From the archives, here’s a winter view of the Lefferts Boulevard Bridge spanning the Long Island Rail Road, one of the more unusual bridges in Queens. Why, you ask?
It’s lined on both sides with commercial buildings. A complicated engineering solution encompasses three separate bridges on Lefferts: one for the roadway, and two on each side that support the buildings. According to Kew Gardens: Urban Village in the Big City author and PBS-TV host Barry Lewis, the store’s bridges actually run through the buildings’ roofs, with the storefronts hung from the bridges like a curtain on a rod. The engineering principle is similar to that of the circa-1565 Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) in Florence, Italy. The Lefferts Blvd. bridge had assumed its present condition by 1930.
Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop, and as always, “comment…as you see fit.”
7/27/17
7 comments
In the early 1800s where railroad tracks are it use to be a lake. On Lefferts Blvd and Hillside where Simonson Funeral home use to be located,an Englishman called Lefferts would take his cows to pasture up what is now Lefferts Blvd to what is mow Maple Grove Cemetery to pasture.
Apparently, the MTA is considering demolishing the bridge, as it is i serious need of repair. The stores lining both sides have signs in their windows asking locals to sign a petition to save their businesses.
More on this is at the link.
http://foresthillspost.com/mta-is-consider-demolishing-lefferts-blvd-bridge-businesses-fight-for-their-future
Would love more info on the design. The Ponte Vecchio has masonry buildings cantilevered off a masonry bridge so I’m not clear on the similarity.
the store with the multi sided roof at the intersection was Dani House of Pizza from the late ’50’s up to when I moved in 1987. Dani & his crew were Albanian immigrants. Their pizza was excellent!
the store with the multi sided roof at the intersection was Dani House of Pizza from the late ’50’s up to when I moved in 1987. Dani & his crew were Albanian immigrants. Their pizza was excellent!
When I went to school at P.S. 99, from 1957-1960, pizza at Dani’s used to be 15 cents a slice. I remember him pretty well – he was always very friendly. When it first opened, it occupied only the room which more recently became the dining room. There is a photo of Dani (or was, at least, a couple of years ago) on the wall in the current main room.
I recently went to Dani’s House of Pizza and it is still fantastic – very charming and excellent food, but still down to earth.