It looks like an ordinary house from the outside, but it serves a completely different purpose

The building at 58 Joralemon Street in Brooklyn Heights looks no different from the historic houses around it at first glance. But there is no real living space behind the building. The interior of the building is dedicated to technical equipment used for ventilation of metro tunnels and emergency evacuations.

IT LOOKS LIKE A HOME BUT IT’S NOT A HOME

The building was first built as a residence in 1847. However, during the extension of the New York subway to Brooklyn, the building was purchased, completely gutted and turned into a part of the subway system. Today, the structure is used as the ventilation system and emergency exit point of the Joralemon Street Tunnel, which passes under the East River.

The exterior is especially protected to blend in with the multimillion-dollar residences in the surrounding area. Thanks to the black-glazed windows and false façade, the building continues to look like an ordinary townhouse.

HIDES THE METRO TUNNEL

According to experts, such structures are used as a way to place the necessary technical systems without considering the city infrastructure. 58 Joralemon Street also hides the systems that regulate the air flow in the subway tunnel and also serves as an evacuation point in case of emergency.

While the equipment inside the building continues to operate regularly, those looking from the outside still think it is a historic Brooklyn house. In fact, over the years, the building has become one of New York’s most interesting urban legends.

HE STILL CONTINUE HIS DUTY

As of 2026, the building remains in use as part of the active infrastructure of the New York City subway. Located within the historical fabric of Brooklyn Heights, the building serves as both a subway ventilation system and an emergency exit point, and thanks to its exterior appearance, it continues to exist unnoticed among the surrounding residences.