Gowanus Lounge: Serving Brooklyn

Lake Gowanus Grows, So Does Whole Foods Site

May 16th, 2006 · 4 Comments


View of Lake Gowanus, originally uploaded by rsguskind.

This is the latest view of Lake Gowanus, the murky body of water formed by seeping groundwater at the future site of the Whole Foods at Third Avenue and Third Street in Gowanus. First expected this year, the opening date for Whole Foods has been pushed back until 2008 because of toxic issues on the site (and, as clearly visible, groundwater).

Whole Foods is now primed to expand toward the Gowanus Canal. As reported in Curbed, the adjacent building supply company–which Whole Foods was said to covet–and Red Hook Crusher, a building recycling facility right on the canal, are now closed.

The Brooklyn Paper has reported that Red Hook Crushers’ permit was not renewed by the Department of Sanitation. Coincidence? GL thinks not. While Sanitation says it had to do with “integrity issues,” GL believes that Whole Foods wasn’t into the idea of organic bok choy (or the cars of shoppers) coated with concrete dust.

In any case, the entire block along Third Street from Third Avenue to the Gowanus Canal is now industry- and business-free and clear for development. GL looks forward to munching on a yummy organic couscous salad on the shores of the Gowanus.

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4 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Dennis // May 16, 2006 at 9:45 pm

    I still can’t get over the irony of buying organic anything on what should be a superfund site.

  • 2 Sonja Shield // May 17, 2006 at 7:57 am

    This article also has some interesting stuff. You may have already seen it but I wanted to post the link for folks.

  • 3 Anonymous // May 17, 2006 at 10:07 am

    looks like a perfect spot for Army Corp ecosystem restoration–

    just who considers this an appropriate spot for food and housing? can anyone explain such ideas given the reality of this landscape?

  • 4 Anonymous // May 19, 2006 at 9:32 am

    They will clean it up and you can be sure the store will be uber-successful. I will certainly shop there as will all of Park Slope and Gowanus citizens