Dykes Lumber has been a fixture on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY, and allowed the “Gowanus: Industry & Ecology,” by artists Julia Whitney Barnes and Ruth Hofheimer to be painted on the side of the building at Sixth Street and the Fourth Street basin. The reflection of the mural inspired by Mexico City's floating gardens belies the Superfund status of the waterway.

Dykes Lumber has been a fixture on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY, and allowed the “Gowanus: Industry & Ecology,” by artists Julia Whitney Barnes and Ruth Hofheimer to be painted on the side of the building at Sixth Street and the Fourth Street basin. The reflection of the mural inspired by Mexico City's floating gardens belies the Superfund status of the waterway.

Dykes Lumber has been a fixture on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY, and allowed the “Gowanus: Industry & Ecology,” by artists Julia Whitney Barnes and Ruth Hofheimer to be painted on the side of the building at Sixth Street and the Fourth Street basin. The reflection of the mural inspired by Mexico City's floating gardens belies the Superfund status of the waterway.

Dykes Lumber has been a fixture on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY, and allowed the “Gowanus: Industry & Ecology,” by artists Julia Whitney Barnes and Ruth Hofheimer to be painted on the side of the building at Sixth Street and the Fourth Street basin. The reflection of the mural inspired by Mexico City's floating gardens belies the Superfund status of the waterway.

Dykes Lumber has been a fixture on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY, and allowed the “Gowanus: Industry & Ecology,” by artists Julia Whitney Barnes and Ruth Hofheimer to be painted on the side of the building at Sixth Street and the Fourth Street basin. The reflection of the mural inspired by Mexico City's floating gardens belies the Superfund status of the waterway.

Dykes Lumber has been a fixture on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY, and allowed the “Gowanus: Industry & Ecology,” by artists Julia Whitney Barnes and Ruth Hofheimer to be painted on the side of the building at Sixth Street and the Fourth Street basin. The reflection of the mural inspired by Mexico City's floating gardens belies the Superfund status of the waterway. 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.

Dykes Lumber has been a fixture on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY, and allowed the “Gowanus: Industry & Ecology,” by artists Julia Whitney Barnes and Ruth Hofheimer to be painted on the side of the building at Sixth Street and the Fourth Street basin. The reflection of the mural inspired by Mexico City's floating gardens belies the Superfund status of the waterway. 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.

Dykes Lumber has been a fixture on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY, and allowed the “Gowanus: Industry & Ecology,” by artists Julia Whitney Barnes and Ruth Hofheimer to be painted on the side of the building at Sixth Street and the Fourth Street basin. The reflection of the mural inspired by Mexico City's floating gardens belies the Superfund status of the waterway. 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.

Dykes Lumber has been a fixture on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY, and allowed the “Gowanus: Industry & Ecology,” by artists Julia Whitney Barnes and Ruth Hofheimer to be painted on the side of the building at Sixth Street and the Fourth Street basin. The reflection of the mural inspired by Mexico City's floating gardens belies the Superfund status of the waterway. 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.

365 Bond Street brought high end living along the banks of the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY, and was filled almost immediately upon its completion. The new building is reflected in the waters of the Superfund site and is the beginning of the end for industrial use of the canal.

Nighttime shots of reflections in the Gowanus Canal by Carroll Street bridge. Since 2016, the patch of graffiti on a warehouse by the Carroll Street Bridge on the bank of the Gowanus Canal welcomed visitors with the tagline ‘Welcome to Venice’ with the signature "Love Jerko." But just like the Canal itself, it became a victim of gentrification. The former home of Alex Figliolia Water & Sewer, the 65,000-square-foot industrial building disappeared without a trace. On my first visit to the canal since the pandemic struck, I had one of those "Oh No" moments when I drove across the historic Carroll Street Bridge and realized the graffiti covered wall was gone. Not just gone but obliterated like it had never been there.

Nighttime shots along the Gowanus Canal by Carroll Street bridge. Since 2016, the patch of graffiti on a warehouse by the Carroll Street Bridge on the bank of the Gowanus Canal welcomed visitors with the tagline ‘Welcome to Venice’ with the signature "Love Jerko." But just like the Canal itself, it became a victim of gentrification. The former home of Alex Figliolia Water & Sewer, the 65,000-square-foot industrial building disappeared without a trace. On my first visit to the canal since the pandemic struck, I had one of those "Oh No" moments when I drove across the historic Carroll Street Bridge and realized the graffiti covered wall was gone. Not just gone but obliterated like it had never been there.

A subway train is reflected in the water of the Gowanus Canal. The EPA begins dredging the Gowanus Canal on November 18, 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, by the Carroll Street Bridge. 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.

Graffitti reflects in the water of the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY, from a warehouse by the Carroll Street Bridge. The former home of Alex Figliolia Water & Sewer, the 65,000-square-foot industrial building disappeared without a trace. On my first visit to the canal since the pandemic struck, I had one of those "Oh No" moments when I drove across the historic Carroll Street Bridge and realized the graffiti covered wall was gone. Not just gone but obliterated like it had never been there.

Graffiti Reflection

Since 2016, the patch of graffiti on a warehouse by the Carroll Street Bridge on the bank of the Gowanus Canal was a beautiful artwork on the waterway, even the reflections were spectacular. But just like the Canal itself, it became a victim of gentrification. The former home of Alex Figliolia Water & Sewer, the 65,000-square-foot industrial building disappeared without a trace. On my first visit to the canal since the pandemic struck, I had one of those "Oh No" moments when I drove across the historic Carroll Street Bridge and realized the graffiti covered wall was gone. Not just gone but obliterated like it had never been there.

Since 2016, the patch of graffiti on a warehouse by the Carroll Street Bridge on the bank of the Gowanus Canal was a beautiful artwork on the waterway. But just like the Canal itself, it became a victim of gentrification. The former home of Alex Figliolia Water & Sewer, the 65,000-square-foot industrial building disappeared without a trace. On my first visit to the canal since the pandemic struck, I had one of those "Oh No" moments when I drove across the historic Carroll Street Bridge and realized the graffiti covered wall was gone. Not just gone but obliterated like it had never been there.

Scrap Metal makes interesting reflections on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY, Parts of the canal still seem post-apocalyptic, like the Benson Metal Corporation on Smith Street, where a giant metal claw lifts scrap metal from a giant pile to a waiting barge on the water. When the company paid an $85,000 fine in 2012 for dropping a large amount of material into the canal, the New York State Attorney General said, "The days when the Gowanus Canal could be treated as a dumping ground are over.”

Industry Fading Away

The manufacturing businesses on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY, are slowly fading away as residential buildings begin taking over the shoreline of the Superfund site. A cement plant sits beside a Whole Foods and gives residents a look at the waterway's past. With the EPA Superfund cleanup underway, more of the neighborhood will become residential.

The Gowanus Canal on the weekend of July 14, 2018, with the reflection of Dykes Lumber mural on the surface of the Fourth Street Basin.

The Gowanus Canal on the weekend of July 14, 2018, with the reflection of Dykes Lumber mural on the surface of the Fourth Street Basin.

The Gowanus Canal on the weekend of July 14, 2018, with the reflection of Dykes Lumber mural on the surface of the Fourth Street Basin.

The Gowanus Canal on the weekend of July 14, 2018, the reflection of the Carroll Street Bridge in the water, one of two retractile bridges left in New York, and one of four left in the United States, was opened to traffic in 1889.

Gowanus Canal poetry

Gowanus Canal graffiti reflections on September 12, 2018. Since 2016, the patch of graffiti on a warehouse by the Carroll Street Bridge on the bank of the Gowanus Canal welcomed visitors with the tagline ‘Welcome to Venice’ with the signature "Love Jerko." But just like the Canal itself, it became a victim of gentrification. The former home of Alex Figliolia Water & Sewer, the 65,000-square-foot industrial building disappeared without a trace. On my first visit to the canal since the pandemic struck, I had one of those "Oh No" moments when I drove across the historic Carroll Street Bridge and realized the graffiti covered wall was gone. Not just gone but obliterated like it had never been there.

Gowanus Canal poetry

Gowanus Canal graffiti reflections on September 12, 2018. Since 2016, the patch of graffiti on a warehouse by the Carroll Street Bridge on the bank of the Gowanus Canal welcomed visitors with the tagline ‘Welcome to Venice’ with the signature "Love Jerko." But just like the Canal itself, it became a victim of gentrification. The former home of Alex Figliolia Water & Sewer, the 65,000-square-foot industrial building disappeared without a trace. On my first visit to the canal since the pandemic struck, I had one of those "Oh No" moments when I drove across the historic Carroll Street Bridge and realized the graffiti covered wall was gone. Not just gone but obliterated like it had never been there.

Gowanus Canal poetry

Gowanus Canal graffiti reflections on September 12, 2018. Since 2016, the patch of graffiti on a warehouse by the Carroll Street Bridge on the bank of the Gowanus Canal welcomed visitors with the tagline ‘Welcome to Venice’ with the signature "Love Jerko." But just like the Canal itself, it became a victim of gentrification. The former home of Alex Figliolia Water & Sewer, the 65,000-square-foot industrial building disappeared without a trace. On my first visit to the canal since the pandemic struck, I had one of those "Oh No" moments when I drove across the historic Carroll Street Bridge and realized the graffiti covered wall was gone. Not just gone but obliterated like it had never been there.