The High Line
Stretching from Gansevoort Street in the meatpacking District all the way up to 34th street on the northern edge of the West Side Yard, the High Line is a 1.45 mile long linear park in Manhattan. It’s built of an elevated section of a disused New York Central Railroad. The former railroad tracks have been redesigned into an aerial greenway and rails-to-trails park.
Construction on the redesign began in 2006. The first phase officially opened in 2009, the second in 2011 and the third in 2014. A fourth phase is set to open in 2017, once the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project is completed.
The park is open at 7am every morning and stays open until 7pm in the winter, 10pm in the spring and fall and 11pm in the summer and is free to enter. As of September 2014 the park gets approximately 5 million visitors every year. The High Line has spurred real estate development in the neighborhoods that lie along the line, such as the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood where the Atelier is located. Residential buildings and business alike have been booming in the area, making it a very attractive location for people to move to.
Along the High Line are multiple food stands with everything from ice cream to smoothies to hamburgers. Gardens have been planted throughout the route to provide a beautiful and peaceful escape from the hectic city below. There are also an abundance of benches along the way for visitors to sit and relax on while taking in the view of the cityscape or river.
Many people find it enjoyable to stop along the route and check out the destinations that the High Line runs over such as the Standard hotel and the Chelsea market. Urban art has also begun to pop up along the High Line, making for great photo ops.
The High Line has become a popular attraction for tourists and residents alike. It is the perfect spot to go and watch the sunset, check out the views, go for a walk, or just hang out with friends. Having the High Line only a few blocks from the Atelier is an unprecedented amenity.