Some developments last night could mean the long-dreamt-of Whole Foods along the Gowanus Canal might one day kinda soonish become a reality. As Brownstoner reports, Community Board 6’s land use committee approved the grocery chain’s application for a variance that would let it build a larger-than-zoned-for store along the canal. Board members did air concerns about traffic (ya think?) and whether supermarket construction would impede the canal’s Superfund cleanup. But ultimately, they approved the plan for a 56,000-square-foot store with rooftop greenhouse and a public waterfront walkway (no mention of electric-car charging, however). This is a very good sign for Gowanus residents currently stuck eating things fished from the toxic canal, but the full community board will still have to approve the variance when it convenes next week. [Brownstoner]
