Last week there was a community board meeting where the plans were revealed and local residents were asked to submit their comments. Those who love the historic, industrial quality of the Gowanus area are up in arms. They don’t want to see the condo-ization of that area for a variety of reasons. As reported on Curbed (where the pictures are also from):
The project would include 577 units of housing, 2,000 square feet of retail and 2,000 square feet of community space on three acres, among other things. The property between the Canal, Bond Street, Carroll Street and Second Street. Buildings would be 4-12 stories in height, with the tallest structure (125 feet) being near the canal. The project would total 605,380 square feet and include 260 underground parking spaces. There would be .6 acres of “publicly accessible waterfront” and 130 of the units of housing would be affordable.
Pardon Me for Asking had this report:
David Von Spreckelsen, of the Toll Brothers came to the C.B. 6 Land Use/Landmark Committee last night to present the plans for the 450 Unit development the company has planned for the shores of the Gowanus Canal. Mr. Von Spreckelsen brought along his crew of professionals to back him up: attorneys, engineers, an environmental consultant, an architect and a landscape architect, to name just a few.
Listening to them speak enthusiastically about this project and looking at their pretty pictures, it becomes clear that these people are good, very good, indeed, at the hard sell. Oh, it all looks so good and sounds so wonderful. The architect used phrases such as ” the flow of the canal,” “the feel of the street,” and ” the rhythm of the townhouses.”
How can we resist? Why wouldn’t we beg the Toll Brothers to build this development? Please, please…
And then, the landscape architect presented his drawings of “Canal Park” and talked about Bond Street being treated with “grace” and “celebrates the history of the place” at which point my husband turned to me and said: “This guy is so full of s–t, it’s unbelievable,” and I am thrown back into reality.
Yes, these guys are good. They have done these presentations before. They have dealt with skeptical Community Boards before. They have faced hostile residents. And they know how to gloss over minor details like where will all that flood water by the canal go and how much the 130 affordable apartments will rent for.
Gowanus Lounge has more pictures of what the Toll Brothers are talking about.