High Line Park An Economic Powerhouse For Meatpacking District

What once was a decaying eyesore is now a hugely successful financial engine in the Meatpacking District. The High Line, an old elevated rail bed turned world-class park, has generated $2 billion in private investment and 12,000 new jobs in the area, including 8,000 new construction jobs.

Opponents of the proposed park, with whom mayor Giuliani was sympathetic, feared it would hurt the surrounding businesses. But the opposite has happened -- in a big way.

Co-founder of Friends of the High Line Robert Hammond told the Times that this economic jumpstart exceeded even his own expectations. “We talked about a High Line district and that it would be good for the local economy,” Mr. Hammond recalled. But, he added, “we had no idea that it would happen this fast. If you had said then that 10th Avenue would be a location for some of the world’s best chefs, it would just be ludicrous.”

Now hotels and boutiques want to be as close to the park as possible, seeing as 2 million people visited the park last year. The boost to the neighborhood certainly made up for the city's $115 million investment into the project.

"This is something I don't think anyone expected," Mayor Bloomberg said. "I don't think anyone expected this economic impact."

Phase II of the High Line extension is set to open Wednesday.

Comments

[LeftNotRight]

01:34 PM on 06/07/2011

'I don't think anyone expected this economic impact.'
Could that final quote be one of the dumbest things Bloomberg has said? Why wouldn't you expect it? Build nice things in this cramped city and people AND their money will come. That just makes sense.

[angrykid]

02:10 PM on 06/07/2011

I think people did not expect the highline to be nice...

[NYJedi]

01:32 PM on 06/07/2011

It's a beautiful public space that makes me even more proud to be a NYer. I'm looking forward to enjoying it thoroughly this summer. As for the tourists I work in Soho and have become desensitized, so the high line can give me it's worst and I still won't care.

[Hare]

11:48 AM on 06/07/2011

I have been there twice and close by there is an excellent hole in the wall Venezuelan restaurant. Yum! The crowds of the park are huge but you could still walk the whole lenght of this park, I might go back to walk the reminder now that its opening tomorrow. Last time I saw Woody Allen there and the Betancourt lady candidate.

[skatscan]

09:35 AM on 06/07/2011

Once again, A liberal idea creates wealth.

[sumogirl]

12:55 AM on 06/07/2011

Wow! I hope I'm not the only one who remembers that one could climb up to the tracks back in the day where it used to be a great spot for parties!

[skatscan]

09:37 AM on 06/07/2011

Me too. I loved it better back then, Because it was MINE and it was edgy. Still I love some of the buildings built around it.

[time2impeach]

10:55 PM on 06/06/2011

Hey -- Tea Partiers! Look at how Governmental Spending can spur private growth! Its a model for much larger scale efforts, no?

[rikster]

09:01 PM on 06/06/2011

let's see how many retail locations they can stick in there......

[YoureSoShain]

08:46 PM on 06/06/2011

I love the High Line. Not only is it a beautiful park, but it's close to the delicious wares of Chelsea market.

[skatscan]

09:38 AM on 06/07/2011

And the walk on top is much more pleasant that the streets below on a warm sunny day.

[jl4141]

06:23 PM on 06/06/2011

High Line Park is a great story no matter how you slice it.

[lucylou]

06:19 PM on 06/06/2011

Something to be said for "Infrastructure improvements" bringing in jobs...
Hellloo? Anyone listening out there??

[time2impeach]

10:55 PM on 06/06/2011

I'm with you! F&F!

[jatu707]

05:19 PM on 06/06/2011

Too bad it's already so clogged with tourists that it's annoying to be there more than 5 minutes.

[rlkinny]

06:03 PM on 06/06/2011

But at least there are no bicycles, roller bladers or dog walkers to contend with.

[WBP]

06:18 PM on 06/06/2011

Gee. Are you always this sour? You come away from this article and the beautiful experience of the reclaimed abandoned area complaining? REALLY!?!

[jatu707]

09:07 PM on 06/06/2011

No I'm not always this sour. All I meant was that it's typically overrun with people now. I actually donated a decent amount of money when it was just getting rolling years ago. That area was a wasteland before so it's an improvement of monumental proportions. The only thing you have to realize is that new york is pretty much disneyland at this point with each neighborhood catering to tourists and it gets a bit annoying. No offense.

[Humanitari Leandro]

02:53 PM on 06/06/2011

The high line is genius! can't wait for the 2nd part of it on June 8th, days away, brilliant park, "the future"
humanitari.wordpress.com

[skatscan]

09:41 AM on 06/07/2011

Oh Wow! This weekend? I'm there!

[katykay]

02:23 PM on 06/06/2011

One thing NYC does well is are parks and landscaping. After walking on the Highline, walk to the Chelsea Piers to see exquisite flowers , rock gardens, and renovated piers. The Highline is not about watching free sex shows in the windows of the Standard Hotel.

[skatscan]

09:41 AM on 06/07/2011

They do it well in Manhattan, Outside, not so much.

[PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS]

01:47 PM on 06/06/2011

It is absolutley amazing the High Line was able to somehow squeeze through the disgusting greedy landlords, developers, and businesses who seek only to remove any trace of charachter from all that is New York. Truly an innovative use of "wasted space"............

To further my point about New York losing its charachter. Suddenly there is a ban on live music which has been performed and enjoyed by many for decades in areas of Central Park. Suddenly there is a ban implemented with fines and or imprisonment for "violators" Then suddenly the news leaks that the city is seeking bids on an upscale food court for the area...............Gee what a suprise NOT!

[Lucille]

06:06 PM on 06/06/2011

All the food court in central park will do is attract rats, both the human and vermin kind. Mike Bloomberg has been worse for this City than Mayor Guliani and that's saying a lot, yet I have to admit that Guliani was right about the high line, so what it brings tourists and more stores, but what about the quality of life? Shouldn't those rails have been put to work transporting people who actually live in the City up and down the Westside as some type of light rail system?

And don't worry the real estate developers have not been outsmarted because all of the rents in the neighborhood have gone up, not good for anyone except Bloomberg's favorite people, landlords.

[priscianusjr]

09:45 PM on 06/06/2011

Pretty much agree with you about Bloomberg and giuliani, except it's a lot better to make a park out of it than to tear it down, which is what would have happened.

[skatscan]

09:46 AM on 06/07/2011

The high line was NEVER used to transport people, Only goods. It was built to prevent pedestrian deaths on the street level in the transport of goods. It would never be practical to transport people. What they've done now is the best of both worls.

[nwfurn]

01:21 PM on 06/06/2011

I visit NYC once a year and always go back to the Highline to see how it has changed. What a wonderful walk it is. I am flying in next week and look forward to walking the extension. I LOVE the Highline!!