Witold Rybczynski on "Bringing the High Line Back to Earth"

Submitted by Ben Schulman on Mon, 05/16/2011 - 1:13pm

The High Line design may look good, but as Witold Rybczynski writes in the NYT article linked below, this form of landscape urbanism is highly suspect as a long-term and viable solution for most cities, now looking to emulate. Will Duany and Waldheim discuss similar topics at the CNU 19 Closing Plenary this year? Come to find out! Register for CNU 19 today.

"Bringing the High Line Back to Earth" - Witold Rybczynski

Ben Schulman's blog

Comments

No Hi Line for Chicago's Bloomingdale Trail

Submitted by JNorquist (not verified) on Mon, 05/16/2011 - 2:57pm.

My read of the situation in Chicago is that the Bloomingdale rail right of way in the Wicker park neighborhood will not be turned into Chicago's Hi Line. Rather it will be developed as an active bike/hike trail. The precious and somewhat fragile greenery on the Hi Line precludes cycling. The Hi line is more art object than travel route.

The 1700 block of Newcomb Ave

Submitted by pcrabtree@crabt... on Thu, 05/19/2011 - 3:28pm.

The 1700 block of Newcomb Ave between Phelps and Newhall streets is a streetscape retrofit including pervious pavers in the streets and sidewalks, green infrastructure stormwater structures, moving overhead utilities underground, adding street trees, and raised crossings. Atypical costs include the undergrounding of utilities, chicanes, removal of existing sidewalks and paving, and a program to help residents upgrade their building facades. Questionable costs and designs include gold-plated “LID” stormwater structures, chicanes, and excessive removal of existing paving in good condition. Still, Newcomb’s costs are $2,500 per lineal foot while the High Line costs $30,000 per lineal foot. (12 blocks of street retrofit for every one block of High Line retrofit). Furthermore, I would argue that a more frugal, original green, streetscape retrofit would achieve better results at 1/3 the cost.

Newcomb Street project:

http://38.106.4.205/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=1018

http://38.106.4.205/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=1019

Paul Crabtree, PE, CNU-A

Crabtree Group, Inc

www.crabtreegroup.net

719-221-1799

CNU 2010 Charter Award Winner

www.cnu.org/node/3428