From Architect's Newspaper:A new park design is moving forward in Southside Williamsburg, thanks to a plan to cap the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) trench running through the neighborhood. Brooklyn Councilwoman Diana Reyna first proposed the idea in 2005, arguing that building a cohesive park in the area would help remedy health issues affecting local children, including asthma, obesity, and diabetes. Early last spring, Brooklyn-based dlandstudio was selected to research strategies for building atop the trench.
“The kids who play there have to play by a six-lane highway,” said dlandstudio principal Susannah Drake. As for Southside Williamsburg’s existing park areas, Drake said, “They’re not well-equipped, they’re disconnected, and they’re often difficult to get to.” Drake and her team spent the better part of 2010 helping Councilwoman Reyna drum up support for the plan from community organizations and government agencies, relying on scientific evidence about noise and air pollution to gain public and private interest. The team is drawing upon several California studies that linked the proximity of major highways to asthma rates, and spurred state legislation prohibiting construction of schools within 150 feet of heavily trafficked arteries. According to dlandstudio, there are five public elementary schools and two junior high schools within the general vicinity of the proposed park area.
As part of a Phase 1 to be carried out over the next two to five years, the new decks require approval from the city and state departments of transportation, both of which have already expressed support. “Many of the moves we identified in the first phase can be done right now and without much money,” said Drake, who has been given an estimated budget range of $85 to $175 million for the full scope of the project. But some of the park’s components—a large community center, for instance—could be completed at a later date, once the initial groundwork has been laid and more public and private funding secured.
So the Bloomberg Administration can get a $175M park done in Brooklyn but are balking at the price of a much smaller project in Jackson Heights?
13 comments:
It's not who you know, it's who you ...
"...including asthma, obesity, and diabetes"
These will be cured by kids riding up and down on a seesaw?
I would like to know how much money the Parks Department has. They have taken Cedar Grove Beach Club, on Staten Island by eminent domain to build a park. Where are they getting all this money???? The state the city is in right now, no monies should be going to build parks. If anything, any money the Parks Dept. has should be used to maintain parks. Something is very wrong.....very wrong.
All the money is fed money.
When all the people stuck in traffic under the park die fromco exposure,how do we get the vehicles and bodies out.Now that's a hell a traffic backup!
This would be very nice over the LIE at 80th Street, too - think I can get it?
I asked to get barriers extended (now opposite the Tanks Park from Assembly person Marge Markey - which fell on deaf ears. (She's DD&B anyhow).
"All the money is fed money."
The feds are broke as well.
The BQE was there before the kids (and their parents) were. If you want the quality of life that comes from not living next to a controlled access highway, don't choose to live next to one.
Widen the BQE, don't cover it up.
AND THERE IS NO MONEY TO BUY 6 ACRES IN WHITESTONE TO TRANSFORM IT INTO A PARK WITH GARDEN PATHS TO AVOID MORE DEVELOPMENT ON A SITE WITH NO SEWERS, UTILITIES, AND OR ANY INFRASTUCTURE? WAY TO GO , F@#* QUEENS OVER AND OVER. THE LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS NEED TO STAND UP AND DEMAND THE RIGHT THING BE DONE. EMINENT DOMAIN IN STATEN ISLAND TO FOR A PARK? NOT IN QUEENS HERE ITS THE OTHER WAY AROUND EMINENT DOMAIN TO GIVE PROPERTY TO THE DEVELOPERS. AMAZING HOW THE ELECTEDS SAY "THIS IS AMERICA" AND THE LAND OWNERS "DEVELOPERS" HAVE RIGHTS WHEN IT SUITS THE DEVELOPERS. RIGHT COUNCILMAN HALLORAN?
No doubt lots of the billionaire powers-that-be have hipster kids living in Williamsburg.
No doubt lots of the billionaire powers-that-be have hipster kids living in Williamsburg.
The eminent Domain on Staten Island by Parks Department will soon be given to developers. They say it is for a park but rumors have it that it will be developed after it lays dormant and rots for a while.
Insiders at City Hall told the residents there that it was a done deal.....the land was being sold to a developer. We will wait and see.
As a landscape architect I know is a great idea for use of un-used wasted space but note this was proposed and designed in late 1970's and re-designed for NYCDOT by Vollmer Associates as a park with playground areas so is not new idea. The main issue and expense is ventillation. Oh and the traffic during construction- this is one of the worst highways in NYC.
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