Superfund Stigma Vs. Super-smelly Canal

While city and state battle it out over who gets to clean up the Gowanus Canal, one residential developer says they're "confident the city's work" will be good enough. The Toll Brothers plan to build 460 condos along the waterway, a plan that would go down the drain if it were granted Superfund status. The NY Times explains the stigma, saying "city officials and many residents fear the Superfund label, reserved for the worst contamination in the country and evoking health emergencies." In other words, it would be difficult to fund a project with this scarlet letter attached. However, the developer's consultants found levels of hydrogen sulfide in the water that they said would create a "significant odor impact," the Daily News reports. So chances those duped into signing leases would rather have the stigma than the overwhelming stench floating into their brand dream home and sinking in to their brand new IKEA furnishings.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on April 24, 2009 5:31 PM

Comments [rss]

ides_of_march

While they're at it, why not rename the Gowanus? They could clean it up and fill the damn thing with Perrier water but when your name still ends in "anus" well...

angry_pickle

Toll Brothers. K Hovnanian. Both crappy builders whose reputation relies on volume rather than honest quality. I would be surprised if Toll Brothers hasn't already built communities or condos right next to Superfund sites. In New Jersey for example.

angry_pickle

Toll Brothers. K Hovnanian. Both crappy builders whose reputation relies on volume rather than honest quality. I would be surprised if Toll Brothers hasn't already built communities or condos right next to Superfund sites. In New Jersey for example.

Geoelh

Toll Brothers?! The Wal-Mart of house-builders. Those bastards are Prime Suspect in the oversupply of McMansions and sprawl all across the U.S. Whatever it takes to scare them off, it's worth it, morally speaking.

KING

Just clean the $#@!&*%$ thing up. With or without over priced places that you'll never pay off in life. It needs to be done. What a Jerk off he is

jaycjay

Better get that worked out. There aren't enough new unoccupied sitting-on-the-market or stalled-in-construction condos in Brooklyn, these 460 are really needed!