Gowanus clean-up could cost more than $500M

Cleaning the polluted Gowanus Canal is estimated to cost between $467 million to $504 million, the New York Times reported. The proposed clean-up plan involves splitting the canal into three sections: In two heavily polluted sections, crews will dredge the canal floor, mixing it with concrete and then topping it with gravel, sand and clay layers. The third portion would be similarly dug and then topped with a layer of sand.

The area was designated a Superfund site in 2010 despite the objections by Mayor Bloomberg and his administration; they said the Superfund label would discourage development at the site.

The Lightstone Group is looking to develop a rental project on the Gowanus, as previously reported. However, the plan has been met by opposition. Councilmember Brad Lander urged the developer to drop the plan and the Brooklyn Law School Development Clinic has asked the Department of City Planning not to consider Lightstone’s application for project modification. [NYT] —Zachary Kussin