First, determine your block and lot numbers. Having this information is the fastest and easiest way to find your tax photo.
To find your block and lot number, type your address and select your borough in the NYC Oasis Map.
NYC Oasis Map displays the property’s location on a map, ensuring that one has selected the correct building. NYC DOB is another option for determining block and lot, but it does not display a map.
After finding the property, click on “Location Report” on the right side of the screen.
The block and lot are highlighted in yellow.
Note the block and lot number, then visit the NYC Municipal Archives Collections website.
The collection is called DOF: (BOROUGH) 1940S TAX PHOTOS
Click the borough that your building is located in to navigate to the collection.
Enter your block and lot numbers into the search box in the upper right hand side of the screen using the following formula: block=0000 AND lot=00
For example:
Note that there are no spaces in the formula except for the spaces in between AND.
These steps will produce the 1939/40 image of your building.
What if my block and lot formula renders no results?
Sometimes lot numbers change over time. This occurs on blocks affected by urban renewal, on lots where new condo buildings have been developed, or when an owner merges two or more lots into one.
As an alternative, try searching for images of adjacent properties using their lot numbers instead. Every lot number is visible on the NYC Oasis Map. Your building will likely be visible in these photos of neighboring buildings.
Another option is to modify your search formula to block only: block=0000. This will pull an image of every building on the block, and you can go through each image until the building is found.
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