If you walked very close to New Black Towers, it was like staring into a crater at night -- even on the brightest day in July. You could become disoriented and confused if you allowed it to overtake you, because it had no depth, no bottom, no end. It looked like two jumbo puzzle pieces had fallen out of reality.

Once an old hunchback woman confused it for the yawning mouth of death as she hobbled by, and spilled her grocery cart full of frozen cauliflower packages.

But not everyone saw the grim reaper staring out of it. Its residents, for one, saw it clear as day.