I Cover the Waterfront

"Mr. Markowitz, Tear Down This Wall?"

The view from the BQE West as it skirts the nascent Brooklyn Bridge Park. The prospect from the BQE East (lower-tier) is even less inviting (see below). What is that wall of dirt blocking the view of the waterfront? According to the the BrooklynBridgePark.org, this will become the "Pier 3 & 4 Upland." Merriam-Webster (online) helpfully defines upland as "high land especially at some distance from the sea: plateau" or "ground elevated above the lowlands along rivers or between hills." Fair enough, but what's the purpose of creating an artificial plateau between the BQE and the waterfront? An expensive sound barrier for strollers along the waterfront? A hiking path the puts you eye to eye with drivers stuck in traffic? Time will tell. Let's just hope the BQE doesn't collapse from disrepair (upon this upland fair).