Architect of famous elevated park scoffs at similar idea for Seattle

The architect responsible for a famous elevated park says doing something similar in Seattle is a bad idea.

James Corner told the Puget Sound Business Journal that the proposal to build such a pedestrian bridge along the Seattle waterfront would not be the same as that of New York’s High Line park.

New York’s High Line offers a park setting on 22 blocks of defunct rail line. The proposal for Seattle, which gained enough signatures to be placed on the August 2016 ballot, is a similar idea, but wouldn’t work.

Related: Seattle mayor conflicted over being ‘the man’

Corner told the Business Journal that, unlike the High Line, which is 30 feet off the ground, the proposed park for Seattle would be 55 feet above ground. That would make it less accessible. The proposed mile of pedestrian walkway would also restrict views like the Alaskan Way Viaduct does.

The Seattle project, backed by Initiative 123 campaign organizers, would also keep intact a block of the viaduct, which will be torn down &#8212 eventually &#8212 due to safety concerns.

Backers of the project argue that such a waterfront feature would attract more people to the area and help “revitalize” the waterfront while reinvigorating downtown. If voters approve the project, a public development authority would be established to find ways to build and operate the park and bridge.

The project isn’t getting much support from the city, however. It would actually disrupt current plans to demolish the viaduct and build a waterfront park.

What might be most interesting about Corner’s opposition is not what he has to say about the technical aspect of the park. As KIRO Radio’s Dave Ross points out, Corner is designing the waterfront park for the City of Seattle. That means the people proposing Seattle’s own High Line-type park are getting opposition from the person who designed High Line.