The High Line: From Abandoned Rail Line To Urban Linear Oasis

Oct 16, 2011
Andy Reed

The High Line At Chelsea Market - ikbonset

The High Line, which snakes its way through the lower west side of Manhattan, has sparked a renaissance of neighborhoods adjacent to the line

Originating just below West 12th Street in lower Manhattan, the High Line, which officially opened in June, 2009, is still very much a work in progress. In its present form, the line stretches for over a mile, winding its way through the Meatpacking District, Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen, all the way up to West 30th Street.

My family and I, with the knowledgeable assistance of our Manhattan-based friend, Becket, traversed our way through the West Village, eventually arriving at the Gansevoort and Washington Street intersection. This is where the High Line begins. The park (yes, it is a park, and is owned and operated by the City of New York) is free of charge to enter, and is currently open (fall hours) from 7am until 10pm, seven days a week. Beginning December 1, the park will close at 7 pm.

Nighttime Is The Best Time To Be On The High Line

We entered the park around 7pm, which was just about the time the bright lights of the surrounding city scape were ablaze. I was taken aback by the sheer number of fellow patrons enjoying the same natural and artificial wonders that we were. However, I soon realized that our canine friends are not allowed to appreciate the park as well, and this specific forbiddance is strictly applied. Dog urine, which as many of us know is highly acidic, can adversely impact plant roots, as it will interact with the direct rainwater runoff that irrigates the soil. Besides, the pathway is distinctly narrow in several locations, therefore having a dog in tow would make transit quite challenging.

There are a number of other regulations along the line, with what could best be described as inconspicuous security personnel throughout the walk to unassumingly enforce those rules. Most areas of the line are well-lit, although there are spots along the newer section (beyond West 20th Street which opened in June, 2011) that appeared at times to be a bit desolate, dark and under-utilized. What does lie ahead of West 20th Street is referred to as Section 2 of the High Line, which has not yet experienced the same level of neighborhood redevelopment.

Numerous Amenities Along The High Line

For instance, the boutique Standard Hotel, which actually straddles the line just before West 13th Street, is an architectural marvel that offers breathtaking views of the New York metropolitan area. It is this very untraditional-looking structure that sets the tone for the amount of gentrification prevalent along the line. A notable addition is the Chelsea Market Passage, which encompasses a series of food vendors and impressive works of art near West 16th Street. My wife and step-daughter purchased artisanal gelato L'Art Del Gelato. Each dish of this all natural treat cost around $3.

One can enter the High Line through five different access points, including at Gansevoort Street. However, above West 20th Street, and all the way to its present end point at West 30th Street, you're out of luck. Though the entire line is deemed wheelchair accessible, there are only three elevators in use at present, located at the West 14th and West 16th Street crossings and at the end on West 30th. Furthermore, only one set of restrooms is located anywhere along the High Line, and that is at the West 16th Street access point.

Nevertheless, this massive collaborative endeavor is indeed both an engineering and environmental treasure. For Section 1 to be completed and prepared for public enjoyment, it required three years of extensive reconstruction, involving the removal of all lead paint from original surfaces. Only the city of Paris has successfully completed a similar project, with several other urban centers around the world seeking to complete analogous commercial and industrial reuse projects.

Future of West Side Rail Yards Still Undecided

Long-standing plans are in place to extend the line to West 34th Street. Discussions continue with CSX Transportation, the company that donated this section but which still owns it. Whether or not the line above West 30th Street is actually preserved depends on what the Metropolitan Transit Authority and a private developer together decide is the best course of action. It is entirely possible, though, that the remaining half-mile of the line could be demolished.

Let's hope that there is a way for all interested parties to arrive at a resolution that results in the conversion of the final half-mile of the line. On October 27, it was reported that a $20 million gift, courtesy of the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation that will toward paying for the final design of the remaining undeveloped half-mile stretch. To learn more about how you can help to not only preserve the existing High Line but to finish it, read about how to become a Friend of the High Line.