Tuesday, April 21, 2009

R Train - Union St. (Day 5, stop #230)


Out: This neighborhood is now definitely in the throes of gentrification, primarily indicated by the presence of young white people on bikes.  There’s an upscale Mexican restaurant and new-looking bagel and bread company.  However, there are still a decent number of Hispanics and blacks around, and there is a lingering industrial feeling with nearby factories and warehouses (or at least what’s left of them) a little to the west.  The residential buildings over here are mostly row houses.


In: Similar to the previous local stations here, with large grey tiles.  At this stop, though, there is some interesting black and white stylistic artwork painted on big square panels at regular intervals along the wall.  They look somewhat Aztec-inspired, but not exactly.  The wall separating the local track from others is also covered in mosaic tile triangles, which I hadn’t seen elsewhere.