"Those are the new hot neighborhoods," he said.

The hottest neighborhoods in Manhattan are the ones that have businesses and residences together.

But unlike in some hot neighborhoods, a genial atmosphere dominates.

Now it has its eye on a derelict building in the next hot neighborhood: the meatpacking district.

An area regarded as the fastest growing neighborhood in Chicago and one of the hottest neighborhoods in the country.

This was not considered a 'hot' neighborhood then.

"The guys get up so early to go into the hottest neighborhoods while the gang members are still asleep," he said.

To be sure, living in a "hot" neighborhood like the Flatiron poses problems.

"In my business I always have to be ahead of the curve - the out-in-front guy finding the hot new neighborhood before the revival begins."

They join the line in a hot dusty neighborhood called Zangili and begin the wait.