2005 Gowanus Canal Comprehensive Community Plan-draftplan

Gowanus Canal ComprehensiveCommunity Plan

See it. Shape it. Share it. Ferrandino & Associates Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn Langan Engineering ACP Visioning and Planning March 29, 2005

Gowanus Canal Gowanus Canal Comprehensive Comprehensive Community PlanCommunity Plan

Draft PlanMarch 29, 2005



Introduction Green CommunityTwo DistrictsSpecial Community Features






An Historic Mixed Use Community

Geographic and historic links to water and surrounding mixed uses




Industrial, commercial, retail, and residential successfully intermingled

This is the community’s strength it should be reflected in the 21st

century Gowanus




Organize the future around efforts to remediate the environmental errors of the past

Community-wide commitment is an investment that returns increased ecological capital



DESIGN PRINCIPLES

– Retain what makes Gowanus unique (its history and its mix of uses)

– Utilize the canal as a public amenity– Improve and increase Gowanus’ public spaces– Retain and improve the industrial/commercial

district to the south– Reinforce the mixed-use district (residential,

commercial, and industrial) to the north– Encourage adaptive reuse of existing buildings– Initiate a community-wide “green” initiative






Green Community • New York’s first sustainable green community (more than a single building)

• The philosophy and goal that distinguishes Gowanus from other communities

• Recognizes the health of the Canal is critical to all who live, work and visit: all must contribute

• It is the cause that binds everyone in Gowanus together



Green Community

Public Sector contributions

• Storm water system• Pumping Station and Flushing Tunnel• Bulkhead repairs• Brownfield regulations and grants• Recycling• Renewed and maintained infrastructure: water, sewer, streets, public space, street lighting• Transit system and station• Regulations for sustainable development, redevelopment and construction• Enforcement of regulations



Green Community

Private Sector Contributions

• Repair and Maintenance of Buildings– Voluntary compliance with sustainable

materials and techniques

•Technology and Water Conservation– Continue Cooper Union & Columbia

University initiatives

•New Construction and Rehab & Reuse of Buildings

– Using sustainable materials and methods

– Participate in LEED program (leadership in energy and environmental design)

– Encourage reuse rather than demolition and new construction



Green Community

Implementation

• Create a Special Zoning District– With City Planning, combine mixed

uses, bulk regulations and sustainability

• Seek Funding From Multiple Sources

• Establish a Managing Entity– Leadership, education, enforcement,

resources (financial, people, techniques), liaison with public sector






Two Districts



South DistrictIndustrial Zone

Characterized by large blocks, large buildings, and water related industries

south district



Empire Zone

existing empire zone

south district



Empire Zone

existing empire zone

Empire Zone has special incentives to encourage economic development, job creation, and business expansion

Businesses operating inside a zone are eligible for a range of tax benefits that are applied against new capital investments

Benefits include:• Tax reduction credits • A credit for property taxes paid• A sales-tax exemption on the purchase of property or services used by the business

• A tax credit for business taxes paid• Wage tax credits• Utility rate reductions• EZ Investment Tax and Employment Incentives Credit• Technical assistance from qualified professionals

Companies in the Zones retain benefits for up to 10 years, with additional savings available on a declining basis in years 11 through 15



South district

IndustryCommercialRetail



Industrial streets



• Characterized by large blocks, large buildings, and water related industries

• Promote mixed uses by encouraging and permitting industrial, commercial and retail

• Promote and encourage reuse of existing industrial buildings

• Promote water related industrial and commercial uses

• Seek environmentally oriented industrial & commercial uses

• Provide modern industrial circulation system

South District



South District

Special Opportunities

Smith and 9th

Public Place

2nd avecorridor



Special OpportunitySmith and 9th Street

– Adjacent to transit– A lot of traffic– Currently

underutilized– Adjacent industrial

uses



Smith and 9th street four corners developed with retail and services to complement transit users (activity center)

Activities developed under the viaduct (public market, recreation)



Station rehabilitated with ground level retail

Potential for restaurant on upper level of transit station

Provide entrance/exit to the east





Special Opportunities2nd Ave corridor

2nd Ave is center with industrial uses concentrated between 9th

Street, 3rd Ave, and the Canal



Rehabilitate the infrastructure to service industrial operations

Promote reuse of existing underutilized structures

Special industrial infrastructure study and plan



Special industrial infrastructure study and plan

Support expansion grants for existing and new industries



Special OpportunityPublic Place

Publicly owned land

Needs remediation

Underutilized warehouse



Development opportunity dependent upon remediation required



Concrete batching plant blocking access to water



Relocate Concrete Batching Plant



OptionUnrestricted Use

Access to water

RetailHousingCultural RecreationEducation



OptionCommercial Use

Access to water

RetailCommercialIndustrial research and servicesRecreation



North DistrictMixed-use zone

Characterized by smaller blocks and smaller building types

north district



North District

Small industry



North District

Housing



North District

Local retail and commercial



North DistrictMixed-use zone

• Characterized by smaller blocks and smaller building types

• Promote mixed uses by encouraging and permitting enclosed light industry, local retail and commercial and infill contextual residential

• Rehabilitation and reuse of existing buildings is encouraged

• New development to be contextual

•Commercial and recreational water uses encouraged

•Public space expanded and connected

•Establish public space on and along canal

•Encourage pedestrian circulation and bike paths

•Special treatment of turning basins



North District

Street Ends

Pedestrian Friendly



North District

Special Opportunities

Power Station Site

Thomas Greene Park

Union and Bond Street



Special OpportunityThomas Greene Park

Adjacent to park

Park as centerpiece

Currently underutilized



Enclosed industrial uses are retained & promoted

Open industrial uses relocated

Infill contextual residential encouraged

Underutilized loft buildings to be reused

Park upgraded



Enclosed industrial uses are featured

Open industrial uses relocated, replaced with contextual residential development

Underutilized loft buildings to be reused

Park upgraded





Special OpportunityUnion and Bond



Look at reuse of existing structure

Encourage contextual residential development

Union street bridge pedestrian path



Keep memory of existing structures

Residential development to be contextual

Public spaces along the canal

Open President Street to canal

Union Street bridge sidewalk to relate to public space





Special OpportunityPower Station Site

Historic Building

Pressures to develop



Historic power plant should be retained and reused residentially

Encourage and permit contextual uses

Restore smaller blocks

Public access along the canal required



Remap 1st and 2nd

streets from Canal to 3rd Ave

Historic building becomes dominant residential structure plus contextual infill (up to 80% of existing building’s height)

3rd Ave & 3rd Street should have ground floor retail with residential or commercial above

Public space along canal connects 3rd & Carroll Streets





Two districts—one community

south district

north district






Special Community Features

Pumping station

Bridges

Street ends

Industrial silos

Concrete batching plants

Canning factory

Subway viaduct and station

Kentile and Eagle Clothing Signs



NYC Pumping Station

Exterior restored

Open to the public for environmental education

Adjacent building to the east reused for environmental purposes keeping same facade



BridgesUnion St, Carroll St, 3rd St.

Rehabilitated and specially lit

Traffic calming devices slow vehicular traffic

Pedestrian paths improve connections to open space – improved signage

Bridges connect to pedestrian paths along canal



Street Ends

Develop as informal meeting and information places

Create places to access the water



Pedestrian bridge links

Explore connecting the street ends with pedestrian bridge as part of development opportunity or open space connection program



Pedestrian Bridges

Hetherwick bridge, London



Pedestrian Bridges



Pedestrian Bridges



Industrial Infrastructure

Lighting Strategy



LightingIndustrial Structures



Actions

Consensus on a direction

Organization providing leadership & attracting funds

Special Zoning District: “Mixed-Use Green District”

Select specific opportunities to advance

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2005 Gowanus Canal Comprehensive Community Plan-draftplan

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