There's been a lot of talk about how to gussy up parts of the haggard BQE lately, and in the case of the "BQE trench"?the sunken section of the highway that's basically an extended Robert Moses middle finger to Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and the Columbia Street Waterfront District?those words may lead to actions, if, uh, you've got a few million bucks sitting around. Yesterday those whimsical jolly green plans for a less soul-sucking BQE trench got fleshed out by Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners on behalf of the city's Economic Development Corporation. Brace yourself, because there are now three big ideas for fixing up the trench. Collect 'em all!
The Brooklyn Paper has a rundown of the proposals, which were presented at a public meeting last night. Here's the gist:
1) Green the trench! A massive tree-planting effort to make the chasm more appealing to the eye, "creating one of the greenest stretches in all of Brooklyn." Maybe some sound barriers, too! Estimated cost: $10 million and up.
2) Span the trench! Build new bicycle and pedestrian bridges over the trench at Warren, Baltic, Degraw, President and Carroll Streets. Estimated cost: $20 to $45 million.
3) Canopy the trench! The real longshot: An "iconic, energy-generating green canopy" along the length of the ditch from Atlantic to Hamilton Avenues, made out of steel and sporting numerous environmental benefits. Estimated cost: $85 million.
Fun! But before you go voting on which plan you prefer, please remember that the city has no timeline or source of funding for any of these ideas. Dare to dream, Brooklyn. The ArchPaper has some renderings from this summer provided by the EDC that appear to show early versions of each of these plans. UPDATE: The EDC sent along some fresh renderings. Check 'em out in the above gallery.
· Three sum! City likes BQE fix plans, but balks at price [BK Paper]
· Have Your Say On the Future of the BQE Monday Evening [ArchPaper]
· BQE coverage [Curbed]
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