A homeless man, who goes by “Tiger,” is making quite a statement in Greenwich Village. He’s transformed a stretch of sidewalk on Sullivan Street, near Bleecker, into what he calls his one-bedroom apartment, complete with a bed, a sofa, a side table, a chair, a bookshelf, and even a vase of fresh flowers.
In this makeshift space, he’s added an assortment of quirky items like a lectern with potted onions and a decorative wooden skull. Tiger claims to hail from Boston and at times lived with a girlfriend named Nina.
“These are all things that can be found or scavenged,” he remarked, suggesting that his setup reflects a deeper lesson from Jesus about housing. He’s also critical of the monetary system, referring to it as a sort of spiritual implant.
Neighbors noted that Tiger moved into this spot about three months ago, which is rather remarkable considering one-bedroom apartments in the area can rent for an astonishing $21,900 monthly, according to Apartments.com.
Recently, some local residents have voiced their frustrations regarding Tiger’s disruptive behavior. Over two days, he was seen smoking a glass pipe and drinking Old English malt liqueur while loudly expressing his thoughts on various topics, including a critique of so-called America-hating leftists.
Complaints against the encampment have been mounting, with the city’s 311 hotline recording 24 calls since February. Just two weeks prior, police responded to a situation where Tiger had reportedly broken into a nearby estate but ultimately chose not to remove him from his spot.
His antics have gained him some notoriety, even attracting attention from film students at New York University who followed him around, capturing his every word. Local resident Paolo Tavares, who works at a nearby restaurant, voiced concerns about the scene unfolding outside his window, speculating about drug use and public behavior.
For long-time resident Rose DeMarco, the presence of such an encampment would have been unthinkable in the past, likening it to how a mob presence once kept the area in check. Meanwhile, another resident, Gene, offered a more sympathetic view, acknowledging the creativity in Tiger’s living arrangement, considering it the most suitable setup he’s seen for homeless individuals in the area.
