Snaking between the Meatpacking District to Hudson Yards at 30ft above street level, the High Line is a fabulous example of industrial reuse. Once a freight line linking slaughterhouses along the Hudson River, it’s now an art-strewn ribbon running between galleries, modern high-rises and luxury shopping centers.
Rails to Real Estate
The High Line’s story begins in the early 20th century, when the west side’s booming industrial enterprises were served by perilous street-level tracks, earning Tenth Ave the nickname "Death Avenue." A two-story-high railway became the expensive solution, and the "West Side Elevated Line" ran its first train in 1933. It wasn’t long before the train line became a money pit and fell into disuse; in the 1990s, demolition was mooted.
Enter the Friends of the High Line, whose vision of an elegant, elevating (and elevated) park slowly caught on. Years of patient activism resulted in the jewel we enjoy today: a pedestrian catwalk planted with 500-plus native species that wends its way above, beside and often through the area’s former factories – and plenty of top-dollar real estate.
Incredible Architecture
Begin your journey near Hudson Yards (enter at 30th or 34th Sts), with supertall skyscrapers shining eastward and the Hudson River rolling to the west. Plant-packed railroad tracks evoke the industrial wilderness that preceded the park’s creation.
As the path narrows, you’ll see tons of contemporary constructions, including starchitect Zaha Hadid’s futuristic glass-and-metal apartment complex at 520 W 28th Street (520w28.com) and the bulbous bay-windowed Lantern House (www.lanternhouse.com), designed by Heatherwick Studio, the team behind the Vessel at Hudson Yards.
For a bird’s-eye view of Tenth Ave, sit on the amphitheater-style seats at 17th or 26th Sts and watch as cabs whiz by. If you prefer serene scenery, snag one of the train-wheel-tracked chaise longues on the Diller–von Furstenberg Sundeck – named after fashion queen Diane von Furstenberg and her billionaire husband Barry Diller, the pockets behind this entire project. From here, you can see Little Island – another Diller–von Furstenberg creation.
Pick Your Next Path
The High Line ends at the foot of the Whitney Museum and near a few other note-worthy areas, including Hudson River Park, the Meat Packing District, and the West Village’s winding streets.
