J3 -- Lomas Blvd: 400 West/Description

Tucked away in the heart of Downtown, the Civic Plaza contains City Hall and various State, City, and Federal offices, including a County Courthouse which was built in the late 1990s. The few modest and charming older houses tucked away on First, Second, and Third streets have survived to be re-used as offices serving the Civic Plaza. Considerable expansion in the last few years has led to a plethora of legal and consulting firms, which cluster around the Federal buildings. Parking lots, restaurants, and a few boutiques clearly cater to the young urban professionals who populate this area.

In contrast to the bustle of the Plaza, a cemetery lines the southern side of the road, beginning at the eastern end and running about halfway down the block. A low stone wall surmounted by a wrought iron fence partially obscures the view of the open space; a casual look reveals only the cropped forms of obelisks, angels, and mausoleums.