Civic Center, Centre Street Between Worth and Duane Streets

Mary Sargent © 2009 .………………….. click to enlarge

We're back at Foley Square now.  I forgot to mention last post that Pearl Street stops at St. James Place.  It picks up again farther downtown, but that's for another walk.

This is the New York County Courthouse, also known as the New York State Supreme Court.  Unlike the Federal Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the nation, the New York Supreme Court is not the highest Court of the State. 

The first meaning of supreme is highest in rank or authority . . .  the second meaning is of the highest quality . . . importance, etc., the third meaning is greatest . . . and the fourth meaning is last or final; utmost.  So what is it with the New York Supreme Court not being the highest court? 

The Court of Appeals is the highest court in New York.  Go here for a court structure chart.

Enough carping for now.  Let's just admire this building for awhile.  True it was built in 1925, in a decidedly retro style, but I think I'm okay with my government buildings being classic.  Go here for architectural details.

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Civic Center, Centre Street Between Worth and Duane Streets; Pearl Street Between Centre Street and Park Row

Mary Sargent © 2009 ………………..….. click to enlarge


Backing up a little from last night, we're looking at the New York County Courthouse on the left and the U.S. Courthouse on the right, from across Centre Street. Pearl Street runs between them. I've been curious about that building behind the County Courthouse since I began jury duty, so I worked up a little excitement about taking this walk on Pearl Street. Also Pearl Street has long interested me. I knew it was old and it started way downtown and took some strange twists and turns and ended up here. And that name. Somehow it seemed romantic. As you saw last night, the romance must be farther downtown.









Mary Sargent © 2009 ………………….. click to enlarge


It's the Daniel P. Moynihan U.S. Courthouse, designed by Kohn, Pedersen Fox and completed in 1994. Herbert Muschamp, the New York Times's architecture critic, wrote a thoughtful review that year. He was disappointed, though he praises many of the elements.. He says the architects equate the timeless with the old whereas he wants them to represent the past without sacrificing the present. If you want to know what he means by that, you'll have to read it yourself.







Mary Sargent © 2009 …………………xxxx....xx………………….. click to enlarge


Here's the entrance. Note that the building is sideways to the street.




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Civic Center, Centre Street at Worth Street

Mary Sargent © 2009 ………………….. click to enlarge

Yes, Grand Jury Service. And with this service comes the answer to a question (implied) I had on May 15, 2007. Namely, what is this building? It's the Louis J. Lefkowitz State Office Building. Among the State offices it houses, is the 4th Grand Jury, of which I am a member. And of which, more later.

The state architect, William Haugaard, designed this building, under a height restriction placed on it to avoid overshadowing the main courthouses and to avoid disturbing the symmetry of Foley Square. I don't know why this surprises me. I guess it reminds me of Washington, D.C. and New York never reminds me of Washington, D.C.

Note: You see there are two buildings in this photograph? I lightened the rear one considerably so that you could see there are two buildings. They were so close in color and shade that they seemed to blend together. I wanted you to be able to see the modest height and design of the State Office Building.

I'll always tell you if I do something like that.


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Civic Center, Centre Street Between Hogan and Worth Streets

Mary Sargent © 2007 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

Doorway to big government building. The lettering above the door says "New York State Building." That's all I know. And she ain't talkin.

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Civic Center, Centre Street Between White and Hogan Streets

Mary Sargent © 2007 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

I turned on Canal Street and walked South on Centre Street. We're not in Chinatown anymore. We're in that area called Civic Center, which can most easily be defined as being those streets that contain nothing but big government buildings, mainly courts. This is the Detention Center if I read my map correctly, and the white sign on the building directs law enforcement personnel to follow certain procedures with their firearms.

I was taking shots of this building when I noticed a woman waiting for me to finish. She didn't want her picture taken, she told me, so I lowered my camera and she walked past, then stopped and stared at where I was shooting. What are you taking a picture OF, she asked. She was weaving, a bit intoxicated, and smiling. I explained about the color and the shapes and how you could look at it as if it were a painting. She just smiled and shook her head as if to say, go figure. I must say, people did seem more reluctant to have their pictures taken here than anywhere else I've been.

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