By comparing the isolation of Roosevelt Island, located between Queens and Manhattan in the East River, with our 10 Acre piece of desert we detected that the main reason why the Island feels so detached from the rest of the city is the way thru traffic is handled. In fact, there is no thru traffic on Roosevelt Island. By car you have to leave Roosevelt Island the same way you entered it. All automobile thru traffic that crosses from Manhattan to Queens is elevated and does not touch or connect to the island. The only physical attachments are two pillars that sit on the island and support the bridge’s elevation. Roosevelt Island is a Dead End and therefore the ideal role model for our Nevada lot where we want to achieve the same situation.

When you’re down out there, Cause you feel the street, When evening falls so hard It will comfort you. It will be this part. When traffic comes And pain is all around, Like a bridge over Roosevelt Island It will lead them through. Like a bridge over dead end island It will lead all through.

T H E M E S O N G - - - L I K E A B R I D G E

O V E R  R O O S E V E L T   I S L A N D

entrance to Roosevelt Island, July 2004

the Queens bridge leads all traffic "over