[Click to enlarge to all its glory.]

In theory, Gowanus could get very big and very crowded, if the parcels of land the city is planning to rezone for residential use are built upon. It’s a big if–given the credit meltdown and the hideousy polluted nature of some of the sites–but that’s what could happen over time if there were to be a full build out. A new document projects the potential addition of 3,200 units of hoursing. Eliot Brown was the first to locate the latest document on the Department of City Planning’s website and post the info in TRE. The rezoning would cover about 25 blocks in the neighborhood, allowing buildings up to 12 stories tall near the romantic canal itself. Here’s the money graph from the document:

DCP has identified 26 Projected Development Sites that would be likely to be developed as a result of the proposed actions. These 26 development sites could result in a net increase of 3,211 dwelling units, 572 of which would be affordable under the Inclusionary Housing Program, a net increase of 34,681 square feet of retail space, a net increase of 32,032 square feet of community facility space, a net decrease of 184,757 square feet of commercial space,1 a net decrease of 543,716 square feet of industrial space, and a net increase of 1,166 accessory parking spaces. In addition, there are 40 Potential Development Sites considered less likely to be developed in the foreseeable future.

Note that the figures assume full buildout, something that is highly unlikely to occur during the lifetime of someone who is, say, 29 years old today. Curiously, the former “Gowanus Village” site with the big old power plant that is on the market is listed as a “potential” development site. Assuming “potential” sites are developed the 3,200 unit figure could climb significantly higher. For the zoning masochist, the full report is available here (WARNING: PDF).