Cities around the U.S. are taking notice of New York's highly popular High Line elevated park system.
Both Chicago and Los Angeles are currently working on High Line-like projects. These projects essentially equal elevated parks, usually built on or near abandoned railway tracks. To see what New York has been up to so far, click here.
See the complete story from weburbanist.com here. All renderings courtesy of weburbanist.
The L.A. River Greenway Project
L.A. is currently attempting to join 50 miles of walking and bike paths, some of which are still being created. Many paths already exist, but they force users to go through dangerous crossings and intersections. Eventually, the project is meant to incorporate public space, like yoga centers and bike-in movie theatres.
The Chicago 606 & Bloomingdale Trail Project
Centered around the Bloomingdale Trail, this multiple-mile long trail is already partway finished. The elevated path runs parallel to railroad tracks heading east and west. This project means revitalizing dilapidated train tracks and improving upon green space, and also connecting Lake Michigan with the downtown area.
QueensWay
This project takes us back to New York, where it is an attempt to turn over 3 miles of abandoned railway in Central Queens into a High Line Park.
Related Stories
| Feb 15, 2011
Iconic TWA terminal may reopen as a boutique hotel
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey hopes to squeeze a hotel with about 150 rooms in the space between the old TWA terminal and the new JetBlue building. The old TWA terminal would serve as an entry to the hotel and hotel lobby, which would also contain restaurants and shops.
| Feb 15, 2011
New Orleans' rebuilt public housing architecture gets mixed reviews
The architecture of New Orleans’ new public housing is awash with optimism about how urban-design will improve residents' lives—but the changes are based on the idealism of an earlier era that’s being erased and revised.
| Feb 15, 2011
LAUSD commissions innovative prefab prototypes for future building
The LA Unified School District, under the leadership of a new facilities director, reversed course regarding prototypes for its new schools and engaged architects to create compelling kit-of-parts schemes that are largely prefabricated.
| Feb 15, 2011
New 2030 Challenge to include carbon footprint of building materials and products
Architecture 2030 has just broadened the scope of its 2030 Challenge, issuing an additional challenge regarding the climate impact of building products. The 2030 Challenge for Products aims to reduce the embodied carbon (meaning the carbon emissions equivalent) of building products 50% by 2030.
| Feb 15, 2011
New Urbanist Andrés Duany: We need a LEED Brown rating
Andrés Duany advocates a "LEED Brown" rating that would give contractors credit for using traditional but low cost measures that are not easy to quantify or certify. He described these steps as "the original green," and "what we did when we didn't have money." Ostensibly, LEED Brown would be in addition to the current Silver, Gold and Platinum ratings.
| Feb 15, 2011
AIA on President Obama's proposed $1 billion investment in energy conservation
The President’s budget increases the value of investment in energy conservation in commercial buildings by roughly $1 billion, reports AIA 2011 President Clark Manus, FAIA. The significant increase from the current tax deduction of $1.80 per sq. ft. now on the books is an increase for which the AIA has been advocating in order to encourage energy conservation.
| Feb 14, 2011
Sustainable Roofing: A Whole-Building Approach
According to sustainability experts, the first step toward designing an energy-efficient roofing system is to see roof materials and systems as an integral component of the enclosure and the building as a whole. Earn 1.0 AIA/CES learning units by studying this article and successfully completing the online exam.