501 East 11th Street Building Date : 1898 Original Use : Residential Original Owner : Department of Housing Preservation & Development Original Architect : Michael Frudakis Description & Building Alterations This somewhat plain, post-modern brick apartment building was constructed in 1998.
Before demolition in 1984, four five-story pre-law tenements (with ground floor stores) stood here. The building that stood at 501 East 11th Street, corner of Avenue B, was home to famous author Jack Kerouac during the summer of 1953 and was said to be the inspiration for the setting of his novel, The Subterraneans.