The Highline day and night
August 26, 2009
Vancouver consultant Solomon Wong was in New York for a weekend, and made it a priority to see the newly opened Highline – a crumbling elevated rail line in Manhattan, transformed into a pedestrian greenway – both day and night. It’s just possibly the most significant new public space in North America.
You can see his Picasa slideshow here.
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“Vancouver consultant Solomon Wong was in New York for a weekend, and made it a priority to see the newly opened Highline – a crumbling elevated rail line in Manhattan . . .”
“http://www.alternet.org/environment/142327/high_crime_on_the_high_line%3A_why_is_nyc%27s_highest-profile_park_using_amazon_wood/”
The problem with being a pontificating week end lookie loo is – you never get the whole story . . . even if, sanctimoniously, you ride a bike at home . . .
I’m looking forward to seeing the High Line and my snarky question is not whether it is great — I bet it is — but does it offer any specific lessons or models which can be applied elsewhere? What can we learn from the High Line?
My sense is that the High Line is so sui generis that it offers few lessons which people would be happy to apply. For example, in Seattle one might argue that the Viaduct should be preserved as a walking space even if we build the Tunnel. (Neither is likely, actually.) I think an awful lot of people would be appalled by that idea — but why not? The High Line is a huge bulky presence; so is the Viaduct but with far better views.
The High Line is probably a great park and certainly a great media event. But what can we learn from it? (Question meant sincerely.)