As the second section of New York’s popular High Line nears completion this spring, a new residential project along its ranks will soon open. HL23, a luxury condominium project designed by Los Angeles architect Neil Denari, is no ordinary building. The 14-storey tower, which houses one living unit per floor and two duplex apartments, occupies a commanding presence in its West Chelsea neighbourhood where it joins a number of recently completed architecturally distinctive buildings such as Jean Nouvel’s Vision Machine and Frank Gehry’s ICA building. But unlike those buildings, HL23 occupies rare air, being the only building to directly engage the High Line, thus guaranteeing its occupants unobstructed views to the north and south. But beyond this notable feature, the building deserves to be respected as a serious work of architecture.