A Quick Trip to New York City

On a weekend in the middle of June, I was scheduled to attend a friend's wedding on Long Island. I decided this would be an excellent opportunity for a short trip to NYC. My sister works at an architectural firm in Manhattan, so I had a place to stay and a good guide to the city.

My initial reaction upon arrival was one of joy, as our plane was delayed until late in the night and my sister greeted me and my wife at the door with New York style pizza and a place to sleep. Thus began a great journey to the cosmopolitan mecca of the US.

The ubiquitous brownstone front entry is a fixture of New York residential areas

Manhattan is made of wide avenues and narrow streets, historic masonry and steel skycrapers

My observations focused on the built environment, whereas my wife was much more interested in social studies. This is where New York excels, I was able to photograph and study buildings, infrastructure, transportation options, etc. while we walked to and from different neighborhoods shopping for trendy clothes and exploring exotic dining options.

The avenues facilitate transportation

I can say this about the transportation system of NYC: it works. On our trip, it worked beautifully. We did not need to rent a car, we were able to find public transportation to all of our destinations (even on our excursion to the middle of nowhere in Long Island). Walking within Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens was easy and accommodated by the street layouts. Just don't expect to go anywhere slowly, you'll get pushed into the gutter by the kind but delightfully no-nonsense commuters.

An approaching subway train

Interestingly, the transportation system was also my biggest complaint. There were two many cars and not enough pedestrian right-of-ways. Barring Columbus Circle (which was probably my favorite place of the city) and Central Park, there was not many places where cars did not rule the road. Broadway / Times Square was recently pedestrianized (and see NY Post article also) but it's too soon to tell if this will be a sign of things to come or just a one-off event. Of course, this is what got me thinking about cars as a public transportation option. According to the sources I have read, NYC is trying to phase out parking spaces, excess width on roadways, and generally reverting to a pedestrian oriented city. I think they are making some good steps, but a place like NYC really needs to create extraordinary spaces of a similar quality to Columbus Circle (see ASLA 2006 Awards) in order to stand out. I did not have a chance to see the High Line (also see Friends of the High Line), but it's first on my list when I return.

The Columbus Circle as seen from Time Warner building

The splashing water provides white noise to block out sounds of traffic

The circle offers an area of refuge and an urban collector for pedestrian traffic between the park and the city

Central Park has a huge amount of development along each side

And seriously, the loss of Penn Station is acutely felt by the city. I traveled through the station the same day that the Infrastructurist published his post on station demolition (and follow-up). The new structure is entirely unsatisfactory. I'm glad that people are still incensed by the demolition. Some idiotic New Yorker left his legacy of demolition on the city, that's for sure. The best summary is the quote from Vincent Scully comparing the experience of the old station to the new: “One entered the city like a god; one scuttles in now like a rat.”

The original Penn Station and its position in the city

Interior of Penn Station

The new Penn Station is underground, served only by street access

The new station interior is an overcrowded, depressing affair

On the other hand, Grand Central Station was nice. I was impressed by the structure and its continued use. Of course, the streets surrounded the station more than any other made you feel the oppressive impact that the wide streets and fast cars were having on the city. Another great opportunity for pedestrian-only space, IMHO.

Grand Central Station exterior

The nearby traffic structures and second-class pedestrian access to Grand Central Station make the experience unimpressive

We had horrible weather, set a record for rain received on the day we were there. I would not want to be swimming in the Hudson later that weekend (one of my sister's friends was preparing for a charity triathlon, yikes!). Obviously the CSO system is something that NYC must work on. And they are. But it's not as easy as just adding an independent pipe system, the amount of sub-surface utilities in that place is unbelievable. Basically there is no room for more right-of-ways. They have a legacy system of CSO's and they are going to have to be very creative in their solutions.

The structures of New York City are certainly world famous. I spent a lot of time with a craned neck looking up into the clouds at the tops of skyscrapers.

The Empire State Building with its spire finally peaking through the rain clouds

The best structure in NYC, the Chrysler Building

The GM / RCA building of the Rockefeller Center

The skyscrapers didn't impress me too much. Like every tall building I know, you have to be far away to appreciate them. Or at least that was my thoughts until I saw the new Hearst Tower. I really loved this building. If you get a chance, walk inside and check out the lobby. The security guards can actually tell you some interesting facts, don't be afraid to ask.

The unique diagrid structural system catches attention from every angle

The base of the tower, originally built to support a great tower (it took 80 years)

The important thing about the Hearst Tower is that is a great example of how modern architecture can still impress in a way that is so different but equally perfect to the old skyscrapers. The first LEED certified tall building in the city, and it kept the historic facade of the old structure. Perfection - architecturally, structurally, and socially.

random picture #1: when one awning just isn't enough (east side of Central park)

random picture #2: cast iron columns with built-in beam seats on the capital (Brooklyn Industries clothing store)

Our journey to Brooklyn was prompted by a quest for corn. As I'm currently living in a city surrounded by corn on every side (Indianapolis), I was skeptical that the corn would be worth it. I was wrong, it was fabulous. And the restaurant, Havana Outpost, is worth a stop on anyone's journey. Catfish burritos, nothing more to say. This little place has a small enclosed seating area with local beers on tap, but their outdoor areas are a showcase of doing things the right way. Solar electric panels, rain water collection (used for watering an urban garden and water for the bathrooms), and human-powered cocktail mixers make this place an absolute success.

The Havana Outpost lamp and nearby solar panel

The exterior dining area - note the solar panels on the left, water collection system in the center, and the stationary truck where all the food is prepared

you can prepare a frozen cocktail on the human powered blender (too much rain on our visit, bike was put away for safe-keeping)

a bona fide rain water collection system proves that environmental solutions don't have to be expensive or fancy, just effective