Could the Gowanus Expressway Become a Greenway?
Here’s one for the awesome-ideas-that’ll-probably-never-happen file: The American Institute of Architects has drafted a design for replacing the Gowanus Expressway with a greenway on 3rd Avenue and putting a cable-suspension roadway on 1st Avenue, according to an article in yesterday’s Daily News. “The Gowanus Expressway is an aesthetic blight to the communities it straddles,” said…
Here’s one for the awesome-ideas-that’ll-probably-never-happen file: The American Institute of Architects has drafted a design for replacing the Gowanus Expressway with a greenway on 3rd Avenue and putting a cable-suspension roadway on 1st Avenue, according to an article in yesterday’s Daily News. “The Gowanus Expressway is an aesthetic blight to the communities it straddles,” said architect Glen Cutrona, who spearheaded the design project. “When it was constructed, it fractured the community. And while we’re aware that Third Ave. needs to be a vehicular corridor, it also lends itself to greening.” A plan to replace the expressway with a tunnel has been studied for more than 20 years but has so far come to nothing.
Make Gowanus Go Away [NY Daily News]
Expressway photo by gkjarvis; rendering from the Daily News.
I’m surprised the real estate barons aren’t pushing for scrapping the hideous gowanus expressway. property values on either side of its route would skyrocket, and the sunset park waterfront would become the new tribeca. could they be lacking in vision?
we will all be long dead and this will get built by our granchildren as slave labor for their alien overlords.
Skip the tunnel. Not only is 12:31 correct ALA Boston’s Big Dig $$$$, but we’ll never see it in our lifetimes. This is a nice alternative. Selling it with green space on third? Interesting concept, except I am not sure where all this space is on third that is depicted in this picture. With all the time and money they spent on fixing the Gowanus, they could have built this already.
newsouthsloper. The Gowanus MUST be replaced, that is ackowledged by all parties including DOT. The question is, with a new elevated highway or with a tunnel. This design is late to the table, as an entire EIS was already done. however, there is a movement to re-open the deis process to further explore options.
as for 1:38. agree that Bloomberg bollocks up the Cross-Harbor freight tunnel . . . but he recanted this summer (I believe in July) and now supports the plan. Part of his “greening” image change. The guy has one a 180 on a lot of issues, and in this case, for the best.
Dont waste your time people – The Pigs flying comment was right on. This city will do nothing in the area unless there is some major political or graf motivation. Doesnt seem likely.
Cross Harbor Freight Tunnel will likely never happen despite the economic and environmental benefits because in his worst decision as Mayor, Bloomberg caved to the biggest bunch of NIMBY’s in NYC – Juniper Park Civic Association – which is another example of why ‘local’ groups should be given only limited say in big projects – our Grandchildren will be choking on the fumes that these Nimby’s have forced by their selfish actions
The proposal as I understand it involves removing the existing Gowanus Expressway altogether (and good riddance).
NewYawker, that (preserving this god-awful POS structure) is the worst idea I have ever heard. You’ve clearly never walked or driven on, under, or near this obsolete structure.
I prefer to replace it with a tunnel, but this is an interesting alternative. Most important though, is to get rid of the Gowanus once and for all, and that the replacement includes dedicated mass transit lanes.
The proposal also includes support for the Cross harbor Freight Tunnel.
I love the idea, BUT:
Wouldn’t the exisiting elevated highway still need to be maintained just like it is now? even without cars? It’s rusting, and will always probably need to have structural work done from time to time, even if no cars used it. (Human/pedestrian/bicycling liability.) Could be expensive to save and maintain. Then again, maybe it’s cheaper to leave in place.
Conversely, if waterfront bridge goes up (love that idea!) then maybe most or all of the el gets torn down, and a huge (car-free????) median creates an incredible green mall on 3rd avenue. It could be extraordinary and would reconnect neighborhoods and make the waterfront much more accessible all through sunset park/greenwood/gowanus.
When I think about digging a tunnel, I just think of Boston’s big dig….$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Robert Moses must be turning in his grave. He invented segregation.