In the 1910s expansion of Seventh Ave and the subway led to the the destruction of 300 pieces of property. One of the properties that the city demolished was a five story building, the Voorhis Apartments, which belonged to David Hess. The only land that he retained at a 500 square inch triangle. When asked to donate the tiny space to the city Hess refused. On July 27, 1922 the triangle was laid with black and yellow tile, depicting the inscription “Property of the Hess Estate Which Has Never Been Dedicated For Public Purposes.” Later in 1938, Hess sold the triangle of land to the cigar store for $1,000.