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London's Answer to New York's High Line? You Must Be Joking

29 points by edward 7y ago

blakesterz 7y ago
That's pretty interesting. Has anyone else walked it? Is it really that bad? I remember thinking The High Line was the dumbest idea ever, and then I walked it. It's really interesting, way more fun than you'd guess a 40ft wide park would be.
- esotericn 7y ago
  I mean, for one, the High Line is actually in Manhattan, whereas this thing I hadn't even heard of is out in Greenwich. And not even the lovely Greenwich Village, but the newbuild soulless peninsula.
Dirlewanger 7y ago
Really depressing to read. I can't help but arrive at the cynical conclusion that cities will just continue to be converted into soulless "junkyards of half-baked ideas and botched plans" as the article describes. Why can't cities issue public contests for plans and let anyone submit designs? Slightly related: probably the most famous example of this in the US is the Vietnamese student that designed the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. Many people hated it at first (especially veterans), but now it's one of the most unique and lauded war memorials in the world. We need more of that in urban planning, not development firms half a world away designing them.
- jessaustin 7y ago
  Maya Lin is an American of Chinese descent.
kbob 7y ago
Is the High Line a question that needs answering? The one time I visited it, it was crowded shoulder-to-shoulder, and getting through the people was distracting enough that I barely saw the scenery.
- ng12 7y ago
  You have to go off-hours. It's really nice late night on a weekday. That said -- that's why it needs answering. It's a walking path that's proven incredibly popular among both New Yorkers and tourists.
- gipp 7y ago
  It's definitely gotten loved to death a little bit, especially with most of the northern half surrounded by huge construction projects these days.
SideburnsOfDoom 7y ago
FYI, there is also a plan for something high-line like in the area of Kings Cross to Camden in London, also on disused elevated railway tracks. It seems to be about half as long as the NYC High line though. https://www.camdenhighline.com/ https://www.camdenhighline.com/
thawaway1837 7y ago
What makes the HighLine great is that it was a repurposed abandoned railway track. Much of its value comes not from its actual form and structure but from the fact that they made something out of junk. The efforts to recreate a High Line from scratch defeats the entire purpose. As great as the High Line is, you can do much better if you’re creating something completely new.
- erentz 7y ago
  And that this “junk” abandoned space had become overgrown with vegetation, supporting wildlife already, which inspired the whole idea IIRC.
mmusc 7y ago
London has already several hidden paths that follow ancient streams and old railway tracks. They aren't as famous so stumbling on these hidden gems are a real treat. Having to create a new artificial one defeats the purpose..

29 points by edward 7y ago

That's pretty interesting. Has anyone else walked it? Is it really that bad? I remember thinking The High Line was the dumbest idea ever, and then I walked it. It's really interesting, way more fun than you'd guess a 40ft wide park would be.

esotericn 7y ago
I mean, for one, the High Line is actually in Manhattan, whereas this thing I hadn't even heard of is out in Greenwich. And not even the lovely Greenwich Village, but the newbuild soulless peninsula.

Dirlewanger 7y ago

Really depressing to read. I can't help but arrive at the cynical conclusion that cities will just continue to be converted into soulless "junkyards of half-baked ideas and botched plans" as the article describes. Why can't cities issue public contests for plans and let anyone submit designs? Slightly related: probably the most famous example of this in the US is the Vietnamese student that designed the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. Many people hated it at first (especially veterans), but now it's one of the most unique and lauded war memorials in the world. We need more of that in urban planning, not development firms half a world away designing them.

jessaustin 7y ago
Maya Lin is an American of Chinese descent.

kbob 7y ago

Is the High Line a question that needs answering? The one time I visited it, it was crowded shoulder-to-shoulder, and getting through the people was distracting enough that I barely saw the scenery.

ng12 7y ago
You have to go off-hours. It's really nice late night on a weekday. That said -- that's why it needs answering. It's a walking path that's proven incredibly popular among both New Yorkers and tourists.
gipp 7y ago
It's definitely gotten loved to death a little bit, especially with most of the northern half surrounded by huge construction projects these days.

SideburnsOfDoom 7y ago

FYI, there is also a plan for something high-line like in the area of Kings Cross to Camden in London, also on disused elevated railway tracks. It seems to be about half as long as the NYC High line though. https://www.camdenhighline.com/ https://www.camdenhighline.com/

thawaway1837 7y ago

What makes the HighLine great is that it was a repurposed abandoned railway track. Much of its value comes not from its actual form and structure but from the fact that they made something out of junk. The efforts to recreate a High Line from scratch defeats the entire purpose. As great as the High Line is, you can do much better if you’re creating something completely new.

erentz 7y ago
And that this “junk” abandoned space had become overgrown with vegetation, supporting wildlife already, which inspired the whole idea IIRC.

mmusc 7y ago

London has already several hidden paths that follow ancient streams and old railway tracks. They aren't as famous so stumbling on these hidden gems are a real treat. Having to create a new artificial one defeats the purpose..