A view of the
two portals that allow the ROW to go through the Eastern Meats Building.
The High Line rises fourteen feet above the surface, and features a double
track bed throughout length of the ROW. The double tracks allowed
for two trains to run north and south at the same time. The structure
is thirty feet wide at many locations.
There are two competing groups that have different agendas for determining
the fate of the High Line. Friends of the High Line would like to
see the High Line remain intact. The Chelsea Property Owners group,
which represents businesses in the area, would like to see the line demolished.
Mayor Rudolph Giuliani would like to see the High Line razed. Each
concern has their own reasons as why they take their positions. The
Friends of the High Line are working with the Rails-to-Trails program in
order to secure the High Line with a Rails-to-Trails designation.
The Chelsea Property Owners would like to use the ROW and air rights over
the line for commercial and residential development. Mayor Giuliani
wants the line taken down because he feels it is an eyesore to the community.
He also feels that if the line were to be taken down, continued economic
development in the area will result, stimulated by extra property
that will be gained by razing the line.
Underneath
the elevated structure at West 14th Street. The structure was built
to last. CSX believes that the structure is safe and sound, as it
was built to withstand years of abuse of the rumblings of loaded freight
trains.
A Mobile
Service Station is situated under the High Line viaduct on the corner of
West 14th Street and 10th Avenue. A steel and glass wall encloses
sections of the service station. Friends of the High Line say that
the High Line structure has to be safe, considering the city allowed a
gas station to be built under it.
Two
interesting overpasses cross 10th Avenue just past West 15th Street.
The lower overpass is the trestle for the High Line, the upper overpass
connects the building on the east side of the street to the building on
the west side of the street.
The building on the east side of the street (the brick building located on the right of the picture) is the former National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) building. The building on the west side of the street was also owned by Nabisco at one time, hence the building of the overpass connection.
Chelsea Market now resides in the east building, and Level 3 Communications
now resides in the west building.
-->> Click Here to Continue Along to High
Line to West 20th Street!