Lavender Lake – documentary on the Gowanus Canal
Lavender Lake excerpt from Allison Prete on Vimeo.
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Industrial Zoned – Gowanus aka South West Brooklyn
These signs have been appearing up and down 3rd Avenue indicating an “Industrial Zone”.
This is from the Mayor’s office of Industrial and Manufacturing Business section or imb.
The nyc.gov, which is listed on the sign, says imb is…“…dedicated to addressing the needs of New York’s industrial and manufacturing businesses.”Looks like the city is putting a lot of investment into the booming industry within the Gowanus area by dedicating this part of Brooklyn to Southwest Brooklyn Industrial Development Corporation. That seems like good news for the many businesses that have been around for years in the area and for the new textile groups that have recently moved in. The imb site says that these areas of the cities will be used to…
“…foster high-performing business districts by creating competitive advantages over locating in areas outside of New York City.”
Within Gowanus the designated Industrial area only covers below 3rd Street and West of 3rd Avenue. The area above 3rd Street are covered by an Ombudsman.For more details head over to nyc.gov for more details. -
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Brooklyn Dodgers in the Gowanus
Few people know that some important baseball was played in the Gowanus. And still more people don’t know that the legendary Brooklyn Dodgers played just down the street from where the Canal is now.
At the end of 19th century Park Slope’s Washington Park (J.J. Byrne Park) was a bit different from it is today. Part of the park was actually caddy corner to where it is now, across 4th Avenue and contained a baseball stadium. The players were even said to use the Old Stone House as a clubhouse. This stadium was first made from just wood, but later, in the early 20th century, some additional structures were added that we made of brick.Just imagine a beautiful spring day walking to the corner of 4th Ave and 3rd Street to a game featuring the Brooklyn Atlantics, who would later become the Brooklyn Dodgers. –Keep in mind you’d have to step around construction for the 4th Ave Subway by 1908. The game would begin and the Atlantics/Dodgers would send baseballs flying onto 3rd Avenue. Gowanus was the place to be for baseball!By 1912 the Atlantics were officially the Dodgers and their stardom had outgrown the small Washington Stadium. In 1913 the team moved to the well know Ebbets Field. The stadium was used for two more years for baseball games, but then remained empty until 1922 when Con Ed purchased the land. Con Ed tore down most of the wooden structure, but left the brick walls, until recently. In 2002 despite a plea by Society for American Baseball Research Con Ed declared it would destroy the wall. The demolition of the historic walls began in late 2010 and the last bricks are slowly being removed right now. Soon the last memories of this beloved stadium in Washington Park will be erased. Head to 3rd Avenue and catch the last glimpse of history.
Soon to be last brick of the wall
Wall from the old stadium
View of where the stadium entrance use to be
View of where the outfield use to be -
Positively 9th Street – Online Exhibitions
Francis Sills "Kentile Floors" • Oil on linen • 22 x 28
Object Image Gallery in Park Slope has brought local artist together to create an exhibit just on 9th Street and areas nearby, called Positively 9th Street.
With skillful and beautiful precision painters: Michael Calabrese, Jeff Faerber, Laura Fantini, Stephen Gardner, Mark Oliver, Francis Sills, and Robert Weis capture the emotional landscape of 9th street and surrounding areas. There are some amazing images of things in and around Gowanus Canal that are especially moving.Check out the online exhibit here. Positively 9th Street
*Francis Sills work can be found here or at www.francissills.com
