Housing Over the BQE? Could Be
Part of Mayor Bloomberg’s plan for squeezing more housing units out of an already-crowded city includes building decks over rail lines and highways. Of particular relevance to Brownstone Brooklyn is a nine-block stretch of the BQE that currently cuts a deep channel through Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens. “A platform could be constructed over the…
Part of Mayor Bloomberg’s plan for squeezing more housing units out of an already-crowded city includes building decks over rail lines and highways. Of particular relevance to Brownstone Brooklyn is a nine-block stretch of the BQE that currently cuts a deep channel through Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens. “A platform could be constructed over the below-grade section of the BQE to create nine new blocks of housing reconnecting two neighborhoods,” said a mayoral panel. We haven’t had time to fully digest what such a move would mean for the character and connectedness of the two sides of the highway. What do you think? What would it mean for the properties that currently overlook the expressway?
‘Rail’ Big Housing Plan [NY Post]
I drove through this section of the BQE on my way home today, and I have to second serge. I can’t imagine that they will be able to go very deep into the highway cut because of overhead clearance… and that means any buildings will likely sit a little above grade compared to the surrounding buildings. I would be worried that it wouldn’t add to the flow of the neighborhood at all. And who would feel comfortable purchasing a property here? But an earlier poster is right… there are some properties that go over the FDR, I think it’s just hospital and commercial buildings though I’m not sure.
It would be a reversal of Robert Moses disaster, excellent idea! as opposed to the bad idea of taxing the cars going to midtown Manhattan. If you want to reduce traffic, build a better subway and ban cars altogehter from midtown. Tax won’t cut it, since same people won’t stop using their cars and the city will steal some more money from it’s citizens.
I think it would make a good park, housing there would be almost impossible. The sewer and utilities connection would be difficult as would the elevator mechanics given that you cannot push down too far or the higher trucks would be in trouble. clean air standards would be very difficult to meet. vibration control would be hard. It would be the most expensive housing per square foot anywhere.
The buildings over the FDR project out only partially, and the highway is open on the river side. The BQE is a ditch here, they would have to put in air and smoke evacuation systems. Oy! it’s hard enough to design a complying building on terra firma. this would present a full-employment opportunity for the city’s engineers.
A park would be easier, not easy, but within reason.
I think a park would be abetter idea than housing. This city is too congested as it is!
I would worry about the long term. What happens when the housing wears out and has to be replaced? Shut down the rail yards for a year for demolition?
Another way to look at pop in 2030 is that it will not reach the forecast heights because there isn’t enough room, and adding housing is too expensive in an already congested city. Easier to re-grow Philadelphia.
As someone who lives on the West side of the BQE, I wonder how we’ll get cut off from the rest of Brooklyn during construction – I cross the BQE every day to either catch the B61 to the subway or get anywhere for that matter. Walking down Columbia Street and under the BQE overpass at Atlantic isn’t exactly my idea of convenient.
On the other hand, it would be nice to have some new development here…maybe they would increase the frequency of B61’s? It comes just about every other day or so right now.
I think the plan is brilliant — either way, putting in housing or a long park would be a great way to cover up that mess that is the BQE and reconnect the neighborhoods. As far as putting housing up there… aren’t there a bunch of buildings that hang over the FDR drive? I’ve seen this type of reclamation done really well in a number of other cities, and as long as you’ve got a good developer doing it (good construction — not some of the shoddy work that’s being done around town recently — and lots of community involvement), there are really no negatives to speak of. Bravo to all the people who have put this together! I’m so excited at the prospect of reversing all of the neighborhood severance.. and all the proposed new greenspace.. oh how I could go on.
i’d bet good money that western bed stuy WILL probably get renamed at some point in the near future, because it is turning into “clinton hill north” as people push further and further out from the city. why wouldn’t it happen there, when it’s happened everywhere else in nyc? and as for that BQE project..enough already…move the nets!
ugh. More development? THe BQE is a drag but at least you have the feeling of open sky down here in this corner of Brooklyn.If they build, we’ll just get more god awful sky scrapers occluding the grand open vista of the new york harbour. and where will the children got to school in a district where you have a lottery for pre-school even when you’re zoned?? hmm. bitter much?