Crown Heights' 73-99 Empire Boulevard Erased for Luxury Housing

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Photo courtesy of NYC Municipal Services/1940s.nyc From Mack Trucks to Apartments: A Century on Empire Boulevard For most of the twentieth century, the block at 73-99 Empire Boulevard in Crown Heights handled the heavy work of the city. Trucks came in for service. Tires were swapped out. Parts were stocked and sold. The buildings on this stretch of Brooklyn were built for vehicles, and for about sixty years, that's exactly what they served. The site directly neighbors the much taller Ebbets Field Apartment complex, which is the housing that replaced the ballpark. By 2025, both were rubble. By September 2026, the foundation of a 13-story apartment building was going in. A hundred years of industrial and automotive history on a single block, cleared in a matter of months. The main building at 73-99 Empire Boulevard went up in 1925 and opened as a Mack Truck auto service facility. At 29,000 square feet, it was built for the scale of commercial vehicle work: bay doors, floor drains, th...
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2024 Year in Review





This year, like the last, has been a whirlwind of challenges in my personal life, finances, and mental health. It all started on a hopeful note in January—things felt like they were finally falling into place. But by February, life threw me a curveball, sending everything into a tailspin that felt impossible to control.



Year after year, it’s been the same relentless cycle of setbacks, leaving me wondering if the light at the end of the tunnel is even there. For over two and a half years, I’ve been working tirelessly to pull myself out of a tough situation. Just when it seemed like I might catch a break, February came crashing in. It took months—three and a half, to be exact—before I could even sit down and take stock of where I was, and even then, there were no clear signs of improvement.



But amid all the chaos, one thing has remained steady: my hobby. It’s my one true constant, the small bright light that keeps me going when everything else feels dark and unmanageable. I won’t dwell on the negativity—there’s already enough of that to go around. Instead, let me share what I’ve been up to over the past year, the little things that have helped me keep moving forward.



Sometimes, it’s those simple, grounding moments that remind us life isn’t all storms.










Despite a rocky four months that brought much of my exploring to a halt, I’ve managed to uncover some fascinating places this year. One standout is a hidden gem right here in New Jersey, a find that left me in awe of the history lurking just beneath our feet. On a personal front, I’m still working on exploring a spot in a highly sought-after building in the Bronx. If I manage to pull it off, it’ll be the crowning achievement of the year—a dream realized after months of effort.  



As I write this, my thoughts are already turning to the future. I’m researching and drafting posts about some incredible places I’ve encountered. From abandoned mills to forgotten theaters, derelict churches, and crumbling warehouses, these sites tell the stories of industries, businesses, and communities left behind. Many of these buildings are now facing demolition, thanks to grants and initiatives aimed at revitalizing economically depressed areas. It’s a bittersweet reality—good for progress, perhaps, but a loss for those of us who see beauty in the decay.  



Here’s to another year of discovery in 2025. Wishing you all the best as we continue to explore what’s left of the past and look forward to what’s ahead!










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