Community Board 6: a slow start to the new year

Those who were willing to join the February Community Board 6 meeting in person were rewarded with the chance to peek around a sleek, modern building in the heart of Gowanus and to sample some baked goods provided by one of the board members. The building is home to the Van Alen Institute, a Gowanus-based nonprofit. The baked goods (vegan, gluten free, and homemade) were a sweet reminder of community. Beyond these little perks, the meeting was in many ways, rather unexceptional.

Shortly before the meeting kicked off, District Manager Mike Racioppo arrived with a stack of board reports (intended for in-person board members, though they were quickly shared with all attendees), a gavel and block for Board Chair Eric McClure, and grumbles about the number of texts he received while commuting to the

by Katherine Rivard

meeting. Apparently, many board members were unprepared with the link necessary to join if not attending in person, resulting in frantic texts about how to sign on. Approximately 18 people attended the meeting, with about 38 more Zooming in.

As though foreshadowing the monotony of the meeting, McClure opened by remarking that the committee meetings are where most of the board’s work gets done. However, based on the committees that provided updates during the meeting, very little of substance occurred even within the committees during the past few months. Community Board 6 meetings chiefly result in liquor licenses or renovation approvals. Whether this is simply the result of a lull in neighborhood activities (previously, plenty happened during the Gowanus rezonings), or if there is just less appetite among this board to seek change, is unclear. Nevertheless, the regular schedule of events ensued: a few more updates from McClure and Racioppo, committee reports, a slew of updates and reminders from local representatives (or their staff), and a brief community session.

The reports from the various committees began with a recap of recent liquor license applications from the Permits & Licenses Committee. Both businesses (Thai Town New York and Stella’s) received approvals. Next, the Landmarks/Land Use Committee flipped through 60 slides of images and renderings to report on two applications. The first was an application to the Landmarks Preservations Commission to provide for a Certificate of Appropriateness for home renovations in the Cobble Hill Historic District; the motion passed. The second was to disapprove an application for mechanical equipment to be added to

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