This is the smallest piece of private property in New York – how small?

0.0000797113 Acres Small!

No, not the cigar store…look closer, at the sidewalk right outside the front door::

That Is Private Property!

As you can see, this microscopic triangle is owned by the Hess Estate, and has “never been dedicated for public purposes.” This is a wild story!

In 1910, the estate of David Hess, a Philadelphia-born entrepreneur, held on like no other to their tiny chunk of real estate…all because New York decided to take over their property! Here’s what I found out online:

“When the local government decided to widen streets in Greenwich Village to construct new subway lines, it bought a number of properties in the area through eminent domain laws. A five-story apartment building called the Voorhis, owned by the estate, was one affected property. Though Hess’s heirs fought the legislation, they were ultimately forced to sell. However, after the property was razed, the family was left with approximately 500 square inch slab of private land.”

The “Spiteful Triangle!”

Apparently, the city erred when marking all of the property lines, and accidentally left this tiny chunk of the Hess property off their maps – and when the family found out they jumped on the mistake to retain ownership!

Here’s some video of it:

Reportedly, the city requested the Hess family donate it for the public sidewalk, but the heirs refused out of spite. 1922, the estate had the small triangle covered in mosaics displaying “Property of the Hess Estate Which Has Never Been Dedicated For Public Purposes.”

The microscopic sliver of private land is on New York’s lower west side, in Greenwich Village…you can see the Freedom Tower in the distance…I only know about this because of my friend, the incredible NYC Tour Guide Adam Guy!

My wife Alex and I have done several tours with him, and he is filled with the city’s history and culture – a terrific way to see the sights and learn so much…here is a look at the tour he gave us of Roosevelt Island, which sits on the east river!

When you get home and friends tell you they’re going to NYC, you can say, “Hey, I Know A Guy!”

Here’s more about Adam:

My name is Adam Guy (hence “A Guy”), and I’ve lived in New York for more than 10 years. If I’m not attending a Broadway show or out with friends, there’s a good chance I’m exploring a great neighborhood. I enjoy discovering those secret and charming spots that scream New York and grabbing heaps of Instagram-worthy photos along the way. And I just love getting to meet people from around the world. It’s a sure bet that we’ll share loads of laughs and stories during our adventure together!

Here is his website to see even more!

https://www.iknowaguy.nyc

This is without a doubt the way to get the most out of a day in the Big Apple – because there is so much to explore:

As this Instagram photo shows, the city has unending adventures, and for me Central Park is one of the world’s natural wonders!

And of course, Central Park has a castle!

Click here for a tour!

I will be exploring more of this incredible oasis as well – but remember the time I was in New York and got my “walk on?”

196 blocks to be exact!

It was all part of my “Hitch Hiking” series, where take a fun hike and tie it in to a Hitchcock classic – in this case “Rear Window!”

See it all here!

If you enjoy these posts, why not subscribe and never miss out? It’s easy, and there are NO ads of any kind, just stuff I like…click on the main page and “follow” me on the upper right…

https://johnrieber.com

If you enjoy these posts, please help me get the word out and share on social media and and with your friends – and check out Adam’s terrific website!

Categories: Exotic Travel, Memoirs, New York, Pop Culture, Real Estate, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir

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