The Towers, Jackson Heights, Queens, New York

Jackson Heights holds a unique place in 20th century urban planning. Edward MacDougal's Queensboro Corporation, inspired by the English "Garden City" movement, developed the first planned apartment community, including the spectacular 6-story Towers apartments, designed by Andrew Thomas in 1924. Located on 80th to 81st Streets between 34th Avenue and Northern Blvd., the Italian-villa style roofs and gardens designed by Noel Chamberlain are the most luxurious apartments designed in the era. Thomas only covered 38% of the land with 8 buildings, each separated by 37 feet. Note the griffins above the entry gates. The garden features a baldachino (marble canopy). Unfortunately, the complex was flawed in that the apartments were too expensive. The 96 apartments were sold at a loss under $25,000. The Jackson Heights Beautification Group opens the gardens to the public once a year in June.

The Chateau, Jackson Heights, Queens, New York

Jackson Heights holds a unique place in 20th century urban planning. Edward MacDougal's Queensboro Corporation, inspired by the English "Garden City" movement, developed the first planned apartment community, including the spectacular 5-story Chateau apartments, designed by Andrew Thomas in 1923. Located on 80th to 81st Streets between 34th and 35th Avenues, the slate mansard roofs and carved limestone entryways are reminiscent of France. The Jackson Heights Beautification Group opens the gardens to the public once a year in June. Top photo is very interesting apartment complex between 90th and 91st Sts and 34th and 35th Aves., showing 5th floor walkways between buildings that had elevator service only to 1st and 5th floors. Tenants would take elevator to 5th floor and walk down to their apartment level. The skyways allowed half the buildings to be elevator free.

Riverside Cemetary, Waterbury, Connecticut

Train Station, Waterbury, Connecticut

Constructed by the world famous architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White of N.Y. for the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad Company, the Union Station on Meadow Street was modeled after theTorre del Mangia at the Palazzo Publico in Siena, Italy. It cost $332,000 to build in 1909. The clocktower is 240 feet high and has 318 steps. The clock was made by Seth Thomas Co. with a dial 16 feet in diameter with 5-foot tall Roman numerals. The eight she-wolf gargoyles are a reminder of the myth of Romulus and Remus. The tower opened July 12, 1909. Union Station is now the home of theWaterbury Republican-American newspaper.

City Hall and Environs, Waterbury, Connecicut

The Waterbury Municipal Center Complex, also known as the Cass Gilbert National Register District, is a group of five buildings, including City Hall, on Field and Grand streets in Waterbury, Connecticut, United States. They are large stone and brick structures, all designed by Cass Gilbert in the Georgian Revival and Second Renaissance Revival architectural styles, built during the 1910s.

The complex was financed by the Chase family, owners of the Chase Brass Company, one of Waterbury's major industries at the time. In the wake of a 1902 fire that had destroyed a portion of downtown, the Chases and other local businessmen saw an opportunity for urban renewal. Cass Gilbert won the competition to design a new complex a few blocks from the old city hall building (since demolished) on West Main Street. Unusual for the time, the complex would house not just the mayor and city council but the public safety functions of city government such the police and fire departments, courts and jails. In keeping with the contemporary City Beuatiful movement, the complex included other large-scaled buildings in its "court of honor", such as Chase's headquarters, a building named Lincoln House for the city's charitable organizations and a dispensary.

Flushing, Queens, New York

Flushing, Queens, is now home to the largest concentration of Chinese in New York City. Close inspection reveals some fascinating architecture captured in a walking tour by the Queens Historical Society. I visited just after a rainfall, giving an amazing color profusion in the public hardens.

Noteworthy is St. George's Episcopal Church (1845) on Main St. Francis Lewis, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, served as a vestryman.

Aspinwall House (1792) is on Northern Blvd. across from the Flushing Town Hall (1862). I managed to get inside (see photo of main hallway), it is now a cultural center. The State Armory (1910) is also on Northern Blvd. The Flushing High School (1912) is an architectural gem, with a distinctive Neo-Gothic style featuring turrets and gargoyles. The previous building (1875) was the oldest free Public High School in NYC.

Columbia-Presbyterian Complex, Washington Heights, Manhattan

James Gamble Rogers, a noted architect of university campus buildings (Northwestern) was chosen to design the hospital/medical school complex, which topped out at 21-stories in 1925. Rogers was intent on conveying a skyscraper motif.