Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets station

Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets was constructed as a junction between the Fulton Street and Crosstown lines of the Independent Subway System (IND), and part of the section of the Fulton Street subway under Schermerhorn Street between Court Street and Bond Street.[4][5][6] Surveying by the New York City Board of Transportation along Schermerhorn Street began in 1928,[7][8][9] and construction began around 1929.[4][5] Property on the south side of Schermerhorn Street between Bond and Nevins Streets was condemned to facilitate the project.[10][11] Like other stations along the lines, it was constructed via shallow cut-and-cover methods, with the street covered by wooden planks.[12] In September 1929, a portion of the "plank road" above the station site collapsed.[13][14] In 1935, Sixteen Sycamores Playground was constructed on a portion of the land condemned for subway construction east of the station.[15]

The station was ceremonially opened by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia on April 9, 1936, with the station serving both Fulton Street Line local and express trains.[1][16] The station cost approximately $3 million to construct, with the tilework costing $131,000.[16] This station began serving Crosstown Line trains on July 1, 1937, when the Crosstown Line was extended from Nassau Avenue.[17] From this station, northbound Fulton local trains were planned to continue to Court Street and terminate there. Express trains would turn north under Jay Street and continue to Manhattan via the Cranberry Street Tunnel. However, initial Fulton Street service ran entirely local at the time, as the line only ran to Rockaway Avenue. Without express service, local trains provided service to Manhattan via the express tracks at this station while the HH shuttle was instituted to serve Court Street and the local tracks/platforms.[16][18]

On October 9, 1936, a public hearing was held to discuss the construction of a passageway between the station and the Loeser's Department Store.[19] In November 1937, the city Board of Transportation approved the construction of a 250-foot (76 m) passageway between the station and the department store.[20] Due to low ridership, the Court Street station was closed and the shuttle was discontinued in 1946.[21][22] All Fulton Street service was routed via the express tracks at this station to Jay Street – Borough Hall. This eliminated any use for the local tracks and they have been out of service since. The outer platforms were also closed until 1959, when the special service to Aqueduct Racetrack began.[23] Service ran from the lower level of the 42nd Street–Port Authority Bus Terminal station to the Aqueduct Racetrack station via the IND Eighth Avenue Line, Fulton Street Line, and IND Rockaway Line.[23] Like the lower level at 42nd Street, the outer platforms at Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets provided a convenient place to segregate passengers who had paid the extra fare required to board the special trains. Consequently, Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets was the only stop between 42nd Street and the racetrack.[23]

The Aqueduct service was eliminated in 1981,[24] and the outer platforms have remained out of revenue service since then.[12] The abandoned parts of the station are often used for film shoots:[12][25] for example, The Warriors and The Taking of Pelham 123 have both used Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets as a filming location.[12] They are also used for other special functions, such as a public display of the then-new R160B subway cars in 2005.[26]

Following the 2009 death of Michael Jackson, New York City Council member Letitia James advocated renaming the station in Jackson's honor. The reasoning was that Jackson filmed the video for his song "Bad" at the station. However, James's proposal was met with resistance from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Other proposals to honor Michael Jackson at the Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets station, such as hanging a plaque, were all denied.[27][28] MTA spokesperson Kevin Ortiz explained that the agency was developing guidelines for station naming-rights deals in order to raise money. In addition, naming stations after individuals could confuse riders who are traveling to a specific location or street near Hoyt–Schermerhorn.[27][28] The MTA also declined to put a plaque in the station, due to MTA guidelines banning such an action.[28][29] However, the owner of a privately owned building above one of the station's entrances agreed to paint a mural dedicated to Jackson.[30]

In 2019, the MTA announced that this station would become ADA-accessible as part of the agency's 2020–2024 Capital Program.[31]

Panoramic view of Hoyt–Schermerhorn

Station entrance at 209 Schermerhorn Street, seen in 2014 before reconstruction

The same entrance in 2018, after the addition of an elevator to mezzanine level

There are three exits. One is within a building and goes to the northwestern corner of Bond and Schermerhorn Streets; it connects to fare control via a corridor.[41][42] Another goes to the middle of the block between Hoyt and Bond Streets and is built inside 225 Schermerhorn Street.[41] The third exit goes close to the northeastern corner of Hoyt and Schermerhorn Streets and is built inside 209 Schermerhorn Street (also known as 45 Hoyt Street, or Hoyt & Horn).[41][42][43] The third exit contains an elevator from street level to the mezzanine, which was opened in September 2018 as part of the construction of Hoyt & Horn.[44]

In addition to the open entrances, there are numerous sealed passages and exits; a count indicated eight closed street stairs. One was built into 189 Schermerhorn Street, but may have been demolished when a new building was erected. Another was built into the building occupying 227 to 253 Schermerhorn Street. Two more were built into 33 Bond Street, but one may have been demolished when a new building was made. Another led to the southwestern corner of Hoyt and Schermerhorn Streets, but is sealed on street level. Another led to the southeastern corner of Bond and Schermerhorn Streets, but is also sealed on street level. There is a closed passage next to the open Bond Street exit that exits to the west side of Bond Street between Schermerhorn and Livingston Streets, as well as the southwestern corner of Bond and Livingston Streets, one block north of Schermerhorn Street. The passage to Livingston Street further led to now-defunct Loeser's Department Store, which eventually became a McCrory's.[12][20][45][46] Part of the mezzanine tilework at this location still features navy blue and gold Art Deco designs, including large plaques bearing the store's logo.[12][47][48] These had previously been shop windows.[12]