Where Is The Smelliest Block In New York?

Earlier this month, we learned which subway you're most likely to roast in, and today, another of the city's eternal questions gets (sort of) answered by New York Magazine, which deems Broome Street between Allen and Eldridge Streets "the smelliest block in New York."

It's described as a smelling alternately like "high meat and old squeegees" and a “flushed-out catacomb," "ripe and outlandish in a way that made a person feel perverted." At first, they thought the culprit was the Yu & Qiang Trading Inc. poultry shop, but a Department of Agriculture and Markets found the place infraction-free. They even bring along an "olfactory expert" to asses the situation, all to no avail. It's even worse than the "smell blasts" from Salaam Bombay in Tribeca! Bowery Boogie's been harping on the block for some time now, telling New York “Not even the most disgusting subway smell compares. I try not to eat while walking there, since I’d probably throw up.”

We placed a fruitless call to 311 to speak with the Environment and Sanitation Department about other blocks that have received odor complaints, though an informal poll revealed that Crosby Street between Spring and Broome Streets is "constantly festering—it's the garbage alley for all of Broadway;" and most of Canal Street all through Chinatown is notoriously fetid. What blocks make you want to gag?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jamie Feldmar in News on June 20, 2011 5:52 PM

Comments [rss]

CC

The south side of West 35th Street between 7th & 8th Ave is gross, as is 8th Ave between West 34 & West 35th Street. It always smells like rotten milk... it's not even bearable in the winter!!

Guest

My wife and I have dubbed Steinway Street btw 30th Ave and Astoria Blvd "Stinky Steinway" because of the amount of hookah bars/lounges there. I don't understand how anyone can enjoy themselves or eat food in these places.

grapesodey

9th Avenue between 41st and 42nd is PUTRID. West side of the street specifically. I've actually gagged.

jamieob256

92nd Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues in Yorkville is especially aromatic.

KevinJWalsh

41st Road in Flushing, especially this time of year.

www.forgotten-ny.com

Gwinny

I've always felt the block in this article was the worst I'd ever been on in terms of smell, so I appreciate the validation.

Professor Von Nostren

Agreed. That nasty stink always catches me off guard and I can't think of any place worse. It's been horrible in that specific spot for as long as I can remember.

David

I love how "asses" is a verb now. I giggled.

taracorinne

any street that has those horrible and never fixed potholes right next to the curbs or curb cuts that are always filled with water makes a street smell awful. I walk down 41st street between PABT and 7th ave every weekday and there are numerous standing water puddles of darkish gross colors, filled with cigarettes and with an awful sheen of crap on the surface. it smells worse than shit.

nicemarmot

Yep, my block and several others near me are full of them and it always smells awful here until it freezes over. They have this nasty sour smell...kinda like rotting vomit.

That'll teach me to look for an apartment in the winter.

zackola

Forsyth between Canal and Division is pretty stankified. (Come off Manhattan bridge and make a hard right) I agree with you about Broome between Allen and Eldridge though. Takes the cake. And then pukes it back up.

AliHajiSheik

9th between 58th and 59th - grocery store trash, horse piss and horse crap (from the central park carriages who head home for the night down 9th) just cooking in the sun. Repulsive

Guest

Growing up, I worked summers on a ranch in Nevada. Horse shit to me is kinda homey.

Guest

8th Ave between 57th st to 59th St in Brooklyn. Lined with Asian groceries, holy shit, on a hot day it's like Satan's belch.

Chris Jendryka

8th ave is hands down one of the nastiest places in Brooklyn. I've lived here for 20 + years and its getting worse and worse. The people just don't give a shit, they're cancers! I can't even have my window open on summer garbage nights because of the stench. I've called 311 at least 60 times and I have yet to see (or smell) a difference. I don't understand how this isn't a health hazard. Isn't this how plagues start?

Dave.

Nassau Avenue in Greenpoint. On Summer Days. The trash is out. Between the treatment plant just over the Greenpoint Ave. bridge, and the rotting uneaten mounds of polish sausage in bags, plus whatever else they've pickled and shipped over from Warsaw, there is no stench more stifling.