Gowanus Canal poster showing the Carroll Street Bridge from the same spot 20 years apart. The canal is located in some of the highest price real estate in America.

A bike rider crosses the Carroll Street Bridge by the new condos on the western bank. As the EPA Superfund project continues, new construction will continue.

A beautiful building at the corner of third and 3rd by the Gowanus Canal sits alone as we await the construction of a Whole Foods Market beside it.

Whole Foods building under construction at the corner of Third Avenue and Third Street by the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY. The oldest concrete structure in the city at left is part of the complex, built by the Coignet Stone Company to showcase its pioneering method of using Béton Coignet, or reinforced concrete, a technique swiped from the French. But by 1882, the company had closed and the building entered a long period of switching hands. Located at the corner of Third Street and Third Avenue by the Gowanus Canal, Whole Foods purchased the land surrounding the building in 2005 for just under $5 million as part of its plans to transform that corner of Gowanus into a new grocery store (which eventually opened in 2013). It became a New York City landmark in 2006, and Whole Foods carried out a restoration of the dilapidated building, which included revamping its crumbling facade and treating it with limewash.

The oldest concrete structure in the city, built by the Coignet Stone Company to showcase its pioneering method of using Béton Coignet, or reinforced concrete, a technique swiped from the French. But by 1882, the company had closed and the building entered a long period of switching hands. Located at the corner of Third Street and Third Avenue by the Gowanus Canal, Whole Foods purchased the land surrounding the building in 2005 for just under $5 million as part of its plans to transform that corner of Gowanus into a new grocery store (which eventually opened in 2013). It became a New York City landmark in 2006, and Whole Foods carried out a restoration of the dilapidated building, which included revamping its crumbling facade and treating it with limewash.

Whole Foods building under construction at the corner of Third Avenue and Third Street looking toward the Third Street drawbridge over the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY, in 2013. Just months before, the site had been flooded by the Canal during Hurricane Sandy..

Ninth Street and the Gowanus Canal area from Smith-Ninth Street Subway platform in Brooklyn looking toward Manhattan and downtown Brooklyn in 2013

Whole Foods opens in Brooklyn at Third and Third in 2013 on the Gowanus Canal as the giant orb built out of discarded umbrellas and soda bottles floats in the murky waters of the Fourth Street turning Basin, created by Amanda Schachter and Alexander Levi. The grain elevator would soon be torn down as well.

Whole Foods opens in Brooklyn at Third and Third in 2013 on the Gowanus Canal as the giant orb built out of discarded umbrellas and soda bottles floats in the murky waters of the Fourth Street turning Basin, created by Amanda Schachter and Alexander Levi. The grain elevator would soon be torn down as well.

Tim Gamble and his wife, Kate Holmes, wear shark outfits for their team, Combined Shark Overflow, as they compete in the Gowanus Challenge on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn in 2014. The yearly race is sponsored by the Gowanus Dredgers, a canoeing organization that is one of the biggest proponents for cleaning the waterway. Looking up canal toward Carroll Street, the canal looked wild.

Todd Seidman of Dolphin Rising (right) paddles his kayak ahead of a paddle boarder wearing protective clothing as they compete in the Gowanus Challenge on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn in 2014. The yearly race is sponsored by the Gowanus Dredgers, a canoeing organization that is one of the biggest proponents for cleaning the waterway.

A paddle boarder wears sealed garbage bags on his feet, an enviro suit, and heavy gloves as protection from the water during The Gowanus Challenge on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn in 2014. The yearly race is sponsored by the Gowanus Dredgers, a canoeing organization that is one of the biggest proponents for cleaning the waterway.

Tim Gamble and his wife, Kate Holmes, wear shark outfits for their team, Combined Shark Overflow, and Todd Seidman of Dolphin Rising (right) paddle their kayaks by a trapped, abandoned barge as they compete in the Gowanus Challenge on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn in 2014. The yearly race is sponsored by the Gowanus Dredgers, a canoeing organization that is one of the biggest proponents for cleaning the waterway.

Tim Gamble and his wife, Kate Holmes, where shark outfits for their team, Combined Shark Overflow, as they compete in the Gowanus Challenge on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn in 2014. The yearly race is sponsored by the Gowanus Dredgers, a canoeing organization that is one of the biggest proponents for cleaning the waterway.

Tim Gamble and his wife, Kate Holmes, wear shark outfits for their team, Combined Shark Overflow, as they compete in the Gowanus Challenge on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn in 2014. The yearly race is sponsored by the Gowanus Dredgers, a canoeing organization that is one of the biggest proponents for cleaning the waterway, including the abandoned barge in the background.

A spectator on the Third Street bridge raises his hat to competitors in The Gowanus Challenge on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn in 2014. The yearly race is sponsored by the Gowanus Dredgers, a canoeing organization that is one of the biggest proponents for cleaning the waterway.

The Gowanus Challenge, a canoe race on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, before the Gowanus Dredgers had their boathouse in the new condo building that would take over this site. The warning sign stressed everything wrong with the Gowanus Canal in 2014.

Farmigo headquarters, with Benzi Ronen founder, on the Gowanus Canal surprise and delight as the farm to consumer company has an open house on July 10, 2014. Unique businesses have discovered the area and are bringing a new type of business to Gowanus.

Farmigo headquarters, with Benzi Ronen founder, on the Gowanus Canal surprise and delight as the farm to consumer company has an open house on July 10, 2014. Unique businesses have discovered the area and are bringing a new type of business to Gowanus.

Christopher Swain swims in the Gowanus Canal for Earth Day, April 22, 2015. The activist made the journey to bring attention to the Brooklyn Superfund site. Sewage flowed into the canal as early as 1858, and by the 1880’s the waterway had gained the moniker “Lavendar Lake” for its odorous qualities. The current cost of the overall EPA Superfund cleanup plan is estimated to be over $1.5 billion, and the entire project won’t be completed until mid-2023. The Gowanus Canal is located in one of the densest population centers in America.

Christopher Swain swims in the Gowanus Canal for Earth Day, April 22, 2015. The activist made the journey to bring attention to the Brooklyn Superfund site. Sewage flowed into the canal as early as 1858, and by the 1880’s the waterway had gained the moniker “Lavendar Lake” for its odorous qualities. The current cost of the overall EPA Superfund cleanup plan is estimated to be over $1.5 billion, and the entire project won’t be completed until mid-2023. The Gowanus Canal is located in one of the densest population centers in America.

Christopher Swain swims in the Gowanus Canal for Earth Day, April 22, 2015. The activist made the journey to bring attention to the Brooklyn Superfund site. Sewage flowed into the canal as early as 1858, and by the 1880’s the waterway had gained the moniker “Lavendar Lake” for its odorous qualities. The current cost of the overall EPA Superfund cleanup plan is estimated to be over $1.5 billion, and the entire project won’t be completed until mid-2023. The Gowanus Canal is located in one of the densest population centers in America.

Cracked Ice makes a phenomenal pattern in the Fourth Street basin of the Gowanus Canal after Winter Storm Jonas on January 25, 2016. Sewage flowed into the canal as early as 1858, and by the 1880’s the waterway had gained the moniker “Lavendar Lake” for its odorous qualities. The current cost of the overall EPA Superfund cleanup plan is estimated to be over $1.5 billion, and the entire project won’t be completed until mid-2023. The Gowanus Canal is located in one of the densest population centers in America.

Looking like a river delta from the air, Cracked Ice makes a phenomenal pattern in the Third Street basin of the Gowanus Canal after Winter Storm Jonas on January 25, 2016

Looking like a river delta from the air, Cracked Ice makes a phenomenal pattern in the Fourth Street basin of the Gowanus Canal after Winter Storm Jonas on January 25, 2016. Sewage flowed into the canal as early as 1858, and by the 1880’s the waterway had gained the moniker “Lavendar Lake” for its odorous qualities. The current cost of the overall EPA Superfund cleanup plan is estimated to be over $1.5 billion, and the entire project won’t be completed until mid-2023. The Gowanus Canal is located in one of the densest population centers in America.