Name brand New York skate houses are a dying breed. The Green Diamond no longer bears the green awning after which it was named, many prominent Dobbin Block personalities have moved on, and only one of the residents at 21 Spring Street maintains an interest in skateboarding. As of March 31, the Chapman House in Long Island City is no more. The property was bought out by a holding company, and all of the residents were forced out.
42-68 Hunter Street began as a home base for the Chapman team during the Short Ends days (the video that featured Jake Johnson’s first part.) Almost five years have passed since its release — Brendan Leddy is in the U.S. Air Force, Luke Malaney is currently on a half-year-plus hike from Georgia to Maine, and Jake, as you may know, is a pro skateboarder. Justin White’s New Thirsty video was also born out of this three-bedroom apartment. While filming for it, Jersey Dave willingly spent every weekend sleeping on the kitchen floor, even if there were beds or couches available. Miles Marquez lived out a considerable portion of his hick phase in this house, and even the current incarnation of Quartersnacks (i.e. the consistently updated one you see today) was built out of the apartment during a 2010 sublet. It was the crash site for dozens after late-night midtown sessions, or the next best thing to sleeping outside after staying at Enid’s too late (a 15-minute skate down McGuinness and across the Pulsaki Bridge.) Most of those times never wound up on video or in photos.
No one knows if the building is getting torn down or gutted out, but it will likely take a turn towards the “renewed” face that Long Island City had adopted during those five years. There’s no chance a couple skateboarders would be able to afford rent there again.
Below, is the full Short Ends video, and a bunch of photos of / around the house by Jason “Negative” Lecras.
