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:

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10 comments:

  1. Mykola DementiukAugust 5, 2009 at 8:05 AM

    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

    ReplyDelete
  2. EV GrieveAugust 5, 2009 at 8:12 AM

    The Haunted Electrical Motor Maintenance shop. I like it!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Laura Goggin PhotographyAugust 5, 2009 at 10:32 AM

    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

    ReplyDelete
  4. Laura Goggin PhotographyAugust 5, 2009 at 10:35 AM

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

    ReplyDelete
  5. EV GrieveAugust 5, 2009 at 10:47 AM

    Did a post on 421 last fall, I think.

    http://tinyurl.com/dkw78m

    ReplyDelete
  6. Seth GordonAugust 5, 2009 at 11:01 AM

    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.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Joe VAugust 5, 2009 at 11:36 AM

    What's he building in there?

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

    ReplyDelete
  8. Laura Goggin PhotographyAugust 5, 2009 at 11:48 AM

    Mystery solved:

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

    ReplyDelete
  9. Ken MacAugust 5, 2009 at 12:16 PM

    the city is full of these weird places.

    ReplyDelete
  10. GrieveAugust 5, 2009 at 1:06 PM

    Ha, good stuff Joe V and Goggla.

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

    ReplyDelete

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