Mycelium and Gas Stations?

Mycelium has a unique ability to rapidly break down the hydrocarbons found in oil and petroleum... and use them as... nutrients.

image from kk.org

In an experimental challenge, a strain of oyster mushrooms overtook a pile of oil-contaminated soil, produced oyster mushrooms of 12" in diameter (pictured), which attracted flies, insects, and then birds, which brought seeds that sprouted, producing greenery..... in one month.
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Last night, I was thinking about what the most difficult parts of Shelbourne to improve might be.

Oooh, let's go there!

My current answer is gas stations.

They are located at key should-be neighbourhood centres:

   THREE at Shelbourne & Hillside,
+ ONE at Shelbourne & Cedar Hill,
+ THREE at Shelbourne & McKenzie.
   SEVEN gas stations in 2.6km

So what?

Well, I see my neighbourhood centres as a place for people. But, besides their horrible aesthetic and complete anti-pedestrian effect, as far as I know, gas stations cannot immediately be converted into different uses. I cannot find a reference, but I believe one must wait years to build on the contaminated site (Cook & Hillside anyone?).

This means that having attractive, human-scaled streetscapes at those key intersections is a long, long way off.

So... how do get rid of the gas stations without creating a multi-year wasteland (which would actually be better than a gas station, in my opinion)?

Then, I remembered MYCELIUM.

Would it work to repair contaminated gas stations faster?

Why we are not investing millions and millions into researching this stuff, I do not know.

I will save you a longer read. If you are interested, then follow the links.

TED Talks: 6 ways mushrooms can save the world: Paul Stamets
(He's not the most engaging speaker in the world, but stick with it!)




Articles:
  
Mushrooms break down oil and plastic in bioremediation

Mushroom Power