Today’s lunchtime News Chums brings three articles related to tunnels:
- DC Tunnels. The Atlantic has an interesting article about a new vision for the abandoned streetcar tunnels in Washington DC, specifically running under Dupont Circle. Those tunnels still exist today, empty and full of dust. In the mid-1990s a developer named Geary Simon opened a dreary food court called Dupont Down Under in the 75,000 square-foot space, but the project was shuttered just 15 months later amid a flurry of lawsuits. The Arts Coalition is designing plans where the general idea is to have some combination of arts-focused gallery or performance space, a handful of eateries or wine bars, and a major retail anchor.
- NYC Tunnels. In New York City, the success of the “High Line” has resulted in efforts to rehab the former trolley terminal under Delancy Street. The notion, called “Delancy Underground” or “the Low Line”, is to convert the space into a subterranean park, using fiber-optic technology to channel in natural light — enough light, in fact, to allow photosynthesis to occur and, as a result, for plants to thrive. NYC is listening… because they need the money.
- LA Tunnels. Alas, we don’t have that many tunnels here in LA, and there’s nothing new happening with the old subway tunnels. However, there is an interesting article concerning some shorter tunnels that are used everyday: 80 years ago yesterday the North Figueroa Street tunnels, now part of Route 110, were dedicated. These tunnels connected downtown LA to the northern parts of the city and Pasadena.
