“Squatters moved in in 1980 and found a very leaky roof. They therefore needed umbrellas inside, giving birth to the building’s title. Before long, though, they had renovated the entire 1899 Old Law Tenement. During July 4th weekend of 1995, a city-ordered siege occurred during which police in riot gear came into Loisaida and evicted and arrested squatters. The Umbrella House was among the buildings raided. Those evicted countered in court claiming that they were lawfully living in these abandoned buildings under adverse possession, a law that says if someone has been living openly in a building for more than ten years he or she owns it. The judge agreed and the squatters were allowed to remain.” gvshp.org/blog/2011/06/14/umbrella-umbrella/

Filed under: Architecture, East Village, Photos , Avenue C by gamma