Best Comment Of The Day: Amazing Display Of Arrogance

Anonymous has left the following comment on the post "Mayor Bloomberg Holds Press Conference On NYC Water System Improvements Just Steps Away From A Very Foul Gowanus Canal":

"An amazing display of arrogance..How can a mayor that puts new "m[a]ndates" on its citizens for what we can eat, how much soda we can buy, where we drive, what we pay in rent, where we may smoke etc etc have the gall to complain about the federal government issuing mandates to enforce a 1972 law for the city to clean up its waters by getting the human sewage out.. just 6 more months of little general."

On A Day Of Massive Flooding In Gowanus, Local Politicians Ask City To Evaluate Hydrological Impact Of Large Elevated Sites Like Lightstone Group's In Flood Prone Area

Rendering of proposed Lightstone Group's Project on shore of Gowanus Canal
image credit: Lightstone Group

It would seem appropriate that on a day that saw heavy rains and flash flooding in the Gowanus area, our elected officials sent a letter to City Hall to ask if the "potential for adverse hydrologic impacts upon surrounding properties resulting from re-grading of large sites within flood hazards areas" has fully been investigated.

In the letter addressed to Deputy Mayors Cas Holloway and Robert Steele yesterday , Councilmember Lander, Congresswoman Velázquez and State Senator Montgomery specifically mention the 12 story, 700-unit Lightstone Group's project at 363-365 Bond Street.

Lightstone intends to re-grade their building site by raising the site of the development by two feet at First Street to address FEMA's recently released post-Sandy Advisory Base Flood Elevations and to comply with changes to the Building Code.

Since the Gowanus Canal was originally engineered to drain the upland marshland surrounding the canal in order to keep water away from residences in Carroll Gardens and Park Slope, this change in hydrology raises serious concerns about flooding and drainage in the Gowanus area. It may mean more problems for nearby residents, who deal with flooded basements on an regular basis.

Lander, Velazquez and Montgomery are asking City Planning "if re-grading could-even in a limited set of circumstances- lead to such impacts, how will such impacts be evaluated?
For example, would the Department Of Buildings confer with the Department of Environmental Protection before approving building permits for a re-graded site in a flood hazard area, such as that planned for 363-365 Bond Street?"

Further, Lander, Velazquez and Montgomery believe that " it would be better to bring all stakeholders to the table to develop a comprehensive plan for the infrastructure, flood protection, and land use regulations needed for a safe, vibrant, and sustainable Canal area. We should seize this opportunity to create an innovative model for low-lying, mixed-use waterfront areas on a warming planet."

It is encouraging that our Electeds recognize the hydrological impact to surrounding areas if developers like Lightstone's are allowed to re-grade the Gowanus area.

We need a new hydrological study before any new development moves forward.

Tonight, Share Your Thoughts On Priorities For Post-Sandy Rebuilding In Red Hook And Gowanus

(photo credit: Steven Miller)

This is a topic of interest to all of us in South Brooklyn.  How should we rebuild our waterfront communities after last October's Hurricane Sandy?  Tonight,  Mayor Bloomberg's Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency (SIRR) is hosting a meeting at PS 58 to get input from residents on pst-Sandy rebuilding priorities for Gowanus, Red Hook and Sunset Park. You will find all the details on the meeting below courtesy of Councilman Brad Lander's office, who will be attending tonight.

Four short months ago, Hurricane Sandy brought unprecedented destruction to New York City. The storm made our shared vulnerability all too clear, and brought home the frightening reality of climate change.

Many are still struggling to recover, contending with extensive storm damage, mold, and rats. Over 2,000 families are still displaced, living in SROs and hotels (sign on here to our petition calling on HUD to immediately issue housing vouchers to let them move into apartments).

While there is much more work to be done to help these households and communities, we must also start planning for our city’s resilience in the face of future storms. We need to make smart investments in sustainable infrastructure, learn from places like the Netherlands that have worked to adapt to the realities of sea level rise and climate change, pay attention to the inequalities the storm exposed, and build upon the remarkable volunteer relief efforts by including communities more deeply in planning.

In January, the Mayor launched the Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency (SIRR), which is working to develop recommendations for rebuilding the most impacted neighborhoods and protecting New York City from future climate risks. This Thursday, March 7 at 7:30 pm, representatives from SIRR will present their initial assessment of the Brooklyn Waterfront, followed by break-out sessions where you can give your input on priorities for rebuilding in Red Hook, Gowanus, and Sunset Park. I will be there, to listen to their presentation and hear your comments.

Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Recovery

Brooklyn Waterfront Public Workshop

Thursday March 7, 2013, at 7:30 pm

PS 58, 330 Smith Street at Carroll Street

RSVP:  to RSVPMarch7@nycsirr.org or 212-618-5745