By Nicole Breskin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
CHELSEA — The city cleared the first major hurdle in extending the High Line up to 34th Street when members of Midtown's Community Board 4 voted in favor of the proposal on Wednesday.
The plan would allow the city, under the jurisdiction of the Parks Department, to acquire the remaining portion of the High Line north of 30th Street through the Uniform Land Use Review Procedure.
The southern portion of the High Line went through a similar procedure in 2005 on its way to becoming the space that now snakes from the Meatpacking District through Chelsea.
“This action is a first critical step towards city ownership of the entire High Line,” said Joshua David, co-founder of Friends of the High Line, at the meeting.
“It will help ensure that all decision about its future will be determined through a public process.”
The area at the Western Rail Yards through which the High Line would be extended has views to the Empire State Building and the Hudson River. According to Friends of the High Line, it could eventually be linked to the parks running alongside the Hudson River.
Technically, the platform along which the High Line extension would run is part of the controversial $15-billion Western Rail Yard development by real estate giant Related Companies.
Related did not respond to calls or emails, but Friends of the High Line, say the company is amenable to the parkway going ahead.
