Gowanus Whole Food Gets Topped With Greenhouses

The new Whole Foods Market at Third Street and Third Avenue in Gowanus is still slated for a grand opening in 2013, according to a banner that was hung on the new organic supermarket late last week.

Construction has moved ahead swiftly in recent months and the 20,000-square-foot greenhouse, the "nation’s first commercial scale greenhouse farm integrated within a retail grocery space," is currently going up.

The greenhouse has been designed, built and will be operated by Gotham Greens, in partnership with Whole Foods.  The rooftop greenhouses will apparently be fully operational when the organic market opens later this year. Gotham Green intends to grow premium quality, pesticide-free produce on the rooftop all year round, which will "create a variety of green collar jobs and economic development opportunities in the Brooklyn area."

According to Whole Foods Market's web site: 

"The specially designed rooftop farm will include advanced irrigation systems that use up to 20 times less water than conventional farming as well as enhanced glazing materials and electrical equipment to reduce overall energy demand. Based on the farm’s proximity to Whole Foods Market stores in New York City, the project will eliminate long distance food transport and its associated emissions, while ensuring product freshness, quality and nutrition for thousands of customers in the area."

In related news, the public access area of the Whole Foods Gowanus 2.15 acre is also being worked on. Wooden benches have already been delivered and assembled on site.

And one more thing: the long-neglected landmarked Coignet building at the corner of Third Avenue and 3rd Street, which is now completely framed by the Whole Foods store, may finally be getting some attention. Last Thursday, when I walked by, the door was open and someone was walking in and out.