Wednesday, August 5, 2009

The mystery of 442 E. 13th St.



A reader is looking to solve the mystery of 442 E. 13th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. This longtime resident lives on 12th Street, and his windows look down on this small, unmarked building. He writes:

It has no signage. Years ago, it had a small sign, Electrical Motor Maintenance.

I'd like to know what goes on in there. The industrial air conditioners are noisy and are on 24/7.

20 years ago, I filed a complaint with the DEP about this building because at the time there was also a noxious smell being emitted from a chimney on the building, but the DEP found nothing.

The building is generally locked up (it's rare to see that entryway door open).

What's the deal?


I walked by and, to some surprise, found the door open...but no one was around -- which only added to the mysteriousness... Not much in the DOB either.



So what's going on here?





And here's an aerial view supplied by the reader:

10 comments:

Mykola Dementiuk said...

I also never saw anyone there, I last passed them by in about 1997 when I last lived in 13th between 1st & 2nd over 20 years. I've wondered about that too, but it looks like the place hasn't changed one bit...must be haunted, I suppose

EV Grieve said...

The Haunted Electrical Motor Maintenance shop. I like it!

Laura Goggin Photography said...

If I may add to the list of mysterious buildings, does anyone know what's up with 421 E 6th St? This place has intrigued me for years.

http://tinyurl.com/l3ccm7

Laura Goggin Photography said...

Ok, I may have answered my own question - seems Walter De Maria owns the 6th St place.

EV Grieve said...

Did a post on 421 last fall, I think.

http://tinyurl.com/dkw78m

Seth Gordon said...

The name is "Electrical Motor Maintenance Inc" a/k/a "Philip F Colletti Motors" and they... well, repair electric motors. Industrial pumps and the like. I don't see the mystery, aside from the lack of signage - maybe their office is elsewhere, 442 is just a workspace.

Joe V said...

What's he building in there?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znH6tcglC1k

Laura Goggin Photography said...

Mystery solved:

http://www.brandonbird.com/lazysunday.html

Ken Mac said...

the city is full of these weird places.

Grieve said...

Ha, good stuff Joe V and Goggla.

I think it's beer pong repair shop for Superdive.