Laurence Tamaccio lives near the West Side Highway, the part that exposes its aged, rusty underbelly and concrete legs, held high above Riverside Park South. In his view, it’s an eyesore—and he wants to cover it with vines and waterfalls.

“Seeing it on a daily basis, it started to sort of wear me down aesthetically,” he said.

Tamaccio, an architect who describes his job as “making things that look awful look better,” posted slides of his High Line-esque vision on YouTube. Trellises and ivy cover the highway’s pillars from 61st Street to 72nd street in the digital image of Tamaccio’s dream.

Tamaccio, who lives on Riverside Boulevard, has launched a petition to achieve community support, though it hasn’t circulated widely yet.

Community Board 7 passed a resolution to support “continued exploration,” but Tamaccio says, “The community is not as aware as it needs to be.”

Community Board 7 Chair Mark Diller said it’s safe to say that no one finds the highway attractive. He added, “I have not heard other proposals to beautify the highway.” He has heard, though, efforts to keep the highway elevated for people who use the park beneath it.

Heather Lipton of 140 Riverside Blvd. said, “Vines would be gorgeous,” though she hadn’t considered the highway to be an issue before.

“After a while you kind of get used to it,” said Leslie Pilcher, 31, of West 63rd Street.

Tamaccio doesn’t believe painting the highway would be enough.

John Hart, an artist who has lived nearby for over 20 years, disagrees. “A light blue would be better,” he said, to “blend it in with the sky.” The vines on the structure, he said, “would draw more attention to it.”

Jerry Julian, 45, who has lived in the area for several months, said he agrees with Tamaccio that the structure needs to be reworked. “I would love to do what Boston did with the Big Dig and put it underground,” he said.

There have been efforts to rebuild the highway underground. It was originally elevated from 72nd Street to Chambers Street but a downtown section collapsed in 1973, leading to a project called “Westway,” which died after years of controversy. Then there was a plan for the Trump (later Extell) developers to rebuild the park and bury the highway but necessary federal transportation funds have yet to be acquired.

“People are under the impression that ultimately it’s going to be underground,” Tamaccio said. There is space for a tunnel, but after Hurricane Sandy sent Hudson River water onto the park, Tamaccio thinks it’s less likely the tunnel will ever be built.

There are skeletal ramps from the old highway, protruding from the new one above the park south of 72nd Street. Tamaccio sees these shelf-like pieces as potential waterfall areas.

He says the skeletal strips of old highway have preferable structure, upheld by arches. The elevated track for the 7 train in Queens also has a pleasing pattern of arches, he says, but most of the highway over Riverside Park South seems like a “patch-up” job.

His plan has grown to include gray water catching systems to make use of drainage pipes and a year-round café to assist with funding—though after Sandy, the café should be elevated, he said.
Drawing from how the High Line came about, Tamaccio says the next stage is to form a nonprofit organization. He’s talking to experts, officials and collaborators.

“It’s my community and it affects thousands of other people,” he said, adding, “It’s part of the Manhattan greenway.”

The incident, which marked the second rape in a city park in the last two weeks, stirred up local politicians, who demanded that the city drop its proposed cuts to the NYPD and Parks Enforcement Patrol budgets. “When news of a brutal rape feels like deja vu, immediate action must be taken to protect the safety of all New Yorkers,” Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer declared.

Meanwhile, Speaker Quinn and others announced that a free self-defense class will be taught in Tribeca later this month. In addition, on Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. Quinn and other council members will host a free self-defense class in Central Park’s North Meadow Recreation Center.

Proposals for Better Safety at NYCHA Complexes
In light of a new report revealing safety concerns of New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) tenants in the Lower East Side, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, state Sen. Daniel Squadron and Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh released recommendations for changes last Friday.

“This is a cry for help,” Stringer said at the Seward Park Extension housing complex, site of the shooting of Officer Brian Groves this summer. “It’s time to fix the damn doors.”
According to the report, which surveyed 520 residents at 10 developments, about half of respondents have broken locks and unsecured lobby doors, and 65 percent marked inadequate protections against trespassers. Tenant leaders joined the politicians at the press conference and echoed concerns. In some cases, a lack or shortage of security precautions causes residents to fear leaving the house, according Dereese Huff, president of the Campos Plaza tenants association.

NYCHA is still sitting on $42 million budgeted for security cameras, and tenants are growing impatient. Though NYCHA recently announced camera installations by the end of 2013, Stringer insisted that changes be made now and that such standards of living would be unacceptable anywhere else. He proposed restructuring NYCHA, adding that “we don’t need a whole bureaucracy to tell us what the tenants have told us in the survey.”

Besides equipping developments, the recommendations focus on re-evaluating the relationship with the New York Police Department. In a 1994 Memorandum of Understanding with the NYPD, NYCHA agreed to pay for “above baseline services,” now costing $72 million a year. Housing developments account for 20 percent of New York City’s crime but receive 9 percent of NYPD services. A renegotiated MOU would eliminate the surcharge without sacrificing current levels of police presence.
“We have a problem with crime, and we have a problem in terms of giving people the comfort they deserve,” Squadron said.

Reps Pledge to Protect 9/11 Funds from Cutbacks
The House sponsors of the 9/11 Zadroga Act have come out to defend their brainchild against imminent federal cuts. If Congress does not implement policies to lower the federal deficit by Jan. 2, 2013, the 9/11 health program and the Victim Compensation Fund will lose millions of dollars in funding, in an automatic cutback of federal expenses.
U.S. Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney, Jerrold Nadler and Peter T. King, who were the House sponsors for the James Zadroga 9/11 Health & Compensation Act, promised last week to resist any attempt to cut this funding. The proposed cuts would lop off $118 million from the World Trade Center Health Program, and $211 million from the Victims Compensation Fund.

Together, the representatives released the following statement: “Considering how long it took Congress to act, we cannot allow those receiving the care they need and deserve from the Zadroga Act to be stranded by a sequester. This is one of the many compelling and urgent reasons why we pledge to work together in a bipartisan manner to prevent deficit cuts from jeopardizing these vital programs.”

City Breaks Ground on Final Section of High Line
Last Thursday, the City broke ground on the third and final part of the High Line, the famed park that reuses the abandoned railway between Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 30th Street and 10th Avenue. The High Line has become a monumental part of Manhattan’s West Side and an architectural wonder as it is elevated above the city’s streets. Since its opening in 2009, it has attracted over 10 million visitors. The park’s final installment is scheduled for completion in 2014, and will extend to West 34th Street.
Mayor Bloomberg, who presided over the groundbreaking moment, celebrated the final wave of construction with this statement: “The park has become a local treasure and an international icon as well as an important generator of economic growth for our city.”

Compiled by Nora Bosworth and Naomi Cohen

The Standard Hotel. Photo by Jim.henderson, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Here’s one thing you don’t want to see on your romantic stroll along the High Line in the sunset: a pile of dead birds.

“It’s a fantastic park, but it does pose some form of hazard, because it will draw birds in and bring them into these areas that are exposed to a lot of glass,” said architect Guy Maxwell, the focus of  Part Two of WNYC’s “A Clear And Present Danger: How Glass Kills Birds,” which aired on Thursday.

Glass-walled buildings reflect surrounding sky, clouds and trees, Maxwell explained, which tricks birds into thinking their flight path is clear. They fly straight into the windows at full speed.

The numerous glass buildings that surround the High Line – including the Standard Hotel, designed by Maxwell’s partner at Manhattan’s Ennead Architects, Todd Schliemann  — illustrates the growing volume of glass buildings throughout the city. This modern architectural trend brightens offices and makes for stunning exteriors, but it comes with a cost: according to WNYC, millions of birds across North America crash into glass windows every year.

Maxwell wants to do something to change this. He has devoted himself to designing bird-friendly buildings for Ennead. “The notion that a building that we’ve built is causing harm is really troubling to me,” he told WNYC.

Maxwell’s challenge is coming up with a product that effectively breaks up reflection and is also aesthetically pleasing. Glass won’t sell if it looks bad, so simple bars over windows are out. One possibility is German-made Ornilux Mikado glass, which Maxwell is currently experimenting with at New York’s Vassar College. A chaotic pattern of lines is painted in the glass with a substance that reflects ultraviolet light — something birds see far better than humans do.

WNYC noted that little funding exists for researching safer glass designs, so it may be a while before NYC has a “miracle glass” that keeps birds safe from our ever-climbing skyline. Until we do, look out above.

According to the Standard, “Big Box Man” was created by Austrian artist Erwin Wurm “in the hills of southern Germany” and dropped off in front of the hotel by crane. A video of the impressive installation can be seen on the Standard’s Culture blog at www.standardculture.com.

70 Pine to Become 1,000 Rental Apartments
The Financial District’s 70 Pine St., which has had many owners over the years, has reportedly changed hands again. This time around, Rose Associates has purchased the former AIG office building with plans to build up to 1,000 rental apartments and 40,000 square feet of retail on the premises, reports Curbed NY. The exchange was not made public, as it was an “internal” transaction. Plans are still undecided for the building’s existing art deco observatory.

Calls for Task Force to End Rampant Deadly Crashes
Transportation Alternatives released a statement this week reporting that three out of every five deadly pedestrian/cyclist crashes in the city are caused by illegal driving activities.

“Lawbreaking drivers are responsible for the majority of pedestrian and bicyclist deaths in New York City,” asserted Paul Steely White, executive director of Transportation Alternatives.

White called for a complete overhaul of NYPD procedure in investigating fatal crashes. Currently, the NYPD’s Accident Investigation Squad (AIS) only has 19 qualified officers to investigate the city’s most serious crashes and are only called to a scene when a victim is “dead or likely to die.” Only these 19 individuals are permitted to collect evidence, reports Transportation Alternatives.

All other vehicular crashes are treated much more hastily, according to the group’s release. “In those cases, even when the injuries are very severe, evidence of possible criminal conduct other than drunk driving is not collected,” they reported.

The NYPD could also be allocating their current resources more effectively, says Transportation Alternatives, by increasing ticketing for offenses like speeding and laying off on the reportedly less serious offenses, like tinted windows. The report released by the group calls for a task force specifically targeting traffic safety enforcement, with the goal of ensuring the NYPD does everything in its power to curb dangerous driving in the city and putting an end to crashes with unpenalized lethal driving.

Pols Ask Army for ‘More Meaningful Punishment’ for Chen’s Tormenters
Sgt. Adam Holcomb was tried last week in connection with the death of Pvt. Danny Chen last October. A 10-member military jury recommended sentencing Holcomb to 30 days in a military prison without discharge. Council Member Margaret Chin and Speaker Christine Quinn think he deserves more.

Chin and Quinn sent a letter to Lt. General Daniel B. Allyn, the convening authority who will decide the case’s final verdict, asking him to impose an “appropriately serious punishment” on Holcomb for condoning and participating in the physical and verbal abuse of the 19-year-old Manhattan native while on deployment in Afghanistan. Chen endured six weeks of the intense, racially charged hazing, then shot himself while alone in a guard tower.

Holcomb is the first of eight soldiers on trial for the abuse. The military jury convicted him on two counts of maltreatment and one count of assault consummated by battery, though they acquitted him of charges of negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, communicating a threat and hazing.

Chin and Quinn called the punishment “too lenient” and argued that it “would send the wrong message to the nation’s armed forces and to our country as a whole: that the United States military tolerates this condemnable conduct.”

Explore the High Life
Everyone knows that the High Line is a wonder of modern urban greenery and should be showed off to tourists of all provenances, but not everyone knows you can score a free guided tour of the elevated park this summer. The organization Friends of the High Line runs the events, starting from the High Line on West 14th Street and wandering through the park. Guides will explain how the unique park came into existence, focusing on the design, public artworks and horticulture that make the structure into an experience, as well as the history of the High Line before it became the city gem it is today. Tours are about an hour long and are wheelchair accessible. Guides suggest paying extra attention to the weather when dressing for the tours and arriving early to guarantee a spot.
Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m.; free. Meet at the entrance to the High Line at W. 14th St. & 10th Ave. For questions, email karla.osorio-perez@thehighline.org.

CENTRAL PARK
Moonlight Ride Through the Park
The environmental action group TIME’S UP has been leading cyclists through the evening glow of Central Park for 20 years, so you’re in good hands, even if you’re a newbie to nighttime riding. The first Friday of every month, weather permitting, a group of bicyclists meet at 10 p.m. at Columbus Circle, and guides in the front and back of the gang bring everyone safely and at a leisurely pace through the tranquil park, hopefully by the light of the moon, if it cooperates. The total journey is about 10 miles and ends back where it started around midnight.
times-up.org

CENTRAL PARK
The Park as Art Exhibit
Most residents strolling through Central Park don’t stop to ponder the very design of the place, not to mention the majestic additions of the Belvedere Castle and other landmarks. Luckily, the Central Park Conservancy offers free guided tours to enlighten oblivious observers. At various times over the summer, tours meet outside the Tavern on the Green visitor center, inside the park at 67th Street and Central Park West, and guides take groups on an eye-opening walk that shows off the park’s majestic landscapes and romantic vistas that many would miss on a hasty jog. Groups of seven or more can arrange for custom tours by calling 212-360-2726 or emailing tours@centralparknyc.org.
centralparknyc.org

UPPER WEST SIDE
Lincoln Center, Outside
The famous institution known for its stately theaters takes its programming into the wilds of the West Side this summer for the Lincoln Center Out of Doors festival. All events at the Damrosch Park Bandshell, Hearst Plaza and Josie Robertson Plaza are free. This year, highlights include a performance from the Chinese American Arts Council Acrobatic Group, From Chinatown with Love, family days with the Bindlestiff Cirkus and the U.S. premiere of Tangle, an interactive, audience-created kid-friendly show from Australian troupe Polyglot Theatre. The event concludes with the 29th annual Roots of American Music Festival Aug.11-12.
July 5-Aug. 12. lcoutofdoors.org.

UPPER WEST SIDE
The Lotus Garden
It’s rare that a private garden opens its gates to the public, but every Sunday, The Lotus Garden allows people inside without a key to view its harmonious collection of fragrant blooms and even a couple of small fish ponds. Situated 20 feet above 97th Street on top of a parking garage, it’s a blissful and unexpected escape from the city.
Sundays, 1-4 p.m.; free. The Lotus Garden, W. 97th St. betw. Broadway & West End Ave., thelotusgarden.org.

UPTOWN
Wedding Watching in the Cloisters
Who says you need a formal invitation to watch Jane and John tie the knot? The lush gardens and scenic overlooks of Fort Tryon Park serve as the perfect wedding backdrop, and come just about any weekend afternoon, you can gaze at the gowns and rings. Just stay at arm’s length from the invited guests—nobody likes a wedding crasher—and keep your cell phone on vibrate during the vows. If you get a chance, tell the bride the ceremony was lovely; such compliments are probably half the reason they wed in the park to begin with. Mazel tov!

UPTOWN
Traipse into New Jersey by Way of the George Washington Bridge
The East Side has the Brooklyn Bridge, but the George Washington Bridge and the Palisades beyond it beckon just as seductively from the west. We dare you to cross it. Only the south side of the bridge is open to pedestrians, which means you won’t miss out on the sight of Manhattan’s western flank. Cross at sunset and see the city bathed in gold toned hues. It does get windy up there, so you will not regret leaving your air conditioned, hermetically sealed apartment. You might even want to pack a picnic; on the other side is Fort Lee Historic Park, the forested site atop the Palisades where the Continental Army held a position over the Hudson River. Start your adventure at 177th and Cabrini, where you can access the pedestrian walkway from 6 a.m. until midnight.

UPTOWN
See the Light Side of the Moon from Inwood Hill Park
When it comes to seeing stars, New Yorkers are more likely to see the red-carpet-walking, Oscar-statue-wielding kind than the fiery masses suspended in the cosmos. The opposite is true, however, at Inwood Hill Park, in Manhattan’s northernmost reaches. At sporadic but frequent stargazing sessions led by NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Jason Kendall, the starry-eyed will get an opportunity to see if there is a man on the moon, discover constellations and become a little more familiar with the cosmos. In a recent event, stargazers held a Jupiter and Venus conjunction party to see the two bright planets pass within two degrees of each other.
moonbeam.net/inwoodastronomy

UPTOWN
Free Paddling on the Hudson
The Inwood Canoe Club has been run since 1902 by paddling enthusiasts, mostly volunteers, who love the river and want to spread the joy of a day spent skimming the surface of the Hudson. Rivergoers should wear clothes that can get splashed (or soaked) and be able to swim. The club provides kayaks, life vests and paddles free of charge, though insurance is required. The club is at the far west end of Dyckman Street; there is a sign at the marina gate directing visitors to the red boathouse.
Sundays, May 27-Sept. 2, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; free, $4 insurance required per visit or $15 for the season. Inwood Canoe Club, at the Hudson River at Dyckman St., inwoodcanoeclub.com

CITYWIDE
Big City, Big Fish
New Yorkers are always looking for ways to feel like adventurers, trapped as we may be in our concrete jungle. The charter company Big City Fish lets you feel like a true captain of the high seas, if only for a day, as it guides clients to the most gigantic fish the Hudson and East Rivers have to offer up. The real captain, Craig Gantner, has been fishing since childhood, and is licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard. He champions catch-and-release, mindful of keeping fish populations plentiful for all customers, and can teach landlubbers the arts of fly and spin fishing, as well as simple pole-and-tackle conventional fishing. Gantner’s boat holds up to four people and can pick up passengers from Manhattan or the Jersey City marina.
908-963-0215, thebigcityfish.com

CITYWIDE
Summer Days on the River
Riverside Park’s Summer on the Hudson series gives New Yorkers a chance to get groovy on the river all summer long. The park holds tons of events, from Zumba, yoga, Pilates and tai chi classes to concerts for kids to kayaking, all on a regular basis. There are also the special features of the season, including the Sing for Hope Street Pianos—real pianos are placed around the park and are available for players, both pros and tinkerers, to plunk out tunes for two weeks starting June 1. On several Friday evenings, dance troupes from Harlem will show their stuff and encourage others to join in, teaching kids dance moves as well as confidence. There are also DJ dance parties, French films, a fishing festival, and a number of sports activities and lessons.
riversideparkfund.org

With the temperature falling, New Yorkers are beginning to exchange linen dresses for bulky winter coats, tank tops for sweaters and gladiator sandals for knee-high boots. And it’s not just our wardrobes that get altered as days get chillier—our exercise routines must be reinvented as well.

It’s easy to come up with excuses when the thermometer drops. I know the winter workout struggle firsthand. A few years ago, I lost 132 pounds and began exercising daily. It’s hard to keep up healthy routines but, luckily for all of us living and working in Manhattan, there are activities here for every fitness level, price range and desired goal.

Swimming (Inside)
Growing up in Arizona, I swam competitively. The sport is an unbelievable workout—who doesn’t want abs like Michael Phelps? Most indoor pools are heated, and this low-impact exercise is a great for those who need a break from hitting the pavement.

If you’re new to swimming, JackRabbit Sports (42 W. 14th St., betw. 5th & 6th Aves., jackrabbitsports.com) offers swim classes for water lovers of all ranks. The level 1 class begins Jan. 8, is offered Sundays in Union Square and costs $175.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you’ve swum competitively in the past and miss the action-packed workouts, try out Red Tide Swim Club (various locations, www.redtidenyc.org), a United States Swim Master’s team with practices and workouts multiple times a day. Fees vary, from $110 per month for a minimum of two months, $140 for 10 swims or a $20 drop-in rate.

The Daily Stairmaster
One of the best fitness tips any time of year is to take the stairs. When I first moved to the city, I worked out with a personal trainer who had me sprint up and down the steps at the gym. The concept is easy, but it’s the toughest workout I’ve ever done.

The best part of this is that you can do it in your apartment or office building. If you live on the fifth floor, walk up and sprint down every day. If you work on the 10th floor, walk down every day and walk up on mornings when you’re not headed for a big meeting. Make sure to walk heel to toe—this will give you the best workout for your butt. It’s estimated that you can burn around 300 calories in 30 minutes of walking stairs.

The Gym Route
It seems like there are as many gyms in Manhattan as there are nail salons, and it can be hard to find the right fit. To save some money but still have access to fitness equipment, join a New York City Recreation Center. There are locations all around the city, and membership ranges from $100 to $150 a year for adults. They give you access to everything from treadmills to full-sized pools—at 27 cents a day, the Alfred E. Smith Recreation Center (80 Catherine St., betw. Cherry & Monroe Sts., nycgovparks.org) is a bargain, especially if you only use the gym on the weekends.

If you’re looking to hire a personal trainer and work out by the light of a disco ball, check out David Barton Gym (various locations, davidbartongym.com). They offer an alternative experience to most gyms; their personal training packages require multiple sessions per week, but they’ll throw in the membership at no extra cost.

Walking It Out
If classes aren’t for you and the thought of a run in the park seems a bit daunting, just walk! Even 60-90 minutes of moderate walking per day can lead to weight loss.

The High Line (Gansevoort St. to 34th St. betw. 10th & 11th Aves., www.thehighline.org) is a great place for a walk. Grab a cup of coffee (skim milk and two Splendas bring the beverage to less than 40 calories) and enter at Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District. The park creates a built-in course with defined beginning and end points, allowing walkers to track mileage.

The David Barton gym has the amenities of Equinox with the pizazz of a disco party. Locations are in Chelsea and Astor Place. PHOTo courtesy of David Barton Gym

I will admit I did not journey down to the Meatpacking District just to see it. I had taken my daughter to play with some friends in the area and stopped by the neighborhood’s new attraction on the way home.

If you’re unfamiliar, the High Line is a 1.45-mile-long elevated, steel structure built in the 1930s to lift dangerous freight trains off Manhattan’s streets. The last train ran on it in 1980.

The elevated park runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 20th Street in Chelsea, between 10th and 11th avenues. The plan is to take it all the way to the original end of the line, at West 34th Street. (FYI: no dogs, bikes or rollerblades.)

The park is the culmination of 10 years of advocacy, planning and construction by Friends of the High Line, the nonprofit, private partner to the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, whose goal was to create a monument to the industrial history of New York’s West Side, as well as an innovative public space.

It was designed by landscape architects James Corner Field Operations, with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, who have juxtaposed meandering concrete pathways, grass and steel from the remaining train tracks.

This I had to see. For those of us Uptowners who consider Central Park our backyard, my first reaction was, “You call this a park?” And the views of the Hudson to the west and the Village to the east are not much to speak of. But in all fairness, it is better than it was; that is, no longer an abandoned eyesore and waste of space. It’s much nicer to stroll that area (which although residential, still has a gritty industrial vibe) from above than below.

Even though area residents already have Chelsea Piers and the bike path by the West Side Highway, it’s nice that they now have somewhere else to go that is free, new and clean. They are, in fact, much better off than our Times Square neighbors, who have lawn chairs in the middle of Broadway, which is the most bizarre, not to mention unappealing, jitter-inducing thing I’ve ever seen.

The High Line has better-than-average park benches, some in the shape of lounge chairs. And right around 17th Street they are constructing a seating area with an observation window, so you can sit right over Tenth Avenue and watch the traffic.

I don’t think I’d go there just to hang out, but if I were in the area again I’d definitely pay another visit out of respect to those who worked so hard to see the project to fruition. To me, the High Line is really a monument to what New Yorkers can get done when they want to improve their neighborhoods.

I hope that like Friends of the High Line, The Gracie Point Community Council on the Upper East Side is as successful at improving its neighborhood by defeating the planned Marine Transfer Station (a.k.a. the garbage dump), a 10-story facility across from Asphalt Green which will draw 80 trucks an hour circling East End and York avenues. The smell, the vermin, the disease!

Perhaps as they did with the eco-friendly High Line, our city officials will do what’s best for the Upper East Side and take the garbage away from this or any residential area. It’s called the High Road.