Friends of the High Line (FHL)
HR&A Advisors worked with Friends of the High Line and the New York City Department of Planning to demonstrate the economic potential of transforming the abandoned High Line railway into a public park. Through detailed impact analysis and an innovative rezoning strategy, HR&A helped create a world-renowned public space that has generated $52 billion in economic activity and reshaped Manhattan’s West Side.
To advance the park’s development, HR&A produced a comprehensive economic and fiscal study that showed the project’s long-term benefits would far exceed its capital costs. The analysis highlighted gains in tourism, employment, and real estate value. In partnership with public and nonprofit stakeholders, HR&A also crafted the West Chelsea rezoning—an inventive land-use framework that preserved views and character while encouraging investment. Key components included air rights transfers, incentives for restoration and public access, and design guidelines that reflected the neighborhood’s cultural identity.
The resulting policy enabled over 30 development projects, safeguarded the High Line’s historic structure, and positioned West Chelsea as a hub for art and innovation. The park now welcomes over seven million visitors annually and is expected to deliver $1 billion in new tax revenue by 2027—an eightfold return on the City’s investment—underscoring HR&A’s expertise in translating visionary planning into tangible, lasting impact.
