Preservation

Wild plants colonized the abandoned rail track
(Source: Jason Levine)

In the twenty-seven years since the High Line was last used, it has been colonized by a variety of wild grasses and plants. In the absence of any human intervention, the viaduct has evolved into both a natural greenway and a dilapidated industrial ruin.

As property owners began efforts to tear down the High Line, community members promoted the idea of preserving the structure. Engineers reported that it was still structurally sound and in good condition. A wide variety of ideas were proposed but reusing the structure as public open space was seen as the most feasible and logical option.

This idea has precedence in Paris. The Promenade Plantee is an elevated park that was created from an unused rail line. This park has become a popular attraction and has helped kick start the revitalization of the surrounding neighborhood.

Adopting this as their inspiration, a not-for-profit group called Friends of the High Line (FHL) was formed in 1999. Their goal was to maintain the High Line structure and easement in order to transform it into a unique recreational opportunity for the public. They argued that because it was originally built with public funds, it should remain in public use.

They pursued "rail-banking" as a strategy to convert the tracks into recreational use. Rail-banking is a federal program that allows rail owners to turn their tracks over to another group to maintain and manage the line, with the idea that the owners could return the line to rail use at a later date.

Politicians support The High Line
(Source: Curbed)

With the support of Mayor Bloomberg, Senator Clinton, and other politicians, the project began picking up momentum. In 2001, a resolution was passed by the New York City Council that called for the city and state government, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, to pursue the rail-banking of the High Line.

In 2002, the planning department created a new zoning corridor with the aim of preserving and reusing the viaduct, building new housing, and protecting the new art gallery district. The city also appeased owners of properties within the corridor by letting them sell their property rights to designated "receiving sites" within a special district.