Gowanus

Named for the canal that slices through the neighborhood, Gowanus retains an industrial feel from its long history as a shipping and manufacturing center. As the industry left and new encouragement for development came from the city, artists began to arrive, attracted by the historic brick buildings and charming narrow drawbridges along the canal. Although this small neighborhood is quiet for the most part, Third Avenue has developed a handful of trendy restaurants, and residents have only to walk for a few minutes to enjoy the shopping and dining scenes in neighboring Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, and Cobble Hill. Completion of environmental cleanup is on the horizon, as are major parks projects that will turn the canal into a recreational amenity and improve links to surrounding areas.