Gowanus Rezoning: 'Still Critical Work To Do,' Lander Says

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — At the first City Council hearing to discuss the proposed Gowanus Neighborhood Plan, Council Member Brad Lander reiterated his support for demands from community organizers.

During Tuesday's six-hour-long meeting, Lander said he "remains strongly committed" to what he called three core demands put forward by the Gowanus Coalition for Justice, New York City Housing Authority tenant leaders and other community members.

"City Hall has not yet committed to an adequate funding package to address the dilapidated conditions that our neighbors in NYCHA's Gowanus Houses and Wyckoff Gardens continue to endure," Lander said.

That funding package is the first of the three demands. The second centers around ensuring the project does not add combined sewer overflow (CSO) pollution to the Gowanus Canal.

Instead, officials are asking that the City work with Superfund remediation to make the Canal cleaner and address flooding issues.

Lastly, Lander said he wants to see a commitment to long-term community oversight of the project.

"Council Member Levin and my terms are ending soon, and it is crucial that the community has a strong, enduring, meaningful voice in implementation to insure that commitments are kept," Lander said.

Officials are also working on other project details, Lander said, including investments in facilities like the Old Stone House and Pacific Street Library; support for artists, manufacturing businesses and workforce development and more public open space.

Despite the ongoing work on the proposal, Lander said the current version of the plan has been "dramatically improved" through community engagement, criticism and organizing.

"I continue to believe that — if we get it right, and there is still critical work to do — the Gowanus rezoning could... genuinely deliver a more inclusive, affordable, sustainable, and economically vibrant neighborhood, right at the time we need it," Lander said.