Community Response to BQE "Greening" Plans

The NYC Economic Development Corporation has released the results from a survey intended to gauge the community's response to various plans to rehabilitate and "green" the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway trench. 

The trench, which divides the Southern Brooklyn neighborhoods of Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens from the Columbia Street Waterfront District, was designed by Robert Moses more than 50 years ago. The trench is described by the city, elected officials and residents as an eye sore, a safety hazard and a pollution trap.

At a meeting last month at , NYC EDC presented three proposals designed by Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners to "fix the ditch." They are:

Maximum Green: Build green aspects and plantings, create safer crosswalks and install sound barriers

Connections: Install six new bicycle and pedestrian bridges

Green Canopy: Construct a latticed, steel canopy over the trench to cover the view of traffic and reduce noise and create energy with photovoltaic (solar) panels

Of the 74 respondents to the survey:

85 percent said the plans make the neighborhood feel safer for pedestrians

78 percent said the plans strike a good balance among pedestrians, bikers and cars

68 percent said the plans provide enough parking for residents

See the overall breakdown in the attached PDF. For more specific responses to each proposed design, visit NYCEDC.