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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by John Collins, Docent at The High Line
2:53:56
·
100 sec
John Collins, a docent at The High Line, strongly opposes the proposed development plan for a casino and the reduction in promised housing. He argues that the plan benefits only the developers and not the city or its residents, and would degrade the balance and unique experience that The High Line provides.
- Collins criticizes the reduction in planned housing units from nearly 5,700 to potentially less than 2,000 (though he notes some uncertainty about the exact numbers).
- He draws a parallel between the current situation and the initial challenges of saving The High Line, urging decision-makers to be "smart and brave" in finding a solution that benefits everyone.
- The testimony emphasizes the importance of preserving the character and balance of the neighborhood that The High Line has helped create.
John Collins
2:53:56
Good afternoon.
2:53:57
I'm John Collins.
2:53:58
I'm a docent on the High Line, and I stand firmly opposed to the development plan for the casino and the drastic reduction in promised housing.
2:54:07
The plan is not a value add to the residents, the High Line, or the millions of visitors who come here each year.
2:54:13
It only benefits when and related, not our city.
2:54:17
The High Line transformed this neighborhood.
2:54:20
Why?
2:54:20
Because it balanced the needs of the community.
2:54:23
It preserved nature along with urban life, and provided a way for people to experience New York from a whole new perspective.
2:54:31
30 feet in the air surrounded by art, architecture, and history.
2:54:38
This casino complex shatters that balance.
2:54:42
It does not complement the High Line.
2:54:44
It will degrade one of the most beloved spaces in New York City.
2:54:48
Now originally, the plan called for nearly 5,700 residences.
2:54:53
I've heard 52.
2:54:55
It now provides less than 2,000, but maybe it's 4,000.
2:54:59
That's not a compromise.
2:55:01
It's greed.
2:55:03
Developers say that the plan isn't economically feasible, but saving the Highline wasn't feasible in 1999 either.
2:55:12
But smart, brave minds in the form of Joshua David, Robert Hammond, and others made it possible.
2:55:21
Be smart, be brave, and execute a vision that benefits everyone, not just a few corporations.
2:55:31
It's not impossible.
2:55:32
It's only impossible if you don't try.
2:55:35
Thank you.