With respect. I too have been in “The” window. Why not take the shot on Houston Street? Just asking?
What difference does it make? It's not what happened. That's enough.
I was just up there recently, this month, and someone did point something out to me. The direction you'd face looking up Houston, at that time and place, you'd be looking into the sun.
Youre asking for logic from a limited mind but he simply may not have the comfort for the shot in his eyes. I believe he certainly made the shots so his choice of vantage was good enough