Gowanus Organizing to Block Toll Brothers Project

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It looks like that big Toll Brother development on the shores of the Gowanus Canal might be facing some resistance in the neighborhood. Last night, an overflow crowd showed up to strategize about opposing the 577-unit project and run through a list of objections from the height of the buildings and no room in local schools to toxic contamination of the site and sewage issues. Toll VP David Von Spreckleson attended and said that purchase of the site is dependent on getting a rezoning from the city. The developer is looking for a go ahead before the overall rezoning of the neighborhood to allow residential development in a large area. The city will be offering up a draft zoning planning for Gowanus by the end of spring or early summer. The Toll Brothers are looking for a 6-12 month head start on that process, possibly betting that the neighborhood rezone won't be finished before the Bloomberg Administration leaves office. Neighborhood blogger PMFA described the Toll Brothers reps as getting "a bit testy when asked if they would reconsider and abandon the project if the neighborhood was against it." One of them apparently asked if the neighborhood would prefer a dirty canal to development and "quite a few people said yes," PMFA noted. A technical hearing on the proposal takes place on March 13.
· They Will Build It, But Will They Clean It? [PMFA]
· Meeting on Toll Proposal: Educate, Agitate, Organize [Brownstoner]
· Toll Brothers Big Gowanus Proposal Revealed [Curbed]

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