Developers Propose Underground Park In Place Of Old Delancey Street Trolley Terminal

Imagine An Underground Park In NYC? It Could Become Reality

Spot Under Delancey Street May Be Developed Into Subterranean Paradise

November 22, 2011 8:19 PM

An artist’s rendering of the proposed underground park (credit: delanceyunderground.org/)

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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — When most people think of the New York City underground, the subway, rats and bad lighting are among the first things that come to mind.

But, how about beautiful spaces with natural sunlight, grass, trees and remarkably good-looking people relaxing in a park-like setting? Well, that’s exactly what pops into the heads of architect James Ramsey and his partner Dan Barasch. The pair want to turn the rundown, graffiti-covered trolley terminal under Delancey Street into an underground park, reports CBS 2′s Don Dahler.

“It’s part historical rediscovery of an amazing space; it’s part science-fiction. And I think it’s part just sort of a green, magical community renewal,” Ramsey said.

1010 WINS’ Terry Sheridan reports

“This is a space that could be used on a day like this that’s rainy and cold and grey. And it could be used in winter and it could be used when it’s freezing outside,” Barasch added.

While the plan may seem far-fetched to some, Ramsey and Barasch appear to be the right men for the job. Their resumes include words like “NASA,” “Yale,” “Cornell” and “Google.”

The ambitious duo were inspired by the overwhelming success of the “High Line” project, an elevated old train line turned park. The proposed “low line” park would take up three blocks underneath the Lower East Side, and would feature actual trees and greenery, thanks to technology straight out of science fiction.

Ramsey described the process, which would turn the dark bowels of Lower Manhattan, into a year-round sunny day, saying, “There’s three portions to this. There’s collecting the light and concentrating it. There’s sending it through either a shaft or fiber optic cable. And then there’s distributing it.”

The proposed park, which would be free to the public, has gotten a positive response from the city and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and although the developers aren’t sure yet how much it would cost, they’ve already started raising funds for their subterranean vision of the future.

For more information on the proposed park check out http://delanceyunderground.org

With the temperature dropping and winter on the horizon, how would you feel about soaking up some sun in a subterranean paradise? Comment Below.

Imagine An Underground Park In NYC? It Could Become Reality

NipplyOutside

They should build this park, fill it up with the “remarkably ugly” political gasbags in Washington DC and seal it with steel-reinforced concrete. Only after that will the rest of America be able to breath a sigh of relief.
elevenhundred

Space is cleared out and prepared for said park including running plumbing down there and all the necessities prior to actually building the park. Then there will be a bit of a budget crunch as there are every few years. The politicians will decide to “sell” the space to private companies owned by their friends to turn it into something more profitable.

They may or may not recoup the initial remodeling costs.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

This will become a haven for men who are interested in other mens rectums before the paint is even dry on the benches ..

Jewfromhell

Is this where they will film the remake of “Rear Window?”

vost

No, but the Mole Men of Manhattan will be.

Son of Samanthia

YES! You are right on this! Good read!

I love this line in the story “and remarkably good-looking people relaxing ” I NEED TO KEEP “BUFF” FOR THIS BABY!

LOL

jnsesq

Under Giuliani, sure. Under Unca Mikey it will be graffiti strewn and urine scented in no time.
currentdesigns

Interesting, but the bureaucrats in Bloomberg’s administration will bottle neck that for 10 + years.
chris

What passes for journalism today is a heap of crap. To wit:

1. This story is ripped directly from the Gray Lady.
2. The author also copied the laudatory praise that the NYT bestowed on Yale, even though anyone with a passing familiarity with Elis know that at least Old Blue is full of itself.
3. An important fact omitted from the story is that the MTA wants to make money off the tunnel. Note that this story doesn’t say how that will be done.

Most importantly though, I sure as hell these liberals don’t expect taxpayers to pay for another park. How many damn parks are there going to be in this city?
Liberals kill cities

And the day after it opens, the sub-human thugs that are allowed to infest NYC and terrorize its citizens are going to trash it. Next.
Jim

>>>OR we could put all the OWS protesters in there, and seal it off!~
Joe Doakes

In the old days if you wanted to build a bomb shelter you called it one.

Now you call it a park.

What ever floats your boat.
Hazel Burke

Of course it will be in Manhattan.
SerfCityHereWeCome

Yes, these times definitely cry out for a lawless trillion-dollar homeless shelter.
Oscarphone

I can almost smell the urine from here!
Sandra Rou Weber

The “City of Ember” comes to mind.
Sandra Rou Weber

The “City of Ember” come to mind.
Shawn

So, Gerry, you believe it’s okay to murder protesters? How American!
LEL

I imagine a warm sheltered place where communist “occupiers” will stay the winter month, building piles of dung and trash in addition to there pillage & rape escapades.

UpChuck.Liberals

Oh I hope they plan on the ventilation system of all ventilation systems. If it doenn’t smell like a cess pool within a week, I’ll be surprised.

septic rat

Chuck the current sewer manhole tops will be retrofitted with fans. All is good!

Bill Purkins

Why waste the money? Eventually it would just wind up as the strategic headquarters of “Occupy the Sewers.”
BillYBoy

Montreal Canada has over 20 miles of tunnels over about 5 square miles. Been there done that. It works, it’s fantastic. USA will drop the ball once the EPA, FDA, CIA, TSA, USPS, etc. get involved. Too bad.

Bill in Houston

Houston has seven miles of tunnels covering its downtown area.

Give Me 60 Armed Men

As a citizen and informed observer it is readily apparent that whomever concocted this idea should have their head sliced off.
Kirisu

Looks like NYC must have a budget surplus this year…
Jace

As long as tehy pay for it themselves adn dont’ suck up the taxpayer money, I say go for it. But don’t steal what we work for for your dubai-like fantasies.

Thos Weatherby

You not only have the cost of building this but then you’ll have the upkeep of the park to contend with. How about auctioning the place off to the highest bidder. Why does Government need to be involved.

Bob Obringer

Where in the world does it say the government is involved? I assume the MTA controls the space and that is the only indication of any government involvement at all… their approval.

Every indication is that this would be privately funded.

Where is everybody getting this… it seems like 90% of the people on this thread are repeating the same thing even though it’s not mentioned ANYWHERE in the article.

Cmate

While Rome burns…
MeJay

talk about another huge terrorist target.
Bob Carson

Would the OWS vermin be allowed to put up tents in this park? Would it be well ventillated?

Gerry

It would be easy to fumigate it at night to get rid of the OWS trash since it would be a closed environment. They can haul the carcasses out before anyone sees them in the morning.

lel

I do believe the NYC trash hauler are union. Not so sure there open to heavy hauling in the late evening.

dollars and SENSE

What is being done about financial public assistance being awarded to those who don’t deserve it?

Criminal federal Reserve

Quite certain it’s being increased to attract greater hordes of non integrating illegals with the eventual goal of out breeding the native white population, destroying any sense of allegiance and creating a super voting block who will always vote to overrule the constitution to obtain more cheese.

Gerald Carter

They said the same thing when the Irish was coming to this country and when the Italians were coming to this country. When will you people ever stop? Your never right and you are always on the wrong side of history.

LearnHistory

Hey Gerald

When earlier generations of immigrants came to America there were QUOTAS and THEY WERE INSPECTED UPON ARRIVAL. Nobody SNUCK IN.They were not breaking the LAW. So when this country goes down the tubes it’ll be because
IMBECILES like YOU who think that a MASSIVE ILLEGAL ALIEN POPULATION is the “right” side of history.

Gerald Carter

Racist like you never had any problems with quotas when whites were coming in. Now that mostly browns are coming in you think there should be quotas. We need more people and citizens in this country. We can use more people to pay taxes and contribute to social security. I say open up the flood gates and allow more to come here.

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Imagine An Underground Park In NYC? It Could Become Reality

Spot Under Delancey Street May Be Developed Into Subterranean Paradise

November 22, 2011 8:19 PM

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