RIVERARCH SKYSCRAPER BRIDGE

What do you think of this crazy plan to build a "Hudson-Yards scale mixed-use Development" on a bridge over the East River?

The radical development titled the "RiverArch" created by Scott Baker connects the Lower East Side with Dumbo via a 96-story arched bridge with thousands of apartments, parks, entertainment, a school, social services, transit and more.

Of course, it could never be built because of zoning regulations, not to mention public opinion, but is it an eyesore or a great opportunity for affordable housing and much-needed community facilities?

In fact, building skyscraper bridges with apartments is not a new idea – in 1929 architect Raymond Hood was fascinated with the idea of residential skyscraper bridges, which he believed could both help solve the problems of traffic congestion and offer an ideal lifestyle on the waterfront (second image).

Watch the fly-through video above and read about the details from Baker's proposal:

RIVERARCH BY THE NUMBERS

- 7,250 1-8 bedroom apartments, averaging 2.5 persons and >2,200sf - an unprecedented blend of quantity and size for New York City
- No replacement of existing buildings/tenants - No decommissioning of parks - Minimal shadowing for size of the project
- Apartments ranging in affordability from 8-figure Condominiums down to 30% of Area Medium Income Rentals, potentially meeting a full
1% of Mayor de Blasio’s citywide goal to build and preserve 300,000 affordable units.
- 300,000sf of new Public Areas including: 2 50,000sf plazas - 2 19,900sf public parks - 2 30,000sf esplanades -
1 17,100sf Beach - 1 71,000sf Dog run/Playground Park
- Public and Private world class gyms totaling 309,000sf featuring: 12 11-story climbing walls; 1/4-mile running track; 2 Olympic-length
glass bottom pools; 1 2,500sf Sandbox with 2 70’ palm trees & a Zipline; and much more…
- 800,000sf prime commercial space
- 166,000sf/875-seat High School
- Beyond Platinum LEED certification: hyper-efficient passive design; 4 off-grid power sources for complete energy independence
- Teen Center - Senior Center - Dog Center
- 68,000sf Event Space - 132-seat movie theater - 4 80-person meeting rooms - 4 1,000sf Greenhouses

-42-person Catering Kitchen & Banquet Room
- 350-seat restaurant with unparalleled NYC views on the 87th floor
- 2 6,084sf public observation decks on the 87th floor
- Unparalleled views for discerning buyers
- 400 indoor parking spots & indoor pickup/drop-off - 1,344 bicycle spots
- 213,000sf of Resident Common Areas including: 20 semi-private courtyards - 4 Corner Terraces
4 3,250sf Lanais with indoor/outdoor gardens - 2 BBQ terraces - 4 Greenhouses - 1 100,000sf split-level roof deck
- Floor Area Ratio (FAR) under 10.8 if East River is included as part of Area (no interference with river beyond current land footprint; only air rights needed)