The Highline: Through David Simpson’s Lens

To all those who think converting Vancouver’s viaducts to an elevated park is a great idea, notice the High Line’s surroundings. It’s the threaded-though-the neighbourhood quality, coupled with the fantastic (and fantastically expensive) makeover of the old rail line, that brings the High Line park to life. That’s why turning the viaducts into an elevated park would never be successful; there’s no neighbourhood context. It’s a dead zone and the viaducts keep on killing almost everything around them. I think a case might be made for keeping the portion between Quebec and Expo, over the skate park, and adding a great deal more urban sports activity there (wall climbing on the pillars, a mountain biking course), but nothing else should remain.