Cleanup At Gowanus' 'Green Building' Begins Soon

GOWANUS, NY — The property owners of Gowanus' "The Green Building" will soon begin a three-month cleanup project, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation said Thursday.

The voluntary cleanup will include removing an underground storage tank and excavating soil that is contaminated with lead, the state said.

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After the cleanup, the state will issue a certificate of completion on the property, which will allow the owners to get tax credits for the cleanup effort and for any new redevelopment. The Gowanus Whole Foods last year got a $12.7 million refund under the same tax program.

The cleanup is expected to last about three months. An exact start date was not given.

The Green Building is a popular event space at 250 Union St. in Gowanus, between the Gowanus Canal and Bond St. The space hosts weddings, parties and corporate events.

According to the state, the cleanup will include:

• Removing the underground storage tank and excavating petroleum-impacted soil 12 feet below the ground.
• Excavating the lead-contaminated oil.
• Excavating trenches "for installation of subsurface utilities, construction of footings for a leanto
  structure, and landscaping."
• Collecting soil samples for evaluation.
• Brining in clean soil to fill in the holes.

The cleanup falls under the state's Brownfield Cleanup Program, which encourages property owners to voluntarily clean up contaminated land.

Image via Google Maps