Philadelphia's Reading Viaduct: An Elevated Park Connecting Neighborhoods

[OffenseTaken]

Don't get me wrong: this would be a cute little addition to the neighborhood. But to say the least, it would be smart for everyone, apart from the neighborhood's residents themselves, to wait and see how things go before committing any money or effort to this idea.

You're right that the High Line is a destination unto itself, but we all know that it's not the High Line per se that's drawing everyone: it's the High Line and all the stuff in the midst of which it runs. And I really mean "in the midst": the path insinuates itself into dark, tight passages between high-rises at some points and then, several yards later, you're in the blue again and a view of the Hudson opens up. The path urges you forward but there are so many places where you just want to stop and take everything in. Blah blah blah.

Now. Imagine if the Reading Viaduct ran from Girard and Front to, say, Franklin Square: the viaduct park would still lack the kinds of vantage points and (mostly) charming surroundings that have made the High Line such a huge success. (What you see from 24 feet up, in almost any neighborhood in a city of rowhouses like this, is mostly rooftops.)

And that's if it were running through several neighborhoods that have already been among the hottest in the city for years. Chinatown North is nowhere near even that stage, and let's be honest: we can't be so sure that it ever will be. Your summary of how things worked out in the West Side is pretty accurate, and your summary of how things WOULD work out here, if they did, mostly makes sense. I just don't understand this assumption that they will.

West Chelsea as a successful neighborhood is pretty new. AFTER chelsea became mostly decrepit, autoshops/taxi/warehouses etc, THEN came the galleries in the 90's, then Gehry and the condos in the 2000's, then the Highline, THEN crazy development like the hotel without curtains.

The Loft district's timeline is painfully slow, currently at the stage of few condos / artist types. Some major project needs to happen here first, then the viaduct product can take off and spur further development.


But the thing about the highline is that its pretty much a destination, not really a park for the local residents- if you've ever been there on a weekend, its like a cattle shute (and why Koons' train-on-a-crane would most certainly work, except for the noise part). There's a lot happening as regards to art installations, the daring architecture seen from the elevated highline, crazy stuff like the seating bowl looking down over traffic, and of course all the crazy contemporary galleries at the base that results in great people-watching along the promenade.

[supersupper]

(you confuse me with someone else regarding PennStation, but Penn Station is within a good longish walking distance )

Chelsea was for the most part much more low/mid-rise till recently. As far as vantage points are concerned you are correct. But the loft district certainly could have good views of its own with a little bit of development. Anyway i never think it is a good idea to copycat something exactly. The Viaduct could certainly develop its own personality the way that our Fairmount park / sk RIver Trail aren't exactly like Central Park but they are (almost) equally good.

I really don't understand the lag time regarding the loft area's development. I'd much rather live there than all the way out in Fishtown if we are talking city living. If i were a younger investor i would certainly stake a claim in the loft district.

[OffenseTaken]

Post amended accordingly. It was the post above yours which said that Penn Station is at 34th and 7th, among many other inaccuracies. Sarz.

(you confuse me with someone else regarding PennStation, but Penn Station is within a good longish walking distance )

[mixiboi]

Relevant to our park:

London's Rushing to Copy New York's High Line Park for Its Economic Effects | Business on GOOD

Now, 12 years on, New York's park in the sky attracted more than 3.7 million visitors last year, has generated $2bn-worth of private investment surrounding the park and is predicted to exceed $900m in new tax revenues for the city over the next 20 years.