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What is the Gowanus Neighborhood Planning Study?

About the Department of City Planning

The Gowanus Neighborhood Planning Study seeks to foster a thriving neighborhood by reinforcing and encouraging a robust local economy anchored by a mix of uses and businesses, while creating opportunities for new housing with affordable housing in appropriate locations.

The study will examine ways to balance the range of issues and needs in Gowanus by seeking to:

• encourage and expand neighborhood services and amenities

• improve streetscapes and pedestrian safety

• explore incentives to preserve and develop space for job-generating uses, including arts, cultural and creative sectors

• promote opportunities for new housing with affordable housing and protect residential tenants against harassment and displacement

• coordinate necessary infrastructure improvements throughout the area to support the continued cleanup of the Gowanus Canal and to accommodate existing and future needs

Study Goals

Stay in Touch!Email: gowanus@planning.nyc.govPhone: 718-780-8280Website: nyc.gov/gowanus

The Department of City Planning (DCP) is New York City’s primary land use agency and is instrumental in designing the City’s physical and socioeconomic framework. DCP’s ambition is to make all of New York a better place to live, to maintain what works and improve what doesn’t.

1. NYCHA Wyckoff Gardens Development

2. Homes and businesses on Union Street

3. City-Owned Public Place

5. 4th Avenue

4. Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Business Zone

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Gowanus PLACES Study Area

Southwest BrooklynIBZ

NYCHA

Context Map

Gowanus Timeline and Process

Update and gather input on

working group process from CB 6

JAN 2017

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● Community event on framework

● Gather feedback & ongoing community engagement

● Site specific planning discussions

● CSO Facility Design Review

● Public Place

● Develop draft zoning proposal and move the

framework forward into a draft Neighborhood Plan

Develop Planning

Framework

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Draft Neighborhood Plan

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Public Review and

Implementation

Update to CB 6 on study launch &

process feedback

DEC 2016

Gowanus EXPO Event

MAY 2017

Presentation to CB 6

NOV 2017

Presentation to CB 6

JUNE 2017

Working Groups

The Department of City Planning and relevant City agencies worked with residents

and community stakeholders to develop specific recommendations that meet Study

goals in five Working Groups. Above, each dot represents a working group meeting.

Housing

Arts and Culture

Public Realm

Industry and Economic Dev.

Sustainability and Resiliency

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Presentation to CB 6

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WE ARE HERE!

Gowanus: A Framework for a Sustainable, Inclusive,Mixed-use NeighborhoodThe framework is a road map for Gowanus to become a sustainable, model green neighborhood where a wholly unique resource – the Canal – can thrive and play an active role in promoting equitable and sustainable growth.

• Promoting a more resilient future, where buildings and infrastructure are designed to manage flood risk today and into the future

• Increasing public open space that is green and resilient along the Canal and capitalizing on opportunities to green public spaces throughout the area

• Creating new job-generating space and fostering a mix of uses within the neighborhood so that residents can live, work, create, play and shop, and all users can reach their destinations by walking, bicycling or other means

• Promoting new, denser housing - creating and preserving affordable housing - and improving public housing near public transit will reduce energy use and carbon footprint

• Improving access to new jobs, training opportunities and other resources that support social, economic and environmental resiliency in the community

• Improving mobility and safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers on streets and public areas

• Planning for meeting the infrastructure and community resources needs of a growing neighborhood

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‘Plan Gowanus’ Online Engagement Platform

What is Plan Gowanus? Spotlight: Map Your Neighborhood Tool

Here’s a sample of thoughts and ideas we’ve heard...

Among the different interactive tools is ‘Map Your Neighborhood’ which allows users to place pins on a map and add comments for what they like or what needs improvement in Gowanus and the nearby area. Since launching, 85 contributors have placed 221 pins and comments on the interactive maps.

In April 2017, the Department of City Planning (DCP) piloted an online engagement platform called Plan Gowanus to broaden public participation through interactive tools and a user-friendly interface. Input provided on the website, together with feedback gathered through public meetings and other outreach, was used by DCP and other city agencies to create the planning and land use framework.

In addition to the framework, the site contains sub-pages for each of the working groups and the documents that were shared, summaries of past public meetings and general information about the study and its goals. As of June 2018, the site has received nearly 12,500 total page visits with an average of 30-40 daily visitors.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the engagement tools. We want to hear your ideas and feedback on the framework! In conjunction with the framework release, visit Plan Gowanus to provide input using the ‘Ideas’ tool.

• Do you have ideas and suggestions to improve the framework? What goals and strategies would you change, add or remove?

• How can we implement these specific goals and strategies? What partnerships would make Gowanus more of an inclusive, mixed use neighborhood?

Plan Gowanus Homepage

Screenshot of Mapping Tool

“Sewer on this corner is always backed up during rain storms.”

“It would be great if the PS 118 playground was open to the public during non-school hours the same way that PS 321 makes its playground accessible to the community. JJ Byrne is a few blocks and an avenue to the north, but the kids further south don't have any access to play-grounds...”

“we enjoy lunch while looking at machinery working across the canal. kids love it!”

“Light manufacturing mixed with commercial warehouse properties are a vital part of the neighbor-hood. This block contains several small businesses... This is not a dilapidated block that needs redevelopment, it is literally what makes Gowanus the neighborhood that it is.”

“This corner is extremely danger-ous to cross. Cars take very sharp and fast turns here, blocks away from PS 118, MS 51, JJ Byrne and the community complex that is formed by the Old Stone House and Washington Park...”

“Larger, mixed-use buildings should be located along 3rd Avenue, oriented so there is minimal disruption to the east-west view corridors.”

“As traffic on Union (and in the neighborhood) increases I would love to see more trash/recycle receptacles & dog poop bag stations...”

“Jane Laundromat... It is at risk of being lost along with other local afford-able small businesses, if care is not taken in the rezoning plan to protect the needs of long term, low income residents and businesses that already exist in Gowanus.”

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“The unique character of this area steams from the mix of

manufacturing and arts spaces and their interplay with

surrounding housing and retail/commercial uses, and its existing ability to provide both

jobs and residences.”

“I know people think it's ugly but I like the Lowe's espla-nade: it's crappy enough that it doesn't draw attention to itself and provides a nice spot to sit and watch the recycling sorting across the canal.”

“Brooklyn Glass is a 4,000 square foot artist owned glass studio, a unique resource for artists and craftsmen working in New York City area, promoting glass blowing, neon, lampworking, fusing... More of this in Gowanus please!”

A volunteer-run emerging-artist complex with gallery & studio spaces, plus woodworking, printmaking & metal shops for artists and fabricators. Cool stuff happens here.“Giant Lowe's roof could

use solar panels or green roof or both...”

“Street lighting is not designed to accommodate the bridge

structure, creating dark corners and pathways - this feels very

unsafe at night.”

“Green Space/Residential Mixed Use Building . Could Also make an excel-

lent location for a school due to the close proximity to F&G trains.”

“This area should be developed with parks and open space for

outdoor arts... Some housing is okay, but we can't add housing

without adding parks.”

“Thomas Greene Park is a rare oasis of trees and greenscape... I hope accessible park and open space increases with the rezoning and remedia-tion of the canal.”

“The sidewalks here on 4th Ave. are in bad condition and uneven... it would help to beautify the area (and increase stormwater absorption) ...”

“Someone needs to install stop-lights or stop signs on Bond

(between 3rd street and union) before someone gets hit by a car. Cars go way too fast and people

crossing the street can't see them...

“Carroll Street Bridge. The historic landmark bridge is

fantastic - one of my favorite parts of the neighborhood... A

human-scale landmark that people enjoy - it opens up the

neighborhood by providing unique vistas.”

“The green enamel tile on the bridge building is a lovely

seafoam green, echoing the color of the waters of the

Gowanus... Small flourishes like enamel tile displays pride

in our civic infrastructure.”

“Great Historic Structure here, the wall and the stone sign on the building.”

“Re-open the First Street Basin. This former arm of the canal, currently chock full of debris, should be excavated and re-opened. This is part of the Superfund plan, but the city should plan for it as well.”

“When the water level of the Gowanus rises during storms,

adding more greenery and land mass that absorb part of the

rainfall can help quell residential flooding, and is another step

towards sustainable and responsi-ble development.”

LegendPrimary Study Area

Context AreaSouthwest BrooklynIndustrial Business Zone (IBZ)

Recommendation orComment Topic

Land Use & Zoning

Parks & Open SpaceStreets & TransportationSustainability & ResiliencyLocal Pride & CharacterHistoric Preservation & Reuse

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