May 1, 2007
The High Line Brand
NY Mag recently talked about the unexpectedness of the High Line brand. Of course venues are rebranding more and more, but the High Line is taking it to a new level - as it is, and started out as, much more than just a venue. With a festival curated by David Bowie, a neighborhood with proposed condos that allow residents to park their car on an elevator right next to their living space, and of course the park - 20 years ago no one would have dreamed all of this.
"There are three central ironies to the story of the High Line. The first is that, for twenty years, local property owners were the main opponents to the park-conversion plan. At the height of his battle with Friends of the High Line, Edison’s Gottesman launched a propaganda campaign. 'They had one flyer that said, Money doesn’t grow on trees, and last we checked, it isn’t growing in the weeds of the High Line, says Hammond. 'Now the irony is, money is growing in the weeds of the High Line—for them, and they’re picking it.'"
The High Line Ballroom officially opened its doors last night with a sold out show starring Lou Reed and Okkervil River.
Some first glimpses of the space, and Mr. Reed:
Photos by Gaetano Salvadore.
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The strange thing is, the money came in and they actually got the High Line park built, or most of what was planned.
But anywhere else in town, try reactivating an old rail line for train service or even a pedestrian or bike path, and watch the Nimbys come out.
Different boroughs, different money, different everything...
www.forgotten-ny.com
When will New Yorkers leave the weeds to be weeds again? You know beavers came back to NYC maybe wasted green space will return soon too.
you fucking advertising types and your overuse of "brand" as a verb.
Your tax dollars helped pay for a "park" that does nothing but boost the property values of millionaires and give their nannies a place to walk the kids.
Ideally the High Line should have served as a western extension for the #7 Flushing Line.
www.forgotten-ny.com
Opening band Okkervil River kicked serious ass... though I am not sure they reached the corporate crowd at the "VIP Reception".
The difference with the High Line wasn't just the neighborhood, it was the leap of creativity and the intensity with which it was designed and cultivated. It's so awesome!
Looking at the Map - I mean parks are all well and good - but it would have been much more useful if they just renovated it into a working subway line - it would have been quite useful. Plus it end right at the Javits Center so it could have been tied to the extension plan of the 7 train.
Of course heaven forbid the rich yuppies have an elevated train in their neigborhoods.
The common man, he doesn't matter anymore and only they and the city of nyc would have benefited not the aristocracy that are the reason the country is slowly dying.
It would have been beautiful, take a train from Flushing all the way to the the West Village.
Too much vision there i suppose.
Okkervil are a great live band... Saw them at Bowery last fall and they kicked some ass.
Opening band was the worse act I have seen since high school dances. With the exception of their talented lead guitar this was so forced and contrived it hurt. Feigned grittyness that sounded like the gin blossoms trying to be dark in an awful attempt at vonnegut like stream of conscience rambling.