Some 150 vacant structures dot the city, and that excludes commercial buildings downtown that have tenants on their street floor but, above, boarded-up windows.

FORBES: Oh, the Brass!

Roughly 7, 000 people lived in that five-floor boarding house between 1864 and 1935 (when it was boarded up for 50 years).

FORBES: Connect

Ninety-five years ago, members of the Original Dixieland Jass Band (ODJB) boarded the freight elevator at 46 W. 38th St. and rode to the top floor.

WSJ: Start Spreadin' the Blues | By Marc Myers