Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Fix the Ditch!!

Last week, the NYC Economic Development Corporation released an RFQ (Request for Qualifications) for a study that will look at ways of minimizing impacts of the "ditch" portion of the BQE, which the EDC site describes as:

Ways to mitigate its noise and pollution, and reconnect communities on both sides. Solutions may include beautification projects such as green planted buffers, overhanging walkways and/or pedestrian crossing bridges. Ultimately, this project will benefit the community and enhance the surrounding region by developing a pedestrian transportation network, improving air quality, decreasing noise pollution, expanding recreation options, and providing safe pedestrian access to and from the nearby waterfront Columbia Street area.

According to an email sent out to the Carroll Gardens Neighborhood Association list by Craig Hammerman (Community Board 6 District Manager), this study is being funded by a $300,000 grant that was secured by Congressmember Nydia Velázquez, with the support and encouragement of Community Board 6 and local civic groups.

Information on the RFQ is available here

Responses are due by 7/8/09 so please spread the word! It would be great to see ANY improvement on this section of the BQE - which we are all familiar with by walking over or along it everyday.

An article by the Brooklyn Paper points out that this RFQ is far less ambitious than previous designs that considered possibilities such as decking it over (see below), but still ANY improvement will be great.


Image above from Dland Studio via The Brooklyn Paper

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