There was some unhappiness last week that the Department of Housing Preservation and Development scheduled a key hearing in the middle of holiday party season, but more importantly, failed to make sure that work got out in the community about the meeting. The department has extended the public comment period for the draft scope of work on the Environmental Impact Statement until January 23. Here’s an email about it:

We wanted to remind you that HPD has extended the public comment period on the draft scope of work for the Gowanus Green (Public Place) EIS to January 23, 2009. The comment period has been extended to allow the public opportunity to comment during and after the holiday season. The draft scope and other environmental documents are available for download on the HPD website at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/html/developers/Gowanus-Green-proposal.shtml You may also submit your comments in writing to HPD at the following address: Patrick Blanchfield, AICP; Director of Environmental Review; NYC Dept of Housing Preservation and Development; 100 Gold Street – Room 9V-3; New York, NY 10038. Thanks very much and best wishes for a wonderful holiday season!

We still think it doesn’t make up for the shoddy way in which the public was pretty much not informed, but it’s something.