542 East 6th Street | Block : 401 | Lot #31

Description & Building Alterations

Situated on six lots on the southwest corner of East 6th Street and Avenue B, Sixth Street and Avenue B Community Garden was begun in 1982.  The fence surrounding the garden was made by community members and represents the hands-on approach of the community.  The garden was hit badly by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.  For more information about the garden, visit its website by clicking on the link for 6th and B Garden under Additional Resources.

Prior to this garden space, the six lots were home to a variety of buildings.  Lot 31, located on East 6th Street, was originally a horse stable built in 1899 by Kurtzer & Rohl for Adam Stereling.  The five-story brick building was converted to a garage in 1925 and functioned as such until it was condemned and demolished in 1973.

Lot 33, the corner lot of East 6th Street and Avenue B, was an old law tenement built in 1899 by Samuel Sass for owner Isaac R. Horowitz.  It housed 31 families and stores on six floors.  It was demolished in the late 1970s.

Lot 35-37 was built in 1899 by the newly formed firm of Sass & Smallheiser.  The lots had two identical old law tenements, housing 16 families over shops in the six-story buildings.  Like the building on Lot 33, these two were also owned by Isaac R. Horowitz. It was demolished in 1978. Tax photos from the 1980s show a six-story building resembling an old law tenement. The picture for lot 37 appears to be vacant.

Lot 38 was built in 1900 and designed by architect Max Mueller as a six-story tenement. It was demolished in 1960.

Lots 39-40 housed a six-story tenement building once again designed by Sass & Smallheiser, but this time for owner Isidore Ginsberg.  It housed 28 families and ground-floor shops.  It was demolished in 1980.