High Line Supporters Slam ‘Impactful’ Hudson Yards Development Plan

A massive development proposal to build high-rise towers on the western portion of Hudson Yards would have a devastating effect on the High Line, obstructing iconic views of the New York City skyline, supporters of the beloved West Side park say.

When Related Companies, the developer behind Hudson Yards, revealed in April a new set of plans to develop the Western Rail Yards (W30th to W33rd St bw 11/12th Ave), stewards of the High Line were taken by surprise. Under the original proposal, agreed upon in 2009, shorter buildings and green space bordering the former rail line would have preserved views of landmarks like the Empire State Building.

Related’s new proposal, displayed in a rendering, would include three supertall towers and a “gaming facility” if it were to win a casino license with Wynn Resorts. The new proposal would also contain 1,507 housing units — a fraction of the 5,762 originally planned for.

“We aren’t against development, and support the development of the Western Rail Yards in a way that improves upon the 2009 agreement,” Friends of the High Line executive director Alan van Capelle said in a statement. “However, the proposed changes are significantly more impactful than what was agreed to and were developed without any community input.”

Capelle has expressed his concerns to Related, he said, but felt it “critical to broaden the conversation to include all relevant stakeholders and our community so we can all move forward together with a better plan.”

At a recent Community Board 4 meeting attended by Related, senior director of planning at Friends of the High Line Patrick Hazari urged the developers to visit the Western Rail Yards portion of the High Line for themselves. “You simply cannot properly evaluate this rezoning effort without being able to walk along the site,” he said.

The High Line currently offers vistas of commuter trains, with glass office towers and the still-shuttered Vessel looming in the background.

Friends of the High Line on Wednesday launched a campaign to “ Protect the High Line at the Rail Yards ,” alongside dozens of local leaders from surrounding neighborhoods. They include Community Board 4 member and executive director of the Clinton Housing Development Company Joe Restuccia and Manhattan Plaza Tenants Association President Aleta LaFargue.

“This new rezoning plan would eliminate much of this desperately needed housing to make way for increased commercial space in super tall high rise buildings,” LaFargue said in a statement, “which would obstruct sunlight and river views as well as greatly diminishing the High Line experience.”

The proposed modifications to the Western Rail Yard plan are subject to the city’s Universal Land Use Review Procedure (ULURP) which requires input from the community board and elected officials.

The Campaign to Protect the High Line is also gathering feedback from local residents and park goers, who can fill out a form on the website to express what is most important to them in the park.

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