Hess triangle

The Hess triangle is a small black and yellow mosaic tile set into the pavement at the corner of Seventh Avenue and Christopher Street marking a land parcel. The installation displays text declaring private ownership of this tiny ground space.

In 1913, New York City seized many properties for street widening projects but overlooked this tiny parcel in its survey calculations. The Hess family retained ownership of this rare remaining plot through that bureaucratic gap.

The small mosaic reflects how private landowners in New York asserted their rights when the city seized their property for street expansion projects. Visitors see a quiet statement about the tensions between individual ownership and urban growth that still matter today.

The mosaic sits at ground level at the Village Cigars store entrance and is easy to miss without looking down carefully. Visit during daytime hours when the surrounding streets have fewer crowds.

This tiny parcel sold for just 100 dollars in 1938, making it one of the smallest land transactions ever recorded in the city. The unusually low price reflected the extreme smallness and impractical nature of the space.

Location: West Village

GPS coordinates: 40.73360,-74.00290

Latest update: December 7, 2025 09:24