9. The Helmsley Building’s Gruesome Tie to the Mafia

The Helmsley Building also has a nefarious connection to organized crime. Salvatore Maranzano was the most powerful gangster in New York City. He had an office on the ninth floor of 230 Park Avenue which served as his headquarters. After establishing himself as the boss of bosses (capo du tutti capi), distrust was amplified. When Lucky Luciano learning that Maranzano was going to him and Vito Genevese murdered, he made a move. On September 10, 1931, Lucky Luciano placed a hit on Maranzano in his ninth floor office. Maranzano was shot and stabbed by four men claiming to be tax men. Lucky then became the boss of bosses.