Chester Court pedestrian bridge?

RudolfAhrens · November 2015

Off-the-wall idea here:

It's a half mile from Lincoln to Parkside, and people wishing to get to the park from in between have to choose one or the other.

Chester Court is half way in between. It's a dead end street, ending in a brick wall and the Q train tracks.

On the other side is Ocean on the Park, the landmarked houses, as well as, just a few feet north, 185 Ocean Avenue, a condo building with a driveway and parking in the back.

So in theory, if money, building codes, the city, and zoning were no object, one could build a very short pedestrian/bike bridge over the Q tracks, from the end of Chester Court, to the parking lot and driveway of Ocean on the Park, and connect all of Lefferts Manor directly to the park.

Can you use eminent domain for this?

whynot_31 · November 2015

There seems to be buildings in the way. Perhaps you could buy one of the row houses on the other side of the tracks and then hollow out the first floor to allow people to walk thru after they cross the bridge.

...charge a small toll per pedestrian.

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6581953,-73.9609933,18.91z Screen Shot 2015-11-11 at 9.39.17 PM

RudolfAhrens · November 2015

They just need to build the bridge at a diagonal, from Chester Court to 185 Ocean. No buildings in the way there.

whynot_31 · November 2015

The distance is close enough that it could be achieved via human cannon. We'd set up two: one on Chester Court to go to the park, and the other in the park to come back.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJ79-rq55Vc

suppleknuckles · November 2015

i have a friend who lives in that condo building; it seems physically feasible but a logistical nightmare. first, you'd need permission probably from both the condo building and the neighboring house since they seem to share that driveway. and since it would have to be built diagonally that means it would probably be a much harder structure to support given the length and everything. no, i actually like the fact that whole stretch is not accessible to the park easily. so you have to walk an extra 1/4 of a mile in the worst case; big deal. to me it seems like the tiniest payback for the people who get to live in fancy manor buildings on rutland and fenimore

still, maybe you should suggest it to Hudson companies. they're probably the people with the most cash and would actually stand to gain something from this as their building would suddenly have super easy (albeit creepy at night) park access

bobmarvin · November 2015

"you'd need permission probably from both the condo building and the neighboring house since they seem to share that driveway"

The owners of the neighboring house seemed obsessed with their driveway during the building of the condo and the landmarking process for Ocean on the Park. I doubt that permission would be possible. Also I think the landmark status would nix Whynot's idea about hollowing out an Ocean Ave. house (which, I suspect, was as tongue-in-cheek as his human cannon idea).

bobmarvin · November 2015

BTW, I live in Lefferts Manor and don't mind walking to Lincoln Rd. to get to the park.

whynot_31 · November 2015

Land marking does present a problem.

And, given local fire codes, a catapult may be more more feasible than a cannon. Let's give this guy a call:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIK0SZBoBvg

RudolfAhrens · November 2015

Whoever lives in the house should just pay for the bridge and then charge a toll.

mugofmead111 · November 2015

Wouldn't the MTA be involved because this theoretical bridge would go over its tracks? Air rights?

whynot_31 · November 2015

I think it is safe to assume that they are going to want everyone who crosses the bridge to have an EZpass or Metrocard.

mugofmead111 · November 2015

I think it is safe to assume that they are going to want everyone who crosses the bridge to have an EZpass or Metrocard.

Built-in congestion pricing. LOL

whynot_31 · November 2015

Bikers are going to complain that they didn't get their own lane.

People with disabilities are going to want the access way to be at least 36" wide, without steps, and have a 3% grade or less.

Advocates for the elderly are going to want benches every 100 feet, while other people are going to be opposed to benches because they potentially provide comfort to unsightly homeless people.

Design and public comment period: 3 years.

Time needed to secure funding: 4 years

Date of completion: 2023.

Cost: $22 Million

Chester Court pedestrian bridge?

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