Last night I came across an interesting note in a travel magazine about the transformation of former elevated electronic rail tracks into a "floating park."
I can't quite tell what phase the project is in - the article said the first phase would be completed by the end of 2008, but the website is unclear. I'm curious to know if anyone has seen it in person. Thanks!
Colleen, I think it's still very much in the planning stage. Or maybe still in the "wouldn't it be nice if..." stage. If I am wrong, surely someone will let you know quickl.
If it's where I'm thinking (on the west side), they've been talking about this for years. Parts though, may be done, I haven't checked in a couple of years. We saw part of it while we were on a walking tour of Chelsea and the meat packing district years ago.
I had seen something on TV about the "High Line" some time ago. I just did a quick check and found this rather detailed description of the project from a CNN website.
It's just where you said, Kim, on the western end of Chelsea and originating in the former meatpacking district.
The high line is presently under construction with the first section scheduled to open in this spring. It's was modeled on the Promendade Plantee in Paris. See their website: http://www.thehighline.org/
After ten years of advocacy, planning and construction, the High Line is opening. Section 1 of the High Line (from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street) will open Tuesday, June 9, offering visitors the chance to preview the park, which is still under construction. Friends of the High Line thanks all the community partners, donors, volunteers, members, elected officials, and other supporters who've made this historic day possible.
Please note that access to the High Line may be limited during June. To ensure public safety during the first days and weeks that the High Line is open, visitors on the High Line will flow from south to north. Please plan on entering the park at the Gansevoort Street access point, unless you are in need of an elevator. Elevator service is available at 16th Street, with another elevator opening in July at 14th Street. You may exit the park at any of the northern access points (14th, 16th, 18th and 20th Streets). www.thehighline.org
Posts: 16055 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
Lovely news! I'll have to ask a good friend who's lived at 61 Jane St. (corner Greenwich) forever for her reactions. Next time I visit her I'll have to try it out (maybe).
I've just (finally?) heard something local about the Highline. It was mentioned on WNYC, the NY NPR affiliate, in connection with planned opening tomorrow. Sounds like it will be a lovely place to visit.
Official opening today, not Tuesday, apparently: "June 8, 2009 WE DID IT! HIGH LINE OPENS! Just moments ago, we stood with Mayor Bloomberg, Speaker Quinn, Borough President Stringer, Congressman Nadler, and other leaders and supporters and cut the ribbon on the High Line, officially opening the first section to the public."
Posts: 16055 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
I have an appointment downtown today with a little time to kill. Providing that it doesn't rain, I'm going to try to go over to the High Line. I'll report back. Did you see the article in today's Times - written by the architecture critic? It's a rave!
So, it was overcast, but I still enjoyed walking the length of the High Line yesterday. I can't say that I really had any expectations of what it would be like, but I was actually surprised...
More than being "just a park" atop an old elevated train line, it's more of a walkway with various plantings, levels, benches, and other features (including lots of old train track). There are areas where there are more plants and shrubs as well as places where it is just walkway. The walkway itself is constructed of cement "beams" that are about six or 8 inches wide.
What the review in the Times mentioned and what I agree with is the sense of being somewhat "away," since you are above things, but still very much in touch with the city since buildings and streets are right there with you. It's an interesting juxtaposition. The whole thing has an industrial feel, but this interspersed with the flowers and plants is quite pleasing. It was great to see so many people enjoying it, looking for angles, aspects, perspectives. The crowd was quite interested and almost sort of self-congratulatory/self-conscious to be among the first group to enjoy the space. It was filled with tourists and lots of other downtown types -- models, artists, filmmakers, etc.
David: someone told me they are issuing wrist bands to do crowd control and you are only allowed to walk in one direction at a time, along with the crowd. Is this true? If so, was it odd or still worth going? With all that in mind I was thinking of waiting until Fall.
Hi Kelly: I didn't see anyone wearing wristbands, but I was there on a cloudy Wednesday afternoon at about 4pm, not exactly prime time. Maybe they're doing that on weekends?
I did read that they are requesting people walk from the south end toward the north. 98% of the people there yesterday were doing that. There were High Line attendants all over the place - answering questions, etc. They might have been policing the walking direction as well, but I didn't personally see that happen. People were all just walking northwards.
It's hard to say how crowded it will get. Remember, I was there on day #2 - the crowds might yet be coming. That said, if you go on a weekday, it might not be so crowded...
Thanks for that link, Annie. It really looks like a neat place. And Colleen, thanks for linking to next month's GTG - I totally missed that with all my houseguests last week!
I finally got to the High Line Park. Walking along the old elevated railroad tracks gave me a different perspective of my beloved city. Apartments are now on eye level.
Well, it seems that The High Line Park has transformed the lower West Side of Manhattan. According to the linked article in the NY Times, New Yorkers love it, use it, and act differently in (on?) the park from the way they do elsewhere.
What a nice write up! It really does sound like a wonderful addition to the City. This part about the Standard Hotel (see webcam link earlier in this thread) surprised me ...
quote:
The Standard is itself a draw, attracting people hoping for a glimpse of the racy displays in the huge plate-glass room windows of the hotel, which seeks out exhibitionist guests by promoting itself as a sleek sex palace.
Posts: 16055 | Location: The Beautiful San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 06 August 2001
These are the Finch windows, a long line of windows filling a wall of a former loading dock along the High Line. They represent the Hudson River in large pixels, and were created from actual photographs of the river taken by the artist. They are very pretty, and it gave that space a cathedral-like feel to me.
Thank you for all the good info on the High Line Trail. My daughter-in-law, granddaughter and I will spend next week in NYC and we love things like that. I hope to walk the Trail then!
Glad you liked the pics. As you can tell, I just snapped away as we walked along - not a lot of editing in the selection process before posting - but I figure it's a relatively new feature & maybe more is better this time.
I paused at the Finch windows, read the signage, but thought maybe they hadn't been installed. I didn't get it - not sure if I do yet.
As I walked along the High Line, I got the impression that tourists & New Yorkers were on on more equal footing than in other parts of the city, such as Central Park. Both natives & visitors are still in the process of discovery & learning to appreciate the High Line.
I will definitely re-visit the High Line on any future visits to New York.
I just enjoyed a stroll along with you on the High Line what a wonderful project which brings people together and helps the environment with all the lush new (and old) vegetation. A brilliant dream come true, I'm sure, to the designers and folks who envisoned such a place.
About a week or so ago we saw a segment on the CBS news about the 'other' views people are getting from the High Line - all those huge windows in the Standard Hotel seem to bring out the exhibitionist in some people! HERE's an article about the problem.
I also read about the "shows" at the Standard Hotel before we left for New York. Below is my photo of the hotel. I thought the window cleaners gave the pic a humourous slant.
- I totally missed that with all my houseguests last week!
