Dos Blockos, Former squat in Alphabet City, Manhattan, United States
Dos Blockos was a six-story building on East 9th Street in Manhattan that housed about 60 people who maintained it themselves and installed basic utilities. The residents performed all repairs and upkeep on their own, creating a working community inside the abandoned structure.
The building sat empty for about twelve years before activists occupied it in 1992, using it as housing until 1999. The occupation ended with an eviction, after which the building was completely renovated and converted into a standard apartment building.
The place became a gathering point for artists and musicians from the Lower East Side, where concerts and creative events happened regularly. This activity helped shape the neighborhood as a center for alternative art in the 1990s.
The building is now a private residence and cannot be visited inside, but the location is visible from the sidewalk and remains a known spot in the neighborhood. It is worth walking past to see the current facade and reflect on the area's history.
A large mural reading 'Housing Is a Human Right' covered the exterior walls and became a symbol of the movement for many years. The artwork disappeared in 1999 when the building was converted into commercial apartments.
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