Gowanus

In celebration of the canal’s sordid past — and slightly sunnier present — Arts Gowanus held its inaugural Gowanus Art Parade.

Officials granted a temporary certificate of occupancy on the basis that the operator would put in a round-the-clock fire watch guard. But the company in charge of security at the site is being investigated elsewhere for billing the city for fire guards who were never there.

The opening of the facility without advance testing from the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation is unexpected.

Change is coming quickly to Gowanus, and a stroll down Nevins Street reveals the extent of the transformation.

Since August last year, Gary Francis has monitored the canal almost daily to shed light on the health of one of the nation’s most polluted bodies of water.