That is really, really cool. Thank you. posted by ColdChef at 9:48 AM on September 10, 2002
Ah, so very cool. It's like discovering ruins or a secret garden. Or both. This makes me want to visit NYC. posted by frykitty at 9:54 AM on September 10, 2002
That is so beautiful, but at the same time unsettling in a Jerry Cornelius or 12 Monkeys kind of way. Natural renewal over manmade decay: that's a step on the grave for all of us.
Okay that's a bit heavy. On the lighter side, green space in the city is terrific no matter how it comes about. Thanks for this. posted by PinkStainlessTail at 9:57 AM on September 10, 2002
Although I hate big cities, this story made me hate them a bit less. Thanks for the cool link. posted by Tacodog at 9:59 AM on September 10, 2002
Don't miss a recent trip taken by some mefi folks on the High Line - here and here. posted by kokogiak at 10:08 AM on September 10, 2002
Oldnyc.com has a good photographic tour. I live down the street, near the southern end. Climbing the Highline at closing time has long been a favored pastime of mine, and I will miss the sense of urban adventure in the decayed surroundings, but overall I have to admit this would be a good thing. posted by liam at 10:10 AM on September 10, 2002
wow, great link. I work on 33rd & 10th ave. and the view from my old desk was facing south, perched right over the High Line as it makes the bend downtown (my office building is actually in some of the pics the gallery). It's funny to read how the WSJ writer climbed up to the tracks ... when I would daydream and stare out the window all I wanted to do was climb down to them. It was great to see some green in the wasteland that is west midtown (or "Chelsea North" if you're talking to a real estate broker) and it's even better to see that it may be turned into a real park. thanks for the link (and for giving me something to get my first post out of the way with). posted by pc_load_letter at 10:15 AM on September 10, 2002
I've been following the highline for a few years (didn't get to go with Alison and Jason on their trip, though, dammit.) and there's been talk here in Manhattan for the better part of a decade about converting the tracks into a park. This article does a great job of quickly reviewing the history. posted by anildash at 10:55 AM on September 10, 2002
A fantastic link. Every once and a while you read about this structure being taken down, which would be CRIMINAL. I didn't know about the verdant aspect of it, but this rail path must be saved. As an official park, it will not be quite as cool as now, but, helas, way better than nothing. I still remember when the far west side was industrial, and that rail line was used.
Rail lines, even with the rails removed, are magical; walking or cycling on them is sort of like being in a parallel universe filling the same space as the normal one. Perspectives are different. You feel "elsewhere."
Upstream of the Big Apple, the Walkway Over the Hudson Project had been another effort in opening a trestle for public use, but the current status of the effort is uncertain. posted by Smart Dalek at 11:11 AM on September 10, 2002
Here's another example of what you can do with an old train bridge. posted by agaffin at 12:15 PM on September 10, 2002
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posted by ColdChef at 9:48 AM on September 10, 2002