NFW!! Gowanus Whole Foods Refused Zoning Variance, Everything Delayed Again!!

The Gowanus Whole Foods is never coming.

On December 13th, the Board of Standards and Appeals listened to opponents of the would-be Gowanus Whole Foods, resulting in a refusal to grant the supermarket a zoning variance it would need to operate. Opponents argued that the Whole Foods would interfere with the Gowanus Canal’s Superfund clean-up and bring 5,880 more cars to the neighborhood.

“The first hearing is the start of a process,” Whole Foods spokesman Michael Sinatra backpedaled. He assured everyone that this kind of thing was normal and would be dealt with, and that Whole Foods really, really cares about the environment.

An appeal will be held January 24th, at which point the ruling could be overturned.

Supporters, like Buddy Scotto, who spoke to the Brooklyn Paper, blame the city: ““The Whole Foods is going to be a plus. Now the city is holding it back.” 

But people like Eric McClure, president of Park Slope Neighbors (that’s a real thing), are really concerned about things like the influx of cars. True. Parking already sucks, this is only going to make it worse.

I’m sorry, does anyone other than Buddy or Eric really care anymore? By the time this is resolved we’ll be so over Whole Foods that we won’t care it finally opened (or didn’t). Also, surely we’ll be into a much trendier supermarket.

But we’ll keep following the story anyway. And don't forget to read our previous coverage on the Gowanus Whole Foods zoning board shenanigans!