City's Gowanus Online Mapping Feedback Tool Expands

GOWANUS, BROOKLYN — "Plan Gowanus," the Department of Planning's interactive website for taking feedback about the neighborhood's future, recently got a makeover and added some new features.

The tool, launched earlier this year, lets people place their ideas and thoughts — good or bad — on a map of the neighborhood that shows you other people's suggestions, too.

Now, the website pages for specific neighborhood issues — Arts and Culture, Community Resources, Housing, Industry and Economic Development, Public Realm, and Resiliency and Sustainability — along with a map for each of those, too.

For example, under "Public Realm," user Ptainsh dropped a recreation pin on 12th Street, near Third Avenue and said this: "This playground is surrounded by commercial properties. I think the land should be swapped and a new playground should be developed closer to the residential sections of Gowanus. There are air quality as well as safety and access issues with the current location."

On the "housing" map, you can suggest where you'd like to see more — or fewer — housing units in a certain area.

The website also provides details about working groups and meeting agendas. Click here to get started, and click around for a little bit.