Some of you may have noticed the now near-completed luxury condos on the NE corner of Elizabeth and Spring St. I know I have pointed them out to whomever happened to be with me as we walked by, commenting on the fact that this neighborhood was not too long ago a no-go zone. Originally a horse stable in the late 19th century (it has ramps between floors instead of stairs), 11 Spring Street is a beautifully crafted stone building. But until it changed owners in early 2007 (reportedly for just under $15 million), 11 Spring was more often mentioned as “the candle building,” known for its uniformly tied white window drapes and the eponymous candles in each of its 60 windows. But even more notable than the mysterious candles, drapes, and the beautifully crafted stone was the bottom floor of the building that had long been a venue for muralists, graffiti artists, and renegade tromp l’oie-ists from around the globe. Indeed, 11 Spring Street was once one of the most famous locations in the world to see and post street art. Here's how it looked:





Notice the white window drapes and the candles:



Here's how it will look when the renovations are complete:



Nobody ever saw anybody go inside to light the candles, or come out after having done so.