Ann St, Civic Center

Ann Street turns into Ann just at Broadway and only runs for a few blocks before ending entirely. The street is very commercial and big business because the neighborhood is just that way. But, there is a lot of great history on this street because it runs through one of the older areas in Manhattan. At the top of the street (at Broadway) there's a big ugly business building that is on the site of one of the most historically colorful blocks in the city, in my opinion. It started as a farm in the 17th century to a man whose wife was the first prostitute in New Amsterdam. I find that really funny because there wasn't exactly a massive population back then so he must have know a number of his wife's clients. It became the first public park after that before becoming a curiosities musuem that featured things like scalps, mummies and live boa constrictor feedings. It then became PT Barnum's museum where he had freak shows. And, then it became the headquarters for the New York Herald which introduced Wall street coverage and the idea of a gossip column. It is now this ugly pile which is Michael Douglas' office in the movie Wall Street. That's a lot of action for plot of land. And, all of them seem a hell of a lot more interesting than what it is now. There's a little traffic island across the street which is all that remains of the grassy plot. It's miniature for a park but much need in this very urban stretch of land.
The next two blocks feature a slew of skyscrapers utilized for both commercial spaces and luxury high rises. And, the street ends with a massive residential co op which boasts over 1600 apartments. There are a whole lot of people packed into these few blocks. And, there's nothing to do for any of these people nowadays. It's very much what you would expect of a Civic Center street. There is so much lively history on the street but the present state is very business looking even for the residences. I like to go down here to do nerdy history walks but it would be hard to live here. The buildings block out all of the sun and there are no bars or restaurants on the street so the neighborhood feel is dismal at best.