Religion and commerce in Crown Heights
09/26/03
Here we have a soon-to-be-church with the trappings of a soon-to-be-business:
That was on the church-to-be. I've seen hundreds of abandoned buildings with what I assume are squatters' codes: I'm guessing the X and "R.O." stands for "roof open." Does anyone know more about these codes? Are they painted by would-be squatters or by property owners? Or maybe by the fire department?
Note that the next storefront is simultaneously a storefront church and a furniture store. (Why choose just one?) The pastor's name is also Joe. On this particular block, of the 21 storefronts that showed signs of past or present use, six and a half were storefront churches.
Crown Heights, Brooklyn
2:08 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack (0)
Comments
That square w/X I believe was painted by FDNY. It means DO NOT ENTER - look from the outside only. http://sageauthoring.com/fdny/construction/vacant.pdf
Posted by: Dennis at September 29, 2003 01:36 PM
That square w/X I believe was painted by FDNY. It means DO NOT ENTER - look from the outside only. http://sageauthoring.com/fdny/construction/vacant.pdf
Posted by: Dennis at September 29, 2003 01:37 PM
Per Dennis's link
If a roof has been previously opened or burned away, to the degree that the need for future vertical ventilation appears minimal, the letters "R.O." (roof open) can be made over the building condition marking.
Posted by: Stephen at October 19, 2003 07:42 PM
squatters usually identify their buildings with :
http://www.squat.net/ (the circled N)
Posted by: oksana at January 29, 2005 02:12 PM
r.o. marking is by the fire dept. the marking is solely for the f.d. when there is a fire in that bldg. r.o. means roof open. one line in the box mean enter bldg with exteme caution. an "x" means you can only enter for a known life rescue. these markings were started because of the many arson fires in the 70's and the various booby traps that were set for and killed many firemen.
Posted by: mike at December 31, 2005 10:21 AM
the x inside the square means the roof/floor has caved in
Posted by: jeremy at June 12, 2007 02:50 AM
Actually I may have squatter in that exact building before. the one with the r.o. and the x. If the only way end is a third story window via the fire escape or the roof then it is the place. have you been inside yet?