2014 Shaping the Future of New York Fridays: 11:00-1:45 Boylan Hall, 2231

I did this podwalk with Medina and Jairam on Wednesday. It was cold. Like, really cold. But it was also interesting because I’m never in that area! So it was a nice learning experience. Also, the Gowanus Canal is pretty gross.

The sharp transition that happens almost immediately once you pass the threshold from 5th Ave down to 4th ave and beyond is almost like a drop-off from 5 feet of water near the shore to the black vastness of the ocean beyond. Park Slope feels cozy and affluent, and then suddenly the area feels cold and empty. I’d worked in areas like that before, and I always hated them. They never felt very safe, and I always worried about things like asbestos or air quality within the warehouses that populate the area. Now that it was within the vicinity of the Gowanus Canal, I’m curious about the air quality of the outside air as well.

Department of sanitation car was dispatched here. Hopefully involved in picking up some trash?

Why is this here? In the middle of a residential area? Is that garbage inside? Did they think that if they hid it under a tarp no one would see? Gross. Can’t possibly be healthy.

Local pharmacy. Didn’t see another one along Union St.

Fitness center. I’d run into a couple more, as well as a yoga place, along Union St.

Optometry office. There was also a PearlVision a few avenues earlier.

This epitomized the change in scenery for me. A low-to-the-ground nondescript warehouse as opposed to beautiful old brownstones. Not a person in sight; everyone’s either inside working or elsewhere.

What’s the boundary for? Is it meant to direct the flow of filth in the canal? What happens during high tide when the water flows several feet over the divider? That would be gross, and, depending on how high it flows, potentially unhealthy.

This area in general is very industrial. Hard to believe it’s so close to Park Slope. Would you want to work here? I wouldn’t.

The high tide line is visible directly in the middle of the pipe, which means when water starts pouring out of it, it must overflow. And considering rain tends to be a regular occurrence, overflowing must happen often.

SECTION 1

In this area, I saw an eyeglass/optometry place, a fitness center, and “Prospect Gardens Pharmacy”.

There was a huge crate filled with what looked like garbage just sitting in the middle of the street. I don’t know much about garbage collection but it seemed like too much for one truck to pick up. How long does it sit there like that? Why is it there in a residential area?

SECTION 2

There was another optometry office and another fitness center beyond 4th ave, but I didn’t spot another pharmacy along Union St.

The neighborhood is becoming increasingly more industrial and desolate with each block. No one lives in this area; it’s too dirty anyway.

SECTION 3

I didn’t smell much of anything along the canal, but I did notice that the canal was some of the only water I’d seen that day that wasn’t frozen over (perhaps it’s too voluminous…or too dirty? I don’t know how science works.) It was also very dark and murky. The bridge and the surrounding buildings were very low to the ground, scarcely painted, and the area in general felt desolate. Hardly the level of Park Slope upkeep I’d seen around 5th avenue. Also, I saw a cat.

SECTION 4 

I’m pretty sure it was low tide, since the high tide line was visible just above the bottom of the pipe opening. I can hardly imagine how disgusting it must be when the canal inevitably overflows.

If high tide was three feet higher, it would most certainly overflow.

Section 1:

large sidewalks on union street

Residents have easy access to semi affordable, fresh produce

Potentially hazardous industrial buildings on 4th ave

Water lined with trash and sewage creates hazards for the environment and residents alike

Murky, Stagnant water beneath a canal pipeline

Three things that benefit health in the area from Union Street to Grand Army Plaza are:

Large Sidewalks big enough for families, strollers, or other large groups of pedestrians to walk safely. This space is also excellent for exercisers or people walking with dogs. The safety of this neighborhood also poses a great health benefit for evening walking, etc.

Food Coop that could potentially offer food at a discounted or reasonable price for families. Food Coops often also contain very healthy fruits and vegetables where other supermarkets may charge more or have less of similar produce.

Yoga studios and gyms seem to be prevalent in the area. Offering easy access to group training or workouts to residents living in the area.

Section II:

Almost none of the health benefits previously listed are present in the next few blocks past 4^th ave. Even the sidewalk becomes smaller and of slightly lesser quality. It is obvious that less attention and money was spent cleaning the area past 4^th ave, since I am guessing the apartments are slightly cheaper. I noticed a few more industrial buildings and what appeared to be vacant lots as well.

Section III:

The Gowanus Canal is slightly less covered in litter than I expected. Although trash does line certain areas. The water also appears to be rather stagnant in many areas, the color appears green and murky. It also smells rather disgusting. However, I cannot tell if the smell is coming from the water or from the industrial buildings surrounding the canal.

Section IV:

I believe the canal is currently at low tide. The water seems below a few markers and underneath the opening pipes. If the tide was 3 feet higher, the banks of the canal may overflow slightly, probably dumping sewage and trash onto the surrounding banks and buildings. This is definitely a health hazard

This particular podwalk was done with James and Jairam. Last semester in the Science and Technology of New York seminar we also went on a podwalk for the Gowanus Canal but with a focus on the general environment, not on public health.

Park Slope is a neighborhood that had become highly gentrified and as such had begun to have a greater availability of healthy living options. On the walk from Union Street and 8th Avenue down to 4th there were a number of yoga centers, organic food markets, food coops, and community centers with a variety of programs (including an arthritis yoga event). The number of different variations of gyms and fitness centers was astounding as my neighborhood does not have one around at all. There was nothing of particular interest that could have been damaging to resident’s health aside from the general construction crates around the area and even that was not as negative to health as just physically unappealing.

From 4th Avenue to Nevins there were significantly less fresh food alternatives and organic food markets and instead more delis were situated throughout. Also, the number of brownstones decreased as more industrial businesses began to appear. It no longer had the uniform appearance of the upper areas.

Upon first reaching the Gowanus Canal we smelled something close to rotten eggs, a smell characteristic of sulfur. There was a plastic ring placed in the water and it worked to prevent some of the dirt and refuse from drifting further down the canal. There is a higher concentration of residential businesses in the area and there was smoke flowing from one of the buildings very heavily. This can damage air quality as well.

One particular thing to note was the sign plastered on the Carrol Street bridge indicating that overflowing water could cause sewage and water to mix, exposing residents to bacteria. We also believed that it was currently high tide as we could not see any patterns on the walls of a higher water level. From this analysis we believe that if it were 3 feet higher than the canal would overflow.

Overall the Gowanus Canal has been heavily polluted and it will take many years to recover from the refuse as well as the bacteria that now inherently lives in the water supply. Residents are influenced in direct ways with air quality and bacteria levels but also in indirect ways as the neighborhood around them has less centers geared towards public health. There is a clear divide in the neighborhood between Park Slope and the Gowanus Canal.

Also, not quite sure if this is how the format should be but I tried my best. Apologies if there are too many pictures!