Things are looking up for the High Line, the 1.45-mile railroad viaduct in Chelsea whose future as an elevated public promenade seemed doomed by possible demolition in fall 2001 [see A.i.A., Oct. `01]. Friends of the High Line, an organization that includes members of New York City's art, architecture and design communities, has been leading the charge to convert the retired rail path to a pedestrian walkway and park, and recently got a boost from the mayor's office. The Bloomberg administration has backed this effort to preserve the structure, and in December requested a certificate of interim trail use from the federal Surface Transportation Board. This designation would allow the stretch of abandoned track to become part of the national rails-to-trails network.

Support from the mayor's office does not guarantee that the High Line will be developed as envisioned, but it does buy this ambitious proposal for a lush, landscaped public space more time. There remain opposition and dissent in the neighborhood among many property owners who want to see the structure removed. The city hopes to reach an agreement with the CSX Corporation, which manages the property, solidifying the interim trail use designation while also seeking to rezone surrounding areas to encourage residential development.

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