Eerie photos show why this overcrowded street in New York was recently called the 'boulevard of death'
Starting at the westernmost part of Canal Street, I saw brand-new, multimillion-dollar condos sitting atop empty storefronts. The is the Zinc Building, where one-bedroom apartments have sold for upwards of $1.5 million.
The only storefront that isn't empty is a specialty cryotherapy spa called Cryofuel.
Source: Cryofuel
Ads for designer clothes cover abandoned lots and graffitied storefronts.
Traffic in this area is a nightmare, with cars and trucks sitting at a standstill at five-way intersections. Crossing guards have to direct traffic even with the traffic lights.
As I continued walking, I saw more empty stores. This one will eventually be the Jackie Robinson Museum, but it's not set to open until 2019.
Most of the closed stores had graffiti over them. It seemed like it was mostly local businesses that weren't able to keep their doors open.
Canal Plastics is one of the few businesses that's survived over 50 years.
Canal Rubber is another one.
Argo Electronics, considered a staple of Canal Street for the 37 years it was open, shut its doors in October 2017.
Source: Vanishing New York, Yellow Pages
Despite being one of the busiest spots in Manhattan, many parts of Canal Street look like they've been abandoned for years.
For blocks, this is how it continues ...
... on both sides of the street.
Even the National City Bank, a New York City landmark, has failed to hold onto businesses. A Walgreens store was the most recent to close, leaving another vacant storefront.
Source: Curbed NY
These abandoned buildings were recently approved to be replaced by low-rise commercial buildings, which means scaffolding is soon to replace the graffitied stores.
Source: Curbed NY
From the abandoned Canal Street storefronts, you can see upscale SoHo apartments not even a block away. The contrast makes Canal Street feel like part of a different city.
Walking down Canal Street and seeing block after block of terrible traffic and long-abandoned storefronts made it clear why advocates have named it the "boulevard of death."
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