Friday was supposed to be gorgeous, around 50s with only a 30% chance of rain, however of course since we would be walking outside the 30% become 100%! That however, did not stop us from going on our journey! We started by 79th street Boat Basin which was a new found treasure for me! Once I got off the train I walked towards the Hudson River and went down a path that seemed creepy since it’s fall and there weren’t that many people (the picture of the path is below).

 

After climbing down this path way, you hit a round cave like, open space that this place becomes a restaurant during the summer where people can watch sports and have dinner while enjoying the view and summer breeze. Needless to say I will be returning here next summer to check it out for myself. This structure is very unique, since the top of it is connected the highway and cars go around it up top. Cyclist also have a path of their own that circles it and pedestrians can walk it. It blew my mind that something so multifunctional could be built as there is even a parking lot within the structure where boat owners pay to store their cars by the pier. Robert Moses’ creations blow my mind as I read “The Power Broker” by Robert Caro, however the experience of walking through, feeling it and admiring it puts things really into perspective. The masonry work done within this structure is perfectly crafted, the tiles chosen on the floor also had a design and it represents exactly what “old New York” (1930s,1940s, etc) were like. There are circle arches, making me feel as if I was in a secret garden somewhere in France. (See picture below)

After admiring this work that Robert Moses created on 79th West End, we continued walking south, along the pier and there is a contrast as you see “old New York” end and “new New York” begin. The West Side was neglected for decades and its incredible to see what Robert Moses was able to accomplish during the Great Depression.

According to Preservation Institute, the West Side Highway, officially named the Miller Elevated Highway in honor of former Manhattan Borough President Julius Miller, was part of the system of freeways created by New York’s master builder Robert Moses. The stretch between Canal St. and 72nd St. was built between 1929 and 1936, connecting at 72nd St. with Moses’s Henry Hudson Parkway.  Beginning in 1938, the highway was extended south of Canal St. to connect with the Battery, but construction of this stretch was interrupted by World War II and was not completed until 1948. Finally, in 1950, the highway was connected with the new Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.

 

While continuing on the path, we walked passed many new changes made, reflecting this current “green” generation that prioritizes more eco friendly strategies. We also experienced new spaces that had previous history encorporated. People in general value small details that tell a story from the past, for example the below picture shows the old train companies whose trains ran through this area. Walking past this gives people that have been here for generations nostalgia of the past and helps the newcomers connect with the space. As seen in the next picture, the designers have made use of the open space to fill it with greenery as well, which reminds me of something I read recently on psychology.com that stated that a study was done on environment and surroundings linked to behavior. The study showed that people tend to behave more positively when they are exposed to a beautiful environment.

Out of our walk, we came across this building which is my new favorite building throughout the city. It is pyramid shaped and unlike anything else in Manhattan. The building called VIA 57 West is a housing project designed as a hybrid between the European perimeter block and a traditional Manhattan high-rise. Durst commissioned BIG to bring this new residential typology to Manhattan. It has a unique design to allow for a courtyard and opening the courtyard to views towards the Hudson River. (Information taken off SkyScapperCenter.com) Picture follows below.

Tavern on the Green was the final stop on this trip, which also happens to be the last of the semester. Although I have attended holiday parties for my parents job at Tavern on the Green when I was younger, it was nice to visit it after its hiatus and reopening in 2014. Interestingly enough, in Robert Moses fashion, he also had an influence on the history of Tavern on the Green. As per their website I learned the following, “Originally designed by Calvert Vaux, Tavern on the Green was built as a sheep fold in the 1880’s to house the 700 Southdown sheep that grazed in Central Park’s Sheep Meadow. Robert Moses transformed the building in to a restaurant in 1934, as part of his park renovation. Through the next few decades, Tavern underwent several changes in management, but the iconic view of the park, and the addition of a dance floor, outdoor seating, and lavish menu, kept prominent actors, musicians, and public figures coming back to the restaurant to dine, drink, and celebrate.”

 

 

To end a great semester, I would like to say thank you to Prof. Maciuika and to my classmates! This class should be a part of the core classes required for a bachelor’s since it has improved my overall knowledge, it has familiarized me better with New York and I was also able to get a taste of power, politics, money, and government making me a much better well rounded individual!

 

Xoxo,

P