OVER THE EDGE

 I had the privilege while living in New York to spend significant time at Hudson Yards exploring the development and experiencing some of what it had to offer, and it was quite surreal. My final paper focused on Hudson Yards more technically as a community and neighborhood, but this post is a bit more focused on my experience being there. 

If you walk up James Corner's Highline Park from the Chelsea Meatpacking District, this is the first view you get of Hudson Yards. It is a truly magnificent open public space always full of people and events, exercising classes, outdoor concerts, immersive art experiences, and celebrations. The visit is never dull or boring, and looking directly up from this point you can see the Edge which is one of the most marvelous experiences you can encounter in the city. 

The Edge - Times, prices, and location in New York

The platform is the highest observation point in the Western Hemisphere, with one section of glass floor to look directly down to the street below. 




It would be easy to spend hours staring across the city from the platform, but on the ground floor, more amazing things are happening - particularly at Christmas. Where they wrap MILES of Christmas lights all around the development to celebrate the holidays. 






It would not be hard to live in a development like Hudson Yards due to the size and diversity of places to visit and people to meet and things to do. However, the development and surrounding areas have become extremely elitist areas reserved for only the wealthiest individuals. Even the Highline Park requires reservations during peak tourist season and boasts several buildings designed by famous architects, such as Zaha Hadid, right along its path. Experientially and environmentally, in my opinion, there is no better community in the world than Hudson Yards because it is on the forefront of innovation and intervention. Economically, however, only a select wealthy few can truly afford to live in and around it. Regretfully, I never had the opportunity to go into the Vessel because it was closed the entire time I lived there, but I fully intend to return to Hudson Yards, hopefully permanently. 

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