What was the purpose of the High Line?

What was the purpose of the High Line?

The elevated rails line that became the High Line were built in the early 1930’s to address the dangerous conditions created by freight and passenger trains traversing the City at street level.

What was the High Line in New York originally?

The High Line, which originally ran from 35th Street to St. John’s Freight Terminal, was designed to go through the center of blocks rather than over an avenue. As a result, the viaduct’s construction necessitated the demolition of 640 buildings.

When did the High Line Open in NYC?

2009
The High Line is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. Saved from demolition by neighborhood residents and the City of New York, the High Line opened in 2009 as a hybrid public space where visitors experience nature, art, and design.

What was the High Line before it became a park?

Previously, the High Line was a freight rail line, in operation from 1934 to 1980. It carried meat to the meatpacking district, agricultural goods to the factories and warehouses of the industrial West Side, and mail to the Post Office.

What happened to the High Line?

The High Line’s public prospects waxed and waned through the decades. In 1991, the five blocks of the structure from Bank to Gansevoort streets were demolished when a warehouse was converted into an apartment building. In 1999, the High Line owner CSX Transportation opened to proposals for the structure’s reuse.

Who founded the High Line?

Inspired by the beauty of this hidden landscape, Joshua David and Robert Hammond founded Friends of the High Line, a non-profit conservancy, to advocate for its preservation and reuse as a public space.

What is the best part of the High Line?

The Amphitheater One of the best places to sit along the High Line is a series of benches that slopes downward above 1oth Avenue. At the end is a series of windows, allowing a unique birds eye view of the traffic zooming below. On a nice day, you can grab some lunch, grab a seat and relax for awhile, admiring the view.