Robert Moses' Layer Cake

There's no doubt that the view from the Brooklyn Heights Esplanade offers one of the great prospects of Downtown Manhattan and the Harbor. Here's the view (right) I am experiencing two layers below on the BQE headed west. Actually it opens up dramatically seconds later--over the Harbor, Governors Island, the ferries, Statue of Liberty, and Ellis Island.

The original plan for the BQE was to gouge six parallel traffic lanes through Brooklyn Heights, the way they were through the other neighborhoods. The community objected and proposed a three-decker with private gardens on top. Moses went along with it--under the condition that the top layer was a public promenade. So, for the views from above and below, thanks Robert Moses!

See the invaluable NYRoads (source for top photo) site for more of the story.