@Clavinova
Why is the Camden Highline temporary?
Network Rail own the infrastructure the Camden Highline would re-use, and they may need it for rail use at an unknown point in the future to increase capacity on the North London Line.
This is a far cry from the confident assertion that 'the Camden line would be temporary'.
A 25 year lease is envisioned.
"Not only does the city take care of a eyesore, but the popularity of High Line has brought in an estimated $2 billion in new developments, the New York Times reports."
You were in favour of Boris Johnson's Garden Bridge then? (NB - I liked the idea at the time.) Sadiq Khan scrapped the Garden Bridge but he is endorsing the Camden Highline.
Did Johnson's bridge take care of an eyesore?
Did it promise estimated £gazillions in local development?
(Did the Garden Bridge Trust spend £53 million on various activities associated with planning that will never be seen again?)
The Camden Highline will be located on land. It will link to existing cycling and pedestrian routes (Regent's Canal, for instance). Virtually all the infrastructure is already built. All the existing network will be able to stand again on its own if the railway ever needs the infrastructure again.
The Garden Bridge otoh was to be located over the river (being a bridge and all). It was envisioned as an expensive white elephant with no relationship or benefit to the localities on either end. On the south bank a public green space would have been bulldozed to make room for a commercial building. The land on which the building stood was to be leased. Many mature trees were to be cut down on both banks of the river. And that is before we even start on the muddy finances and the ever-rising cost estimates and the questions about the value the project would bring to anyone.
www.camdenhighline.com/our-route
The advantage of building on existing vacant infrastructure is that we’re already in the heart of Camden. The network of walking connections from the Highline encompasses all the main destinations in Camden Town and King’s Cross, from the view at Primrose Hill to the new district and transport connections at King’s Cross.
Many ask ‘why build the Highline when Regent’s Canal connects the same places?’. We love the canal, but this stretch is too busy; the narrow towpath was built for a single horse, not for cyclists and groups of walkers to share. We see the Highline as complimentary, relieving pressure on the canal as well as being a distinct and beautiful new walking route of its own.