Gowanus residents are invited to attend a public meeting on Thursday, Nov. 14 to discuss the planned Business Improvement District and open space projects.
The Gowanus Oversight Task Force said presentations will be given by the Department of Small Business Services, City Planning, Parks and Recreation and Environmental Protection, as well as the steering committee of the Gowanus BID Formation Effort, according to a press release.
The meeting, scheduled for 6:00pm to 8:00pm, will be held at P.S. 133, 610 Baltic St.
“Over the past decade, we have fought alongside our neighbors for the Gowanus that we all deserve - with excellent open space, infrastructure, affordable housing, and protections for the culture and community that make this neighborhood unique," said Andrea Parker, executive director of the Gowanus Canal Conservancy. "The Gowanus BID is a critical piece of this vision - a way to ensure that new parks, street trees and infrastructure are cared for and support the community in the long term."
The meeting emanates from a series of community discussions with city officials and prospective investors, property owners, tenants and residents. The community garnered 56 investment commitments worth $450 million, including $200 million to address priority capital needs of local public housing (NYCHA) communities.
Brooklyn Council Member Shahana Hanif said the community's involvement in the planning of the business district which will advance its values.
“The Gowanus neighborhood has always been a place where the community comes together to find solutions, and that tradition will continue,” she said. “Both the Gowanus Oversight Task Force and the Gowanus BID are innovative, community-driven based governance models that empower local residents and businesses to have a voice in shaping the future of Gowanus. These efforts are crucial to ensuring that the ongoing changes in the neighborhood align with our shared goals of justice, equity and resiliency.”
There will be a Q&A session after the presentations. For more information on the meeting, click here.
