Envisioning the Queens (High) Line

High Line-Inspired Park proposed in Queens

2013-01-21T07:30:00.000-05:00

One cannot doubt that the famous park in the sky inspired many others to follow in rails-to-trails projects that were dormant or only dreams. High Line-Inspired Park proposed in Queens Rockaway Rail Branch of the LIRR; Photos Courtesy of Friends of the Queensway © 2012 (What do you know that's MY photo!!) When plans for the High Line were first revealed it made

Queens Wants to Transform an Abandoned Railway into a Park!

2013-01-20T17:00:00.000-05:00

Cannot get over this beautifully written piece featured in the New York Times! Queens Wants to Transform an Abandoned Railway into a Park Members of the Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit group studying the the development of a greenway in Queens, toured a stretch of the proposed site recently. By LISA W. FODERARO Published: January 7, 2013 It has been abandoned for

Trees Shed Bad Wrap As Accessories to Crime

2013-01-20T10:30:00.000-05:00

Trees Shed Bad Wrap As Accessories to CrimeBy Richard Conniff Driving the bleak, treeless streets of West Baltimore, through neighborhoods that inspired the NBC series “Homicide” and HBO’s “The Wire,” Morgan Grove recites the evolutionary stages of neighborhood abandonment. First, plywood goes up over the front doors of the two- and three-story brick row houses. When that’s not

Diggin' the Idea of a Mushroom Garden Park!

2013-01-19T22:17:00.001-05:00

A pedestrian walkway in an old railway...underground! Check out the “Mushroom Garden” underground park. The “Mushroom Garden” underground park The High Line Park in Manhattan–an old elevated railway transformed into a snaking park trail–has officially sparked a frenzy of excitement about rehabilitating old transit areas into green space, even through the idea has actually been around

Making Friends Along The 'Way

2012-12-11T21:10:00.003-05:00

Making Friends Along The 'Way It's all about the people in your neighborhood, in your neighborhood, in your neighborhood. Property Owner and Tenant Concerns People and institutions who own land along proposed greenway corridors are an important group. It is always a good idea to meet with property owners one-on-one. When approaching landowners, try to anticipate their concerns so that

What is a Greenway Worth?

2012-10-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

What is a Greenway Worth? While there are the obvious physical characteristics and noted health benefits of green spaces, there are many other perks of establishing more of these parks, trails and greenways in your community. Economic Benefits of Greenways: Summary of Findings Real Property Values Many studies demonstrate that parks, greenways and trails increase nearby property values,

On Greenways and Crime

2012-10-02T06:30:00.000-04:00

On Greenways and Crime So, there's a debate going on about greenways promoting crime and this being a hub for all sorts of illicit activity. More than it is right now? We're seeking to clean up this abandoned space and turn it into something beautiful and functional for the community. What do yout think? Crime And Vandalism Issue: Do recreational trails and other types of greenways

The 4 Coolest “High Line” Inspired Projects

2012-09-09T09:00:00.000-04:00

Creative ways of incorporating an existing, disused railway into a cultural community greenway will bring such life along the 3.5 mile path from Central to Southern Queens. The 4 Coolest “High Line” Inspired Projects LEGO Bridge by MEGX New York City’s High Line has been such a success – both as an urban renewal project and a money-making tourist attraction – that it’s spawned

Greening Vacant Lots Reduces Overall Crime

2012-09-05T09:00:00.000-04:00

As Southern Queens becomes grittier, pieces of green that show a community cares, can make a huge difference in safety and how the area will transform in the next few years. Study Finds Greening Vacant Lots Reduces Overall Crime Sara Novak Living / Lawn & Garden August 11, 2012 slideshow bob/CC BY-SA 2.0 Green vacant lots make neighborhood residents feel safer while

What is the difference between a green city and a biophilic one?

2012-09-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

Totally loving the vision of a biophilic city. Having nature around us is a requirement, not an option. San Francisco – A Partner City Friday, August 10th, 2012 | Blog by Scott Edmondson, AICP, San Francisco Planning Department What is the difference between a green city and a biophilic one? After all, San Francisco, like other top green cities (Portland, Seattle, etc.) has many

Therapeutic Design and Communities

2012-08-30T10:00:00.000-04:00

I'm interested in establishing more healing spaces in our city, starting with Southern Queens. How Does your Garden Grow? The role of Therapeutic Landscapes in Design What does landscaping mean to you? Most likely, not nearly enough. Too easily, we view it as decorative, a “nice to have” part of a project. However, as we learn more about salutogenicdesign and the effects of the

How sustainable neighborhoods could reshape cities

2012-08-26T09:00:00.000-04:00

The next small thing: How sustainable neighborhoods could reshape cities By Greg Hanscom Photo: Wally Gobetz Lower Downtown Denver has become the city’s night life hub — and a laboratory for community-level sustainability. I once worked for a New Yorker who loved to wisecrack that the only difference between Denver and yogurt was that “yogurt’s got culture.” Looking at the Mile High

Cities See the Other Side of the Tracks

2012-08-23T15:02:00.005-04:00

“It’s not just, ‘Build a cool park and they will come.’ It’s, ‘Build a cool park and connect it to a framework.’ ” SQUARE FEET Cities See the Other Side of the Tracks Ryan Collerd for The New York Times The Reading Viaduct, an old elevated railway line in Philadelphia. One group estimates that it would cost less to redevelop the viaduct than to demolish it. By KRISTINA

Communities Learn the Good Life Can Be a Killer

2012-08-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

We need to do something about this by creating more public spaces and more mass transit. “When there is nearly nothing within walking distance to interest a young person and it is near-lethal to bicycle, he or she must relinquish autonomy — a capacity every creature must develop just as much as strength and endurance.” Communities Learn the Good Life Can Be a Killer By JANE E. BRODY

Our Potential Park Somewhat in the Sky

2012-08-10T13:38:00.001-04:00

We have a ways to go, but we're making progress! Architecture, NEW YORK, Transit, Urban Exploration — July 25, 2012 10:29 am Exploring QueensWay, An Abandoned High Line in Queens by judy chang What may become the city’s next elevated, 3.5-mile long pedestrian and bike path, now named the QueensWay, is still very much just another ghost of the New York’s past. Yet a short walk down a

It's Officially an Epidemic!

2012-08-10T13:35:00.002-04:00

What Can We Say? It's The Hottest Trend In Public Spaces! Everybody Wants a High Line Posted July 27, 2012 Keywords: new york's high line, Redevelopment & Infill, Design & Architecture,Gardens & Landscapes With the success of the High Line park in New York City, it seems almost every city now wants one. Toronto has long been batting around ideas for its Gardiner expressway, while Los

2012-06-12T07:00:00.000-04:00

More Reason to Visit Jersey! Using the High Line as a Model, Jersey City Bets on the Embankment Friday, June 08, 2012 By SHARYN JACKSON Play 04:41 / 04:41 ListenAddDownloadEmbed Stream m3u Enlarge A rendering of what the Embankment could look like. (Rendering image by RomanP.com) “It feels more natural in some ways because of these stone walls. And then what’s

2012-05-09T00:46:00.000-04:00

September 12, 2011 High Hopes for the Harsimus Embankment: The Fight to Create an Elevated Rail-Trail in New JerseyBy Jake Lynch Standing next to the towering walls of century-old brownstone, looking up at the mist of sunlight pouring through wild foliage above, the vision for what the Harsimus Embankment could one day become forms easily. The Harsimus Embankment runs sixblocks through

High Line Deux

2012-03-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

A New High Line for New York Similar to the struggles of the original High Line in NYC, this version also aims to protect a structure from destruction. It's going to be so beautiful. I want to visit it now! The Queens (High) Line has a long ways to go before any major decisions are made. Interestingly enough, the idea of turning the 3.5 mile abandoned rains doesn't get as much support

High (Line) Hopes for New Jersey

2012-03-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

High (Line) Hopes for New Jersey Similar dreams, struggles and efforts to create High Line's all around the world, this one is closer to home! High Line Hopes in Jersey City By HEATHER HADDON Roman Pohorecki A rendering of a potential plan for the Sixth Street Embankment in Jersey City has

Anandi Hearts Queens!

2012-02-03T16:48:00.001-05:00

Gratitude and Love for Queens! Honored and Humbled to be featured in the Queens Ledger / Brooklyn Star's "On the Record" as community & environmental activist." Thanks for the great recognition for the work that I do and for highlighting the passion I have for creating community and beautiful spaces in Queens. Thank you all for the love! ~Anandi Anandi Premlall, Community activist

Spaces that Heal

2012-01-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

Spaces that Heal Doesn't it feel refreshing to take a walk among lush greenery? I don't know about you, but I still feel in awe when I look up at trees and their majestic stature, or enter a garden with insects buzzing, colorful buds and petals and smells of pure earthy goodness, nectar, or the scent of herbs crushed under my foot. There is definitely something magical about being in a

More Service, Not Tracks

2012-01-29T10:00:00.000-05:00

We Need More Existing Service, Not Tracks! South Queens would be better served with increased rail service on the existing A lines (which wouldn't cost millions or even billions and would take effect more immediately than years down the line) and express or even regular buses that ran frequently and in sync with rush hour (versus questionably) and especially when schools let out around

2012-01-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

The "High Line" seems to be replicating like bunnies across the globe!A High Line for London? Not Until After the Queen's Big Boat Party By Janelle Zara Published: November 9, 2011 Construction of the Gensler-designed London River Park on the Thames, originally expected to debut in time for the 2012 Olympics, has been delayed until after the Queen's 60th anniversary

Queens Fights for a High Line of Its Own

2012-01-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

Plea for a Public Space Hello World! What are your thoughts about a 3.5 mile linear park that would stretch from Ozone Park to Rego Park, Queens? Alex Davies of TreeHugger/Discovery wrote about the QueensWay (aka Queens HighLine) and sums up what we (Friends of The QueensWay) are trying to do for the Queens community and how this project received some new life in 2011. We have