6 Avenue B Shuttered
Thursday, June 23rd, 2011
I just noticed this. The fire escape exits on the west side of this building at the corner of East Houston Street and Avenue B are shuttered. This is a sure sign that the apartments there have been emptied.
The building exterior is fairly famous for the giant NORM tag and Chico’s murals.
The east side, facing Avenue B is not blocked. I’m not sure if those apartments are still occupied. The Liquor store at the base has been closed since 2009 when “Mom,” the proprietor, died.
This building must be the major cell tower for the neighborhood.
The building has some finely wrought terracotta decorations.
ahhh, i suppose this is an inevitable step towards that NORM being buffed…
Hey G, the whole building has been empty for as long as I can recall. I used to see "Mama" (the sweet proprietress of the liquor store now immortalized on the mural) go in the building, along with a very old man who was either her husband or a relative. They didn’t live there, however, they just occasionally went in, apparently to check things…I used to think – gosh, what a goldmine property they’ve got…corner of Ave. B and Houston. But it never seemed occupied. Perhaps, with Mama’s passing, landlords/investors who were waiting around licking their chops have now been able to buy the place.
Based on my observation throughout the years, I think Mama owned the place and, for whatever reason, did not wish to sell it…
On the Ave. B entrance, there’s an old Missing Persons graff from back in the day…wonder what the interior of that place looks like…
Thanks Irene, I never knew that it was unoccupied. I always wondered what it would be like living in a top floor apartment with all those cell antennas inches away.
Thanks, I.