To the east of the elevated subway station at Smith–9th Sts, in an area surrounded by former industrial blocks, is the Gowanus Canal. Despite its toxic status, the area is home to a number of artist studios and frequently attracts intrepid urban explorers in search of moody (if not entirely stench-free) waterfront pictures. With the opening of new restaurants and gourmet grocer Whole Foods, the area is Brooklyn's 'next big thing.'
A former creek named after Gouwane, a Canarsie Native American chief, it was here that ships to New York Harbor came to unload their goods. It was also where local industrial operations unloaded all kinds of untreated waste. Today, it has been declared a clean-up site by the Environmental Protection Agency.
