Hudson Yards Developer Scraps High Line-Blocking Wall

HUDSON YARDS, NY — The development firm behind Hudson Yards announced Wednesday that plans to build a wall separating the development's expansion from the High Line will not go forward.

Related Companies made the announcement on its social media pages following massive backlash to a story reported by the New York Times. Recent plans for phase two of the Hudson Yards project — to expand the mega-development west by building atop a platform over the remaining rail yards — included elevating new green spaces above the High Line, creating what appears to be a two-story wall overshadowing the space, the Times reported. Critics of the plan argued that it would cut off the public from accessing the Hudson Yards green space via publicly-accessible the High Line.

The development firm — owned by the billionaire Stephen Ross — blamed the report and subsequent backlash on "misinformation" in a statement released Wednesday.

"There has never been a wall along the High Line and there will never be a wall. By working closely with the railroad to meet ventilation requirements, and by continuing to collaborate, we are confident we will create the space that will make future generations proud," the statement reads.

New York City Elected officials ripped into the development firm after the Times report was published. City Council Speaker Corey Johnson called the wall plan a "breach of public trust," Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer called it a "big mistake," and local lawmakers such as Brad Hoylman said "the last thing New Yorkers need is a wall," while citing Ross' support for President Donald Trump.

Most of those same officials hailed Related's Wednesday announcement confirming a wall is not in its plans. Even without the announcement, it's unlikely that Related would have gotten approval for a wall given the immediate backlash from many of the same politicians who would be voting on approvals for the Western Yard expansion.

"The High Line is – and always should be – a public space for all New Yorkers to enjoy. I’m pleased to see Related backing down from their plan to build a 20-foot high concrete wall that would have cut off the High Line from new open space," Hoylman said in a statement.