A publicly accessible open space, (henceforth referred to as the “Western Open Space”), shall be provided in Subdistrict F. Such a space shall be open to the sky, except that amenities that are provided in accordance with this Section and Section 93-77 (Design Criteria for Public Access Areas in Subdistrict F) shall be permitted to cover a portion of the Western Open Space.

(a)        General purpose

The Western Open Space is intended to serve the following purposes:

(1)        to provide a major open space that joins the northern portion of the High Line open space network on its west to the open space networks leading to the Hudson Park and Boulevard on its east;

(2)        to provide a large open lawn area overlooking the Hudson River for public use and enjoyment; and

(3)        to provide transition areas that offer shade, supplemental space between the open lawn and surrounding building and connections between surrounding publicly accessible open spaces.

(b)        Location and minimum dimensions

The Western Open Space shall be located east of the High Line, and encompass the area between Sites 1 and 5 as shown on Map 3 (Subdistrict F: Public Access Area Plan) in Appendix B. The Western Open Space shall have a minimum easterly boundary of 225 feet, as measured from the easterly street line of Twelfth Avenue.

(c)        Core elements

The Western Open Space shall provide the following core elements:

(1)        Lawn area

An accessible lawn area shall be provided with a minimum area of one acre. Any lawn area located within 40 feet of a building wall on Sites 1 or 5 shall not contribute towards this one acre requirement. The required lawn area shall be comprised of the following amenities:

(i)        a continuous lawn area shall be provided over a minimum of 75 percent of the required one acre. Such area shall have a maximum slope of three degrees and unobstructed visual access toward the Hudson River; and

(ii)        a transitional lawn area may be provided for a maximum of 25 percent of the required one acre of lawn area. Such area need not be continuous, and shall have a maximum slope of 15 degrees. Trees and other plantings shall be permitted in such area.

(2)        High Line connection

Access to the High Line shall be provided along a minimum of 75 feet and a maximum of 150 feet of High Line frontage length. Such frontage need not be continuous, however, in order to qualify as unobstructed access that contributes to the minimum 75 foot requirement set forth in this paragraph (c)(2), a minimum frontage width of five feet is required. Such access need not be opened to the public until the High Line is reconstructed as public open space in accordance with the provisions of Section 93-756 (General requirements for the High Line).

(3)        Supplemental area

Any space provided in the Western Open Space which does not meet the criteria for lawn area set forth in paragraph (c)(1) of this Section or the criteria for the High Line connection set forth in paragraph (c)(2) shall be designated as supplemental area and shall comply with the requirements set forth in this paragraph (c)(3).

A minimum of 50 percent of the supplemental area shall be landscaped with soft ground cover, and the remaining 50 percent may be paved. At least one tree shall be provided for every 2,000 square feet of supplemental area. Such trees may be distributed anywhere within the supplemental area.

A minimum of two unimpeded paved pedestrian accesses, each with a minimum width of 12 feet, shall be provided in the supplemental area. One such pedestrian access shall link the Allee of the West 32nd Street Extension, as defined in paragraph (c)(2) of Section 93-761 and shown on Map 3 in Appendix B, to the High Line, and the second such pedestrian access shall link the West 31st Street Extension to the High Line.

A minimum of one linear foot of seating shall be provided for every 75 square feet of supplemental area. At least 50 percent of such required seating shall provide seatbacks. Such seating may be distributed anywhere within the supplemental area.

Permanent structures such as food or information kiosks, pavilions or public restrooms may be placed within the supplemental area, provided the height of such structures does not exceed 20 feet. The maximum lot coverage that all such permanent structures may occupy shall be 400 square feet, and such structures shall be exempt from the definition of floor area.

(d)        Transparency

For portions of buildings on Site 1 and Site 5 fronting upon the Western Open Space, a minimum of 50 percent of the surface area of the ground floor street wall fronting upon the open space shall be treated with clear, untinted transparent material.

(e)        Permitted encroachments from private streets and pedestrian ways

The Connector and the terminus of the West 32nd Street Extension shall be permitted to encroach upon the supplemental area of the Western Open Space, provided that the site and landscape plans incorporating the private street or pedestrian way are approved in conjunction with the Western Open Space, pursuant to Section 93-78 (Site and Landscape Plans for Public Access Areas in Subdistrict F).