the rix mix

East Grand St., across from Pathmark supermarket, near Dunkin' Donuts & branch library.
A charming Spanish style firehouse; a pair of firefighters are enjoying the sunset on the veranda, it looks like a good duty station. But they don't get a lot of down time in this city. Although there's a broad expanse of intersection out front, I waited a few minutes for a break in the traffic, & some drivers don't brake for fire engines.

The houses are probably the most common habitat in town; two, three, & four apt frame structures, old & new. The new ones have garages & balconies, but they're basically the same, built fast & cheaply on the footprint of a teardown. These are well-maintained, depends on the owner. On the other side of town there's block after tedious block of them in all conditions of repair & disrepair, packed closely, & the old, dry buildings are worrisome things for firefighters, who can never be certain how many occupants are living in them.

Labels: Elizabeth NJ, photograph