Hudson River Island Connecting to High Line Floated by Architect

HUDSON YARDS — Pedestrians strolling along the High Line could cross a bridge to an island destination on the Hudson River — if an architect’s pie-in-the-sky plans come to fruition.

A “conceptual project” designed by Union Square-based architect Eytan Kaufman envisions a bridge connecting the elevated park to a circular hub on the river, complete with an arts center, public green space and other amenities across from Hudson Yards.

“It’s part of my studies that I do for myself. It was not commissioned by anybody,” Kaufman, who is in his 80s, said of his “Hub on the Hudson” design, which was first reported on by 6sqft.

By putting together detailed renderings of the hub, the "practically retired" architect hoped to answer a question he posed to himself: How do you connect the High Line to the Hudson River?

Coming up with the answer took him “at least a year” on and off, he said.  

In Kaufman’s renderings, a bridge — connected to the last leg of the High Line just below West 34th Street — passes over the West Side Highway and meets up with a promenade that encircles an approximately 9-acre island leading to a marina.

Five connected pyramidal glass buildings would house restaurants, the arts center and facilities for sports activities under the plan.

The island itself would be “supported on deep high-capacity caissons anchored into bedrock,” Kaufman wrote in his project description.

Constructing the project would be “out of [Kaufman’s] range,” but if it were to happen, it would be a “nice supplement” to the changes coming to the Hudson Yards, he explained.

“I think it would be wonderful for [what’s] happening in the neighborhood,” he said. “I really do believe in all those elements that I’m talking about.”

Kaufman, who has worked as an architect for decades, said his designs were meant to get people talking.

“It’s something that I was hoping… would come to the public domain, where people can voice their opinions, how they feel about it,” he said.

“It’s just a nice place. Simple as that.”