Since the High Line “Park in the Sky” project opened earlier this summer, it’s been an incredible draw for people looking to enjoy a new green space. According to organizers, nearly 20,000 visit on the weekends, with 6-8K during the week — nearly four times more than what was predicted before its opening. All this traffic is putting a real strain on resources and now the High Line’s founders are proposing a business improvement district that would tax nearby property owners.

Needless to say, neighboring residents are less than thrilled by the idea. From the article,

At a community meeting on the proposal last night, at least half a dozen residents panned the idea of hitting them with an extra tax to pay for the park. “I think it’s the epitome of chutzpah,” said Pat Lipsky, a resident of London Terrace on West 23rd Street. “You build this beautiful park and then you come and ask us to pay for it.” Maya Hess, a resident of West 21st Street, said she’s opposed to the fee on principle. “It’s not the $30 a year I would have to pay, but I don’t believe it should be done this way,” she said.

Fees are expected to range from $30-90 depending on where residents live. In my opinion, that’s a small price to pay for the added benefit (and probable property value increase) of having access to the High Line Park. Friend of the Highline estimate that operating costs will be roughly $3.5 million to $4.5 million a year. Since NYC only kicks in $1 million, fund-raising is left to cover the rest.

Obviously, with celebrity backers like Edward Norton, Kevin Bacon, Ethan Hawke, and others — it’s not too hard to imagine some swanky annual fund-raising gigs to help sustain the project. If residents do in fact turn down the tax idea, that may be the only way to deal with the maintenance costs. If you lived nearby, would you pay a small tax to support the park?

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About Michael dEstries

Michael has been blogging since 2005 on issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, philanthropy, and healthy living. He regularly contributes to a slew of publications, as well as consulting with companies looking to make an impact using the web and social media. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his family on an apple farm.

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