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Gov. unveils plan to extend High Line to new Moynihan Train Hall

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a proposal to extend the High Line in Manhattan to the newly-opened Moynihan Train Hall.

In his 2021 State of the State address, Gov. Cuomo said Brookfield Property Group will partner with Empire State Development, the Port Authority and Friends of the High Line to build an L-shaped connection from the 10th Avenue terminus of the High Line to Brookfield’s Manhattan West public space.

Calling it “the most ambitious redevelopment that New York City has seen in decades,” Governor Cuomo said, “When the private sector economy lags, state governments build infrastructure and spur development.

“The beautiful Moynihan Train Hall is open, the renovation of Penn Station and this High Line extension project begin this year. This connection is part of a district-wide redevelopment of the West Side that will jumpstart the private market in a post-COVID world.”

The former freight rail line along Manhattan’s West Side meanders 1.5 miles through Chelsea attracting an estimated eight million visitors a year.

Under the Governor’s proposal, the project will extend the existing High Line eastward at 10th Avenue and 30th Street along Dyer Avenue to the mid-block between 9th and 10th Avenues, at which point it will turn north and connect into the elevated public space. The public space would then terminate on 9th Avenue directly across from the entrance to the Farley Building and the new Moynihan Train Hall.

Strategically extending the High Line in these locations not only creates new public space but also addresses community concerns about pedestrian access between Penn Station and Hudson Yards and surrounding areas. Midtown West continues its transformation into a burgeoning commercial and residential neighborhood in Manhattan. The High Line is New York’s most popular elevated park, and its extension will offer safe passage for commuters, residents, and tourists navigating this booming area. 

This is the first phase of two planned extensions of the High Line that will create more pedestrian-friendly and safer connections through Midtown West, from the new Moynihan Train Hall all the way to Pier 76 in Hudson River Park. The second phase will extend the northwestern end of the High Line, which currently terminates at 34th Street and 12th Avenue, northward past the Javits Center before turning west to cross the West Side Highway and end at Pier 76, the next great public pier in Hudson River Park.

BEN BROWN

Brookfield Property Group Managing Partner Ben Brown said, “The central element of Brookfield’s Manhattan West complex will be a 2-acre landscaped public plaza that will be surrounded by 240,000 square feet of curated restaurants and shops and enlivened year-round with public events, art installations and an ice rink programmed, in part, by the NHL. The High Line extension, which will link the new Moynihan Train Hall to the Manhattan West plaza and the rest of the High Line, will be a major addition to the entire area, making it easier and more enjoyable for pedestrians to access and navigate the neighborhood.”

Friends of the High Line Executive Director and Co-Founder Robert Hammond said, “We are excited to work with the Governor’s office and Brookfield on this opportunity to better connect residents, workers, and visitors to public spaces, cultural institutions, businesses, and vital transportation hubs on the West Side of Manhattan. We look forward to working with the State and our neighbors over the coming months to advance this unique public access project.”

Empire State Development Acting Commissioner and President & CEO-designate Eric Gertler said, “Extending the High Line to other locations on the West Side, including the newly opened Moynihan Train Hall, creates seamless, safe connectivity for pedestrians through a highly trafficked area. This public-private partnership continues the West Side’s momentum and accelerates the area’s long-term economic growth and development.”

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