High Line "under threat" from proposed skyscrapers and casino say Friends of the High Line founders

The rezoning of land in New York City for skyscrapers and a casino puts the experience of the city's High Line "under threat" according to the founders of Friends of the High Line.

Friends of the High Line founders Joshua David and Robert Hammond made a series of criticisms about proposed developments in an opinion piece published in NY Daily News today.

The duo expressed concerned about the impact of a proposed development at West Side Yard on the experience of the High Line – a disused railway track that was turned into a raised park by studios Diller Scofidio + Renfro, James Corner Field Operations and Piet Oudolf.

Earlier this year, New York developer Related Companies applied for a rezoning of the West Side Yard – an under-utilised train depot adjacent to the skyscraper-filled Hudson Yards development in Manhattan.

It released proposed designs for skyscrapers to fill the site and was one of a few to apply for what would be Manhattan's first casino license for the development.

"The High Line is under threat again"

The pair claims that such a development would negatively affect both the experience of the High Line and community-oriented urban development that has they say has resulted from the conversion of the elevated industrial rail line into a planted walkway a decade ago.

"Today the High Line is under threat again from Related and its casino partner, Wynn Resorts," said David and Hammond.

"They are now proposing a massive, Las Vegas-style development on the western rail yard that would wall off city views and eviscerate a hard-won, community-supported plan for a more balanced development centered on a major, riverview green space."

According to David and Hammond, the West Side Yard site was part of negotiations between the Friends of the High Line, the city and Related in 2009 that slated the the site for housing, a school, and green space.

"Now the developer wants to undo the agreement and rezone the site again," said David and Hammond.

"The principal changes include much taller and wider buildings at an overwhelming scale, less accessible green space, more office space (in a city that has a glut), and less housing in a city that has a desperate shortage."

The pair claims that the development would "block" the views from the High Line, which ends at Hudson Yards, and suggested that the casino and restaurants would negatively affect local businesses.

"So much for supporting the community fabric of Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen. This stands in contrast to other NYC-area casino proposals that offer incentives to patronize neighborhood restaurants," they said, adding that they support development of the site that would conform to the 2009 agreement.

The comments come after the Friends of the High Line organisation announced a campaign to stop the development, which includes several local business and community leaders in its supporters.

Friends of the High Line "have failed to communicate any substantive concerns"

Related denied the claims, highlighting its status as a "long-time supporter" of the High Line. It claims that Friends of the High Line have engaged in a "disinformation campaign".

"First, the High Line is not remotely under threat by our proposal to develop the Western Rail Yards; as longtime neighbors and supporters of the High Line, we have met with them 10 times and made substantial amendments to our proposal in response to their concerns," a spokesperson for the company told Dezeen.

"Since that time, they have failed to communicate any substantive concerns and instead have launched a disinformation campaign."

Related also claims that the 2009 plan was scrapped because of economic feasibility, and noted the inclusion of housing under the proposed scheme, adding that the development will add housing and maintain the views from the High Line.

"While the High Line hand wrings over the impact on their 'city views' of a rail yard, this proposal will create a 5.6-acre new green public park, 5,000 permanent union jobs in the resort, more than 300 units of new affordable housing and much needed economic investment in NYC, all while enhancing access to the High Line."

Related has published a video rendering of what the proposed development might be like for visitors of the High Line.

Related's proposal is one of many that have been forth to create developments that include casinos. Others include a parcel on Manhattan's East Side by BIG and another with designs by CetraRuddy, also near Hudson Yards.

The High Line was designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Field Operations and opened in 2009. It has since been extended with additions such as a glulam bridge by SOM and Field Operations.

The top photo by Iwan Baan.

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