Science and Technology of New York City

Amandeep Ahluwalia, Albert Tong, James Thomas, Jessen Thomas, Rachel Kisty, Cali Paetow

Script Outline

Start

All the students met up with the professor and the tour guide in front of the Brooklyn Public Library Central Branch. While here, we briefly discussed what the area was before it became a canal, its present condition, how and why it was declared a superfund site, and some of the actions being taken by the city and state governments to clean the canal. The Gowanus Canal was “once a pristine salt marsh” but now it’s “one of the nation’s most polluted waterways”(Brooklyn College Pod Walks pamphlet). The enormous amount of sewage discharge and rainwater added to all sorts of waste flooding the canal. On April 9, 2009, the Federal EPA proposed the canal be declared a superfund site, however the city was a staunch opponent to this idea as they wanted to clean up the area without the stigma of a superfund status, which introduces a plethora of potential liabilities and expenses. However, on March 4, 2010, after much deliberation, the canal was officially declared a Superfund site. The few months after the canal was declared a superfund site was a nightmare to real estate brokers and building owners, as they could not find anyone to sell their property to. However, after about a year, small restaurants, bars, and such began to appear around the area as people started taking action and worked to the betterment of the canal.

Brownstones.

The Gowanus Canal was once a very busy,
industrial hub. The neighborhood surrounding was, and still is to an extent,
filled with working class people employed by factory and waterfront jobs. Oil
depots, mechanic shops, and other blue-collar establishments can still be seen
throughout the area. But recent effort in reclaiming the Gowanus Canal as a
desirable waterway and the sky-rocketing prices of New York real estate has
increased interest in developing the land around the canal as prime
“waterfront” property. At this stop we’re going to discuss the evidence of
gentrification and the class divide the makes longtime working class residents
nervous about incoming offers to buy their homes. There also is the issue of
where the beneficial businesses in the area, like the recycling plants between
the Gowanus and 2nd Avenue, that rely on the low cost real estate
will go.

Flushing Tunnel Stop:
At this stop we will be using the audio in a video by Hans Hesselein, director of the Gowanus Canal Conservancy. This will tie in with other sources that describe the cleanup efforts of the park, as the tunnel is the first step in circulating the odor of the canal. There will probably be construction workers at the site as well as the oxygenation tank, which is responsible for pumping the air into throughout the canal.

Future Whole Foods Site
Here we will show the lot cleared by Whole Foods Inc. in order to build a new store. We can discuss the process of cleaning a site of toxins with the current regulations and how it is really only feasible for major corporations. We can also mention public concern about whether or not the new Whole Foods will promote gentrification and an increase in the cost of living (which will force lower-income residents to move).

3rd Street Bridge

In this stop we will be discussing the current environmental issues impacting the canal. We will discuss the excess carbon in the canal, which has led to an abundance of algae in the area. The viewer will be able to directly see the green tint of algae in the water, and see pieces of trash floating in the canal. We will also discuss the effects of sewage overflows on the canal and how it directly contributed to a huge organic waste problem in the canal. The first stop after the starting point, the Brooklyn Public Library Central Branch, was 160 3rd street. This was the first time the students saw the Gowanus Canal. From our facial expressions, it was quite easy to surmise that we were all thoroughly repulsed by the rather filthy conditions of the canal. This body of water was green and so murky that it was impossible to see beyond da few inches into the water. The green color is the result of the overabundance of algae, which grows unhindered due to the ready availability of nitrogen in the water. The canal is so nitrogen rich because of the presence of animal and human excreta. Additionally, the water was so dense due to the sheer quantity of toxins and algae that relatively heavy objects, such as garbage bags ,were floating. Furthermore, according to the tour guide, the bottom of the canal is filled with a wide variety of toxins and chemicals that have contributed to the canal being a toxic wasteland.

Gowanus Conservancy HQ:

This stop will tie into current cleanup efforts that help reshape and reform the park. There will be a video introduction by Hans Hesselein about the site and how it is currently shared with the department of sanitation as well as the Gowanus Conservancy. This stop is also important because it shows trucking lots and recycling sites that exist at this area. It will tie into gentrification because as the property value rises, it raises questions on what would happen to these businesses.

Scrap Metal Recovery & Lowes – End of trip
In this final site, we will discuss the impacts of the Benson scrap metal yard has on the canal and its surrounding residents, both environmental and socioeconomic. We will talk about the current clashes between the scrap metal yard & the EPA, and the impacts it will have on the neighborhood residents near it. We will also discuss Lowes’s role in cleaning up the canal. There is public access to the canal water near Lowes, and the store is tasked with cleaning it up. The viewer will have a good view of both the scrap metal yard and Lowes from the bridge site.