential to build on its manufacturing history with integrated and contextual residential, commercial and light manufacturing.

But it must be done right; I have a number of concerns.

The first of these is environmental. The Gowanus Canal and the land in the surrounding area are heavily polluted and we are long overdue for a thorough cleanup. We cannot move forward with development in this neighborhood without addressing the environmental realities of both the water and the land, and without plotting a clear path to cleaning the canal and the surrounding area. This includes addressing infrastructure problems such as the combined sewage overflows, which will only increase with new construction and habitation. As we continue to discuss how this community will develop, we cannot ignore these issues and we cannot delay our response.

The canal itself is the jewel of this area and will become even more of a resource when it is clean and properly maintained. Neighbors and community leaders have been fighting for a clean waterway for decades, and it is crucial that we work toward open and public access to the water for members of the local community. We must plan now for open space along the canal and within future developments. To that end, I applaud City Planning for the addition of a Waterway Access Plan to the draft scope. We cannot underestimate the importance of carving out clear and concrete open space requirements early on in this process. As we all know, it is easier to preserve open space we currently have than to reclaim it after development has gone up.

I am also encouraged by City Planning’s inclusion of affordable housing incentives. I am deeply committed to creating and preserving affordable housing in New York City, and the Gowanus corridor provides an opportunity to realize much-needed affordable and middle-class housing here in our community. One concern I have is that increased residential development in the neighborhood will further strain the capacity of local schools. With this proposed rezoning, the Department of City Planning estimates that over 3,200 residential units may be constructed by 2018. As we study the impacts of the proposed rezoning, I urge the Department of City Planning to consider carefully the impact on local school seats and the capacity of the schools, based on accurate assessments of the actual catchment areas of nearby schools.

Finally, as we move forward in this long process, I stand by my strong commitment to transparency and community input. The voices of those who already live and work along the Gowanus must be heard and their input considered. As a Carroll Gardens resident, I know how active and involved the community has been. As we work together, as agencies, elected officials and community leaders, we must remember the community's role in shaping the future of this neighborhood. Residents and community organizations have a wealth of knowledge and can give vital input about proposed plans for the neighborhood--I listen to them, and I hope you will too.

I look to City Planning as a partner in moving forward with an open, transparent process that includes ample dialogue with the local community -- and includes rezoning of surrounding areas as part of the same process or at the same time.