Orange County Government center now on World Monuments watch list

Goshen — The World Monuments Fund has placed the Orange County Government Center in Goshen its biannual list of cultural heritage sites at risk. The fund made the following statement: "Designed by architect Paul Rudolph, the government center is considered one of his greatest achievements. Completed in 1970, the structure stands as a testament to the era of late modernism, when civic architecture was forging new avenues in design and construction. Its striking exterior is characterized by massive textured, geometric concrete blocks and large expanses of glass. The three-winged, three-storied building creates complex interiors that divide administrative, judicial, and other government functions. Natural light bathes the space through clerestory windows along 87 multi-level roofs. "Poor maintenance practices have led to deterioration, and county government has been calling for the building to be demolished and replaced. Exacerbating the issue, a hurricane in Sept. 2011 caused flooding of and extensive damage to the structure, after which the center was closed by county officials, who renewed the proposal for demolition. The Federal Emergency Management Agency...has asked for further study of conditions and the feasibility of repair. The local community is also calling for more review, and grassroots activists have united in support of the Orange County Government Center. It is hoped that inclusion on the Watch will help save this notable piece of progressive architecture." The building is one of 67 sites worldwide included on the list. Other U.S. sites include the New York Studio School of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture at 8 West 8th St., in New York, N.Y.; the 510 Fifth Avenue building in New York, N.Y.; and the Manitoga building in Garrison, N.Y. The organization, headquartered in New York City, is dedicated to preserving cultural heritage sites around the world that are at risk from the forces of nature and the impact of social, political, and economic change. For more information visit www.wmf.org. Where are the county offices? Here's where you can find the services once offered at the county government center in Goshen, which was closed indefinitely in the aftermath of late-summer flooding (regular business hours apply unless otherwise noted): County Clerk — Department of Social Services, 11 Quarry Road, Goshen. Recording and filing of documents and maps. 291-4400. County Clerk Records — Parry Building at Valley View Center, 6 Glenmere Cove Road, Goshen. Title searches. 360-6810. Department of Motor Vehicles — Middletown (12 King St., 346-1180), Newburgh (128 Broadway, 568-5230), and Port Jervis (20 Hammond St., 858-1480). Late hours, until 7:30 p.m., in Middletown on Wednesdays and Newburgh on Thursdays. District Attorney — 18 Seward Ave., Middletown. 8:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m. Grand Jury is meeting at the Emergency Services Center, 22 Wells Farm Road, Goshen. 615-3640. General Services - Department of Emergency Services, 22 Wells Farm Road, Goshen. Bids and proposals accepted and opened at Office for the Aging, 18 Seward Ave., Middletown. 615-3719. Human Resources / Civil Service — Applications for civil service exams should be brought to the Department of Public Works Administration building, 2455-2459 Route 17M, Goshen. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. 291-2750. Passports — Department of Social Services, 11 Quarry Road, Goshen. 291-4270 Pistol Permits and Veteran’s Discount Cards — Office of the Sheriff, 110 Wells Farm Road, Goshen. 291-3060. Probation — People on probation must report to Middletown (346-1140), Newburgh (568-5000), or Port Jervis (858-1400). Orders of protection and other crime victim services — Family Court Clerk’s Office, 2nd Floor, Orange County Court Complex, 285 Main St., Goshen. 291-7781. Tax and Finance — To make property tax payments or pick-up certificates of residency visit the County’s Real Property Office, 124 Main St., 1st floor, Goshen. 291-2480 or 291-2497.