Ready to discover a tiny act of defiance? I am talking about Tepper Triangle. This small triangle is a testament to one man’s stubbornness against New York City.
Let’s step back in time. In the early 20th century, the city wanted to widen Seventh Avenue. They needed to build a new subway line. This meant demolishing buildings in the West Village. David Hess owned a five-story apartment building named the Voorhis. It stood in the way.
Hess fought the city’s eminent domain claim. He didn’t want to give up his property. But the city won. His building was demolished in 1913. However, the city’s surveyors made a mistake. They missed a tiny corner of Hess’s land.
This leftover piece was a small triangle. It measured about 500 square inches. The city asked Hess to donate it for the sidewalk. But Hess refused. He was angry. He wanted to make a statement.
In 1922, Hess installed a mosaic on the triangle. It read: “Property of the Hess Estate Which Has Never Been Dedicated For Public Purposes.” This was a defiant message to the city. The Tepper Triangle became known as the “Triangle of Spite”. It was a symbol of resistance against government overreach.
Hess died before seeing his act of defiance completed. But his heirs carried out his wishes. The Tepper Triangle remained a thorn in the city’s side.
In 1938, the Hess estate sold the Tepper Triangle. The buyer was Village Cigars store which was next door. The price was $100. That’s about $2,165 in today’s money.
Later, Yeshiva University owned the property. In 1995, they sold it to 70 Christopher Realty Corporation. But the new owners kept the mosaic intact.
Today, the Tepper Triangle still exists. It sits in front of a cigar shop at the corner of Seventh Avenue and Christopher Street. People walk over it every day. But the message remains. It is a reminder of one man’s fight against the city.
The Tepper Triangle is the smallest plot of land in New York City. It’s a tiny piece of private property in a very public space. It’s a symbol of defiance.
So, next time you’re in the West Village, look down. You might be standing on a piece of history. You might be standing on the Tepper Triangle.