Abstract
Green gentrification and ongoing displacement collide in this study of the changing Gowanus Canal and the neighborhood surrounding it. The Gowanus Canal has been the site of anthropogenic manufacturing, development, and pollution for centuries at this point, and is widely known as a carcinogenic cesspool of Brooklyn. However, as clean-up efforts continue, housing costs in the area have skyrocketed, leading locals to resist projects that would make the Canal and its surroundings safer in the name of preserving the working-class spirit and culture of the neighborhood. The Gowanus neighborhood represents a unique case study to examine how the human right to housing conflicts with the human right to a healthy environment, as the green growth cycle wreaks havoc on locals’ financial ability to remain in the area. The issue of canal cleanup is one that will only increase in relevance, as climate change pushes more superstorms into New York City. The Gowanus Canal serves as a runoff site for raw sewage that floods during times of extreme precipitation, and with an increase in such weather events, extremely contaminated and poisonous water will more often breach its banks. Neglected by the city, exploited by developers, and in dire need of environmental intervention, the Gowanus Canal is a growing local challenge, as is navigating its remediation in a socially responsible way.