Jen Carlson writes about an incredibly ambitious (or naive) plan from 1934 to expand buildable area in New York by paving over the Hudson River.
According to Carlson, the plan was the product of engineering scholar Norman Sper, and envisioned, "damming the river at both ends of Manhattan, and filling in the space... which would 'ultimately connect the Island of Manhattan with the mainland of New Jersey.'
"The 10 square miles of land gained would have, in theory, solved the traffic and housing problems the city was having at the time. There would be more buildings, more streets, and more avenues."
Carlson provides a link to the original article documenting the project, which appeared in Modern Mechanix magazine, and the fantastic illustrations that accompanied it.
Read the full story: The 1934 Plan To Fill In The Hudson River, Connecting NYC To NJ
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