Penciled in for 2025: the Medium Line
September 14, 2012 7:52 AM   Subscribe

Could the Low Line be joining New York's popular High Line park?
posted by shothotbot (41 comments total) 5 users marked this as a favorite
 
I don't see any way this can succeed.
posted by stopgap at 7:56 AM on September 14, 2012 [1 favorite]


This looks like an interesting way to use an abandoned space to the benefit of the city's people. Good luck, Low Line!
posted by boo_radley at 8:09 AM on September 14, 2012 [1 favorite]


I don't see any way this can succeed.

Well then I guess you missed the part about it being dark, underground and licheny.
posted by shothotbot at 8:11 AM on September 14, 2012 [3 favorites]


Yeah, idk. I can't think of any underground space that is open to the public that DOESN'T stink of piss constantly, so I can't imagine this will somehow be the first.
posted by elizardbits at 8:17 AM on September 14, 2012 [2 favorites]


When the end-times come we'll be glad someone figured out how to do plants underground. I say go for it.
posted by bleep at 8:17 AM on September 14, 2012


I oppose the gentrification of traditionally CHUD neighborhoods.
posted by Ad hominem at 8:17 AM on September 14, 2012 [27 favorites]


Life imitating Minecraft
posted by Crease Lambada at 8:30 AM on September 14, 2012 [2 favorites]


I can't think of any underground space that is open to the public that DOESN'T stink of piss constantly...

Perhaps this can be an experiment in finding out which plants can live in a urine-heavy environment. Like those deep-sea creatures found near ammonia vents.
posted by griphus at 8:30 AM on September 14, 2012 [2 favorites]


griphus: "
Perhaps this can be an experiment in finding out which plants can live in a urine-heavy environment. Like those deep-sea creatures found near ammonia vents.
"

Sure, why not. SIGNAGE: "Don't urinate in this garden -- having a deep-sea candiru attack your urethra often offends".
posted by boo_radley at 8:37 AM on September 14, 2012


I havn't been to the High Line but perhaps that is the perfect place for pedestrianism training.
posted by Ad hominem at 8:43 AM on September 14, 2012 [2 favorites]


I've been in plenty of underground public spaces that don't stink. I think this is a great idea, a recycling of an already-built space that will probably be very inexpensive to heat and cool.
posted by mareli at 8:43 AM on September 14, 2012 [2 favorites]


I've been in plenty of underground public spaces that don't stink.

In NYC? Really?
posted by elizardbits at 8:46 AM on September 14, 2012


elizardbits: "Yeah, idk. I can't think of any underground space that is open to the public that DOESN'T stink of piss constantly, so I can't imagine this will somehow be the first."

To be fair, the smell of burning train parts tends to drown out the smell of the piss on the DC Metro.
posted by schmod at 8:48 AM on September 14, 2012 [2 favorites]


This same fiber technology could revolution the lighting of buildings - imagine sunlight in every room on every floor. Imagine a giant canopy with fiber over your house, creating a shady area outside but funneling all the light so you can have it bright and sunny even on an overcast day (with shades to control how much comes in, of course). I wonder, if you kept the configuration of the fibers, would you be able to see an image of what the other end of the fibers was pointing at? If you mixed them around, would you get swirls and funhouse mirror effects. If you used it to light your bathroom, would birds above your house see you pooping?
posted by idiopath at 8:54 AM on September 14, 2012 [2 favorites]


The pictures make it look like an abandoned food court.

The park, which would feature [...] food vendors

I stand corrected!
posted by Sys Rq at 9:10 AM on September 14, 2012


I've been in plenty of underground public spaces that don't stink.

In NYC? Really?
posted by elizardbits


I can believe this. I find the 81st Street B/C station is pretty decent. I think this is due to three separate entrances, spaced 1-3 blocks apart that I suspect act as vents. This may be a unique arrangement though.
posted by blaneyphoto at 9:10 AM on September 14, 2012


I'd rather they do the lighting thing but then use it as a terminal for Select Bus Service over the Williamsburg Bridge. Transit infrastructure is too valuable in NYC to get rid of completely.
posted by thecaddy at 9:24 AM on September 14, 2012 [2 favorites]


I've been in plenty of underground public spaces that don't stink.
In NYC? Really?


Rockefeller Center? Citigroup Center?
posted by Jahaza at 9:43 AM on September 14, 2012


During the winter months the urine stench in the subway stations is hardly noticeable.
posted by mediated self at 9:48 AM on September 14, 2012 [1 favorite]


Oh ye'll tak the High Line
And I'll tak the Low Line
And I'll be in Brooklyn aforrrre ye
But me and my true love
Will ne'er meet again
Cause I'll smell like I'm swimmin' in urrrrine.
posted by yoink at 10:06 AM on September 14, 2012 [2 favorites]


Rockefeller Center? Citigroup Center?

Done and done. Any one else have a request?
posted by griphus at 10:28 AM on September 14, 2012 [4 favorites]


...food vendors

Didn't they ban food vendors in the city some time during the 80s? Or was that just push carts? I can't remember.
posted by Melismata at 10:49 AM on September 14, 2012


I can't think of any underground space that is open to the public that DOESN'T stink of piss constantly

So, you are saying: New Yorkers can't be trusted to use a bathroom, therefore they should not be allowed to have nice things.

That is the New York attitude that the world loves.
posted by Flood at 11:26 AM on September 14, 2012


They periodically crack down on unlicensed food venders, like dudes selling coco helado out of homemade carts, guys selling tallboys of bud out of coolers in the park, and women selling tortas out of buckets near port authority. There are a crazy amount of licensed food vendors, they fight for corners. Right now halal chicken and rice carts are ascendant. The one across the street from me has a facebook page and daily specials he tweets every morning.

There are also food trucks that like famous chefs do as hobbies. Some of them are great, some are real dicks. The schnitzel truck guy is a total ass. I am currently boycotting the schnitzel truck.
posted by Ad hominem at 11:26 AM on September 14, 2012


MetaFilter: currently boycotting the schnitzel truck
posted by Sys Rq at 11:29 AM on September 14, 2012 [4 favorites]


Schnitzel & Things.

I guess I should forgive the guy. I really want a veal schnitzel with sriracha mayo and some austrian potato salad.
posted by Ad hominem at 11:35 AM on September 14, 2012


New Yorkers can't be trusted to use a bathroom...

Oh we can certainly be trusted to use the bathroom but we're also very, very busy. This is why you'll often see captains of industry urinating out of cab windows and women simultaneously taking a client call on their bluetooth headsets and urinating on the subway steps.
posted by griphus at 11:40 AM on September 14, 2012 [2 favorites]


We ain't got time to pee.
posted by Ad hominem at 11:45 AM on September 14, 2012


So, you are saying: New Yorkers can't be trusted to use a bathroom, therefore they should not be allowed to have nice things.

Yes, you are correct, that is precisely what I was saying, thank you so much for clearing that up for me because wow, thinking is hard! I will never do it again!
posted by elizardbits at 11:56 AM on September 14, 2012


Flood: "So, you are saying: New Yorkers can't be trusted to use a bathroom, therefore they should not be allowed to have nice things."

As opposed to Floridians, who should not be allowed nice things because they will shoot them, unprovoked.
posted by boo_radley at 12:07 PM on September 14, 2012


In NYC subways you can get shot for making eye contact. By a guy with a gun. Who is threatening to shoot you. If you don't stop making eye contact.
posted by griphus at 12:14 PM on September 14, 2012 [1 favorite]


And those are the cops. Forget about the criminals.
posted by Ad hominem at 12:15 PM on September 14, 2012 [3 favorites]


I think this sounds neat. You go, Low Liners!

I love the High Line. And, yeah, there are parts that smell like pee (the bit where you go under the building and there's the overpriced cappucinos in particular) but if public urination meant New Yorkers couldn't have nice things, there would be no nice things in New York.

One of the things I love about Manhattan is that even the most splendid neighborhoods have a pretty much equal chance of smelling like pee on any given day. Somehow this is not the case in Boston. Maybe our public ruminators are just too lazy to get over to Louisburg Square or wherever.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:16 PM on September 14, 2012


Urinators, not ruminators! Silly iPad.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:17 PM on September 14, 2012


Maybe our public ruminators are just too lazy to get over to Louisburg Square or wherever.

God bless you, autocorrect.
posted by griphus at 12:17 PM on September 14, 2012 [2 favorites]


Penciled in for 2025: the Medium Line

Maybe they can find a long skinny park somewhere on the surface and rename it.
posted by mikepop at 1:03 PM on September 14, 2012


They should just build one up the edge of the Flatiron building.
posted by griphus at 1:11 PM on September 14, 2012 [1 favorite]


In NYC subways you can get shot for making eye contact. By a guy with a gun. Who is threatening to shoot you. If you don't stop making eye contact.

Do people really still have this outdated impression of life in NYC? I'd have to be making some pretty wicked eye contact to provoke such action on any subway here.
posted by adamms222 at 1:55 PM on September 14, 2012 [1 favorite]


adamms222, griphus and Ad hominem both live in NYC.
posted by Sidhedevil at 2:50 PM on September 14, 2012


I'm surprised nobody's come up with a way to deal with urban urine in the 21st century (sure, it's no flying car, but...). Something akin to a window garden that uses plants that metabolize it as fertilizer? Kickstarter in 5...4...
posted by dhartung at 2:59 PM on September 14, 2012


I'm thinking troughs full of clumping cat litter. Does that work for humans? Why hasn't anyone tried it?

yeah I live in NYC, I'm surprised some people don't know, it isn't like I talk about anything else. The whole point of living in New York is never letting anyone forget it.
posted by Ad hominem at 3:54 PM on September 14, 2012 [1 favorite]


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