The High Line in NYC

[CHNOPS]

I know there's been a thread about this, but I couldn't find it, even after seconds of not trying to look.

The point is: I finally got to see it finished. I have major bone for New York City right now. How did they pull this off, and so well?

The greatest public works project in decades. The implications are fascinating. And now plans to expand north.

Go see it. I mean it. It's wondrous.

GO!

 

[IrezumiKiss]

I know there's been a thread about this, but I couldn't find it, even after seconds of not trying to look.

The point is: I finally got to see it finished. I have major bone for New York City right now. How did they pull this off, and so well?

The greatest public works project in decades. The implications are fascinating. And now plans to expand north.

Go see it. I mean it. It's wondrous.

GO!

but it's still a TAX

*shakes head free of coachdb18 syndrome*

ooopsie...sorry 'bout that...

When did you get back in the city?

 

[VaticanAssassin]

I know there's been a thread about this, but I couldn't find it, even after seconds of not trying to look.

The point is: I finally got to see it finished. I have major bone for New York City right now. How did they pull this off, and so well?

The greatest public works project in decades. The implications are fascinating. And now plans to expand north.

Go see it. I mean it. It's wondrous.

GO!

What are the implications? Never even heard of this till just now, so I am actually curious.....

Kind of a unique set up that would not be feasible anywhere else don't you think?

What is the city doing to make sure it does not become a drug infested habitat for bums?

It is a cool idea though....

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YcRnwq2JHls/T44Xg10ROqI/AAAAAAAAA6w/v1pouzO2G9Q/s640/image-1_high-line.jpg

 

[lovetoread]

I pondered going, but the trek isnt worth it unless DCL shows me around.

 

[IrezumiKiss]

What is the city doing to make sure it does not become a drug infested habitat for bums?

That's one of the beauties of it. That's what it used to be. Like Bryant Park.

...and then...a funny thing called money and rich people happened...

 

[CHNOPS]

but it's still a TAX

*shakes head free of coachdb18 syndrome*

ooopsie...sorry 'bout that...

When did you get back in the city?

Just a quick visit this past week. Days were packed; didn't even get out to BK, aka the Motherborough. Was also supposed to drop down to DC, but Amtrak and mother nature had other ideas, so came home instead.

 

[zipman]

I know there's been a thread about this, but I couldn't find it, even after seconds of not trying to look.

The point is: I finally got to see it finished. I have major bone for New York City right now. How did they pull this off, and so well?

The greatest public works project in decades. The implications are fascinating. And now plans to expand north.

Go see it. I mean it. It's wondrous.

GO!

It's amazing on several fronts. It's been great for tourists as well as the people who live there and it has been a complete economic boon for the area.

I love it.

 

[CHNOPS]

What are the implications? Never even heard of this till just now, so I am actually curious.....

Kind of a unique set up that would not be feasible anywhere else don't you think?

What is the city doing to make sure it does not become a drug infested habitat for bums?

It is a cool idea though....

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YcRnwq2JHls/T44Xg10ROqI/AAAAAAAAA6w/v1pouzO2G9Q/s640/image-1_high-line.jpg

Not sure how well you know NYC, but: Living there, you become pretty resigned to any public works project being a compromised, watered-down let-down at best, and a dragged-on non-starter at worst. But somehow someone slipped this in between the cracks. It has whimsy and art to it. It's tasteful and creative. The train tracks are woven into the design/lanscaping in subtle ways that pay homage to the origin of the platform. It is meandering and beautiful and unforced, but also reflects a strong, idiosyncratic vision that seems to have made it to implementation unscathed.

The streets of New York are rushed and crowded and noisy, which for most people is their charm. If you want solitude, New York offers segregated (if also often quite large) places to have it; that is, you can either have the streets or the peace.

This runs parallel to and in some cases over the avenues, but is just high enough and just set back enough that it is protected from most of the street noise. It's planted throughout with wildflowers; it's a place of solitude that is not segragated from the city but essentially built into and along it. If you want to walk and don't want to rush, there is a place for you now.

What it's done is layered a different kind of human element into the city's genetic code. "Down there," you can rush and TCB. "Up here," just two stories up or so, you can go slowly, walk just to walk, eat lunch literally in the middle of 10th Avenue, sit out on sun chairs, look out over the river, peek into apartments, stroll. Amble.

To my mind, it has fundamentally changed the nature of the city in a way that excites the potential for future development. New York has always been built "up," but in the service of "more." Here is a way to build "up" in the service of "less." In a vertical city, yes it's up, but it's horizontal.

The chorus of City-istic chauvinists will be quick to say, "Bullshit, this was always the character of the city, if you didn't know that, you weren't looking for it." But they're wrong: This is permanent whimsy whose sole purpose is to humanize a dedicatedly industrial city, and the fact that it exists at all is remarkable. The fact that it's so cool and nuanced and quirky and pleasant is a wonder. There are very few public works projects whose single implementation has so many long-term and immediate implications for the character and direction of a city--especially this one.

 

[IrezumiKiss]

Just a quick visit this past week. Days were packed; didn't even get out to BK, aka the Motherborough. Was also supposed to drop down to DC, but Amtrak and mother nature had other ideas, so came home instead.

It is pretty cool. Been there thrice, two times at night during sundown when it's really sweet. If you're lucky, you can see exhibitioners flashing themselves and/or fucking in front of their hotel windows at The Standard.

I can't wait to see when the third part of it is finished. It's essentially tracking a third of the whole island.

It's amazing on several fronts. It's been great for tourists as well as the people who live there and it has been a complete economic boon for the area.

I love it.

I still can't believe that's the same shitty train track area I used to see when I went clubbing around that area in the late-mid '80s.

 

[VaticanAssassin]

Good answer. I appreciate you not trying to be funny.....

 

[chas4037]

There is a similar setup in Paris, just north of Gare de Lyon near the Opera Bastile. The walk from there goes out past the edge of the city and is a great trip. I've yet to see NYC's version, but i will.

 

[zipman]

Not sure how well you know NYC, but: Living there, you become pretty resigned to any public works project being a compromised, watered-down let-down at best, and a dragged-on non-starter at worst. But somehow someone slipped this in between the cracks. It has whimsy and art to it. It's tasteful and creative. The train tracks are woven into the design/lanscaping in subtle ways that pay homage to the origin of the platform. It is meandering and beautiful and unforced, but also reflects a strong, idiosyncratic vision that seems to have made it to implementation unscathed.

The streets of New York are rushed and crowded and noisy, which for most people is their charm. If you want solitude, New York offers segregated (if also often quite large) places to have it; that is, you can either have the streets or the peace.

This runs parallel to and in some cases over the avenues, but is just high enough and just set back enough that it is protected from most of the street noise. It's planted throughout with wildflowers; it's a place of solitude that is not segragated from the city but essentially built into and along it. If you want to walk and don't want to rush, there is a place for you now.

What it's done is layered a different kind of human element into the city's genetic code. "Down there," you can rush and TCB. "Up here," just two stories up or so, you can go slowly, walk just to walk, eat lunch literally in the middle of 10th Avenue, sit out on sun chairs, look out over the river, peek into apartments, stroll. Amble.

To my mind, it has fundamentally changed the nature of the city in a way that excites the potential for future development. New York has always been built "up," but in the service of "more." Here is a way to build "up" in the service of "less." In a vertical city, yes it's up, but it's horizontal.

The chorus of City-istic chauvinists will be quick to say, "Bullshit, this was always the character of the city, if you didn't know that, you weren't looking for it." But they're wrong: This is permanent whimsy whose sole purpose is to humanize a dedicatedly industrial city, and the fact that it exists at all is remarkable. The fact that it's so cool and nuanced and quirky and pleasant is a wonder. There are very few public works projects whose single implementation has so many long-term and immediate implications for the character and direction of a city--especially this one.

Btw, this was an excellent description/analysis of it from a unique perspective. Well done.

 

[CHNOPS]

Btw, this was an excellent description/analysis of it from a unique perspective. Well done.

And that was all BEFORE I knew about the exhibitionists.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

I pondered going, but the trek isnt worth it unless DCL shows me around.

From right here you can see the bedroom of a girl I fucked in 1989...

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

The chorus of City-istic chauvinists will be quick to say, "Bullshit, this was always the character of the city, if you didn't know that, you weren't looking for it." But they're wrong: This is permanent whimsy whose sole purpose is to humanize a dedicatedly industrial city, and the fact that it exists at all is remarkable. The fact that it's so cool and nuanced and quirky and pleasant is a wonder. There are very few public works projects whose single implementation has so many long-term and immediate implications for the character and direction of a city--especially this one.

As a City-istic chauvinist who would actually say that to you I'd asterisk that by admitting it's only true for City-istic chauvinists. If you're a lifetime cliff dweller you know where all the whimsy is, in all the hidden places, and in the not-so-hidden places (like Central Fucking Park). To many people it's a "dedicatedly industrial city" -- but I think not to most, and not to anyone with an eye to see.

The rest of your review -- very nice.

 

[December]

Not sure how well you know NYC, but: Living there, you become pretty resigned to any public works project being a compromised, watered-down let-down at best, and a dragged-on non-starter at worst. But somehow someone slipped this in between the cracks. It has whimsy and art to it. It's tasteful and creative. The train tracks are woven into the design/lanscaping in subtle ways that pay homage to the origin of the platform. It is meandering and beautiful and unforced, but also reflects a strong, idiosyncratic vision that seems to have made it to implementation unscathed.

The streets of New York are rushed and crowded and noisy, which for most people is their charm. If you want solitude, New York offers segregated (if also often quite large) places to have it; that is, you can either have the streets or the peace.

This runs parallel to and in some cases over the avenues, but is just high enough and just set back enough that it is protected from most of the street noise. It's planted throughout with wildflowers; it's a place of solitude that is not segragated from the city but essentially built into and along it. If you want to walk and don't want to rush, there is a place for you now.

What it's done is layered a different kind of human element into the city's genetic code. "Down there," you can rush and TCB. "Up here," just two stories up or so, you can go slowly, walk just to walk, eat lunch literally in the middle of 10th Avenue, sit out on sun chairs, look out over the river, peek into apartments, stroll. Amble.

To my mind, it has fundamentally changed the nature of the city in a way that excites the potential for future development. New York has always been built "up," but in the service of "more." Here is a way to build "up" in the service of "less." In a vertical city, yes it's up, but it's horizontal.

The chorus of City-istic chauvinists will be quick to say, "Bullshit, this was always the character of the city, if you didn't know that, you weren't looking for it." But they're wrong: This is permanent whimsy whose sole purpose is to humanize a dedicatedly industrial city, and the fact that it exists at all is remarkable. The fact that it's so cool and nuanced and quirky and pleasant is a wonder. There are very few public works projects whose single implementation has so many long-term and immediate implications for the character and direction of a city--especially this one.

You ought to write reviews for travel magazines. Might be your calling.

 

[CHNOPS]

As a City-istic chauvinist who would actually say that to you I'd asterisk that by admitting it's only true for City-istic chauvinists. If you're a lifetime cliff dweller you know where all the whimsy is, in all the hidden places, and in the not-so-hidden places (like Central Fucking Park). To many people it's a "dedicatedly industrial city" -- but I think not to most, and not to anyone with an eye to see.

The rest of your review -- very nice.

(I grew there, you flew there. So there.)

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

The High Line is awesome, but more so for what's happening under it. Those familiar with the area(s) will know what I mean.

Still, as used to living on top of each other as we are in New York, there's something about having an apartment eye-level with the High Line that ratchets the whole voyeurism thing up a notch.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

(I grew there, you flew there. So there.)

Born and raised, Schmuck.

 

[zipman]

From right here you can see the bedroom of a girl I fucked in 1989...

Everyone always remembers the last time they got laid.

 

[CHNOPS]

Born and raised, Schmuck.

I have asked you before to stop using my real name on the board.

Also I don't believe you.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Everyone always remembers the last time they got laid.

Had to walk two miles in the snow...

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

I have asked you before to stop using my real name on the board.

Also I don't believe you.

Stop telling people Schmuck Rabinowitz is your real name. Racist.

Also who gives a fuck?

 

[VaticanAssassin]

Everyone always remembers the last time they got laid.

Like it was just last night.....

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Like it was just last night.....

There are many people who don't need your help. Zip is in the Top 5.