8. Chelsea Bank Building

In an abandoned one-story bank building, which stands at the intersection of Chelsea, the West Village and the Meatpacking District is abandoned gem like to no other. Inside this nondescript bank is a beautiful 1954 canvas painting by Julien Binford, entitled “A Memory of 14th Street and 6th Avenue” depicting New York City in the 1800s. A 110-foot-long piece that is currently housed in the lobby, it was discovered by Andrew Cronson, a junior from New York University, back in October.

He contacted several local preservationist groups once he saw demolition permits posted on the building and it has become a the subject of intense debate and preservation, but the site is slated to become condominiums and retail space at the hand of developer Gemini Rosemont, which purchased the property for $42.4 million earlier this year. The New York Times reports that the interior has already been stripped. While Gemini Rosemont is open to preserving the mural, the company has not committed to the cause. In the meantime, it has been considering the options and contacting galleries to determine their interest in acquiring the piece, and its actual value. So far, there have been no bites.