Despite its modest size of just 0.32m2 and its location in the middle of the street, this triangular plot of land at the southwest corner of Christopher Street and Seventh Avenue in New York City remains an inviolable property that even the U.S. government cannot touch.
Located at the southwest corner of Christopher Street and Seventh Avenue, right in front of Village Cigars, is a small triangular piece of land inscribed with the words “This land is the property of Hess and has never been donated for public use”.
At first glance, the small triangular plot seems unremarkable, yet it is privately owned and no one has the right to trespass without the owner’s consent.
Previously, this land was part of David Hess’s five-story Voorhis apartment building. In 1990, the city decided to construct a new subway line and widen the street. As a result, nearly 300 homes in the area were demolished, and the Voorhis apartment building was no exception.
The area where the special land is located.
However, after the machinery completed the demolition, David Hess discovered the tiny piece of land that remained on his former property. It is a triangle with a base of 65cm and two sides measuring 70cm each. It appears that during the surveying process, the city authorities made a mistake that led to this special piece of land being overlooked.
Inscribed with the words “This land is the property of Hess and has never been donated for public use”.
Upon realizing the oversight, the New York City government sent a notice to Hess requesting the return of the land to the city. However, Hess refused.
To make his stance clear, in 1922, Hess paved the land and later added the inscription that visitors can see today.
Many tourists visit this area to take pictures while in New York City.
In 1938, this land was sold to the adjacent cigar shop for $1,000. Today, this triangular plot is regarded as the smallest private land in New York City. This means that no one has the right to trespass on this area without the owner’s consent.
The story of the triangular plot fascinates many.
However, according to Mental Floss, the current owner of Village Cigars, Jonathan Posner, is looking to sell the building to focus on other business ventures. Posner shared with Real Estate Weekly that: “This building should belong to someone who appreciates it and wants to own one of the most famous corners in Manhattan.”
Although Posner has not finalized a sale and is seeking buyers, Real Estate Weekly estimates the listing price to be around $5.5 million (approximately 117 billion VND).
As for the small triangular plot (based on current market value), it is priced at $17,000. At a rate of $68,000/m2, Hess Triangle is not only the smallest piece of land but is also the most expensive in the private real estate market in New York City.
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