On Tuesday, June 17, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) will review a plan to alter 142 Greene Street, a five-story cast-iron building in the Soho-Cast Iron Historic District between West Houston and Prince Streets. In anticipation of what appears to be a planned condo conversion of the commercial building, the team—led by Joseph Dirand Architecture and Jospeh Vance Architects seeks to remove fire escapes, disassemble and reassemble the cast-iron façade, modify the rear extension, and construct a two-story rooftop addition.
According to the LPC presentation,, the design and development team intends to work with the district's historic context, referencing appropriate materials, paint colors, and finishes for the proposed alterations. The team also cites several similarly approved projects within the district. The existing cast-iron elements, which have suffered from cracks, deformation, and general deterioration, will be labeled, removed, and either restored or replicated to match the original design. The fire escapes will not return, and the entire façade will be painted a darker color.
In this article:
142 Greene Street then and now
While there was previously a stark divide between the ground-floor retail and the upper levels, new renderings show unified entry doors and transoms painted to match the upper stories. However, its expansive storefront windows and dramatic columns will continue to set it apart from the residences above.
Compared to the historically sensitive restoration below, the proposed rooftop and bulkhead will bring a distinctly contemporary addition to the 19th-century structure. Two stories totaling 22 feet in height would be added, though the design is set back from Greene Street to minimize visibility from street level (as Landmarks prefers).
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This project represents the latest chapter for 142 Greene Street, which was built as a paper box factory in 1871. Over 100 years later, art dealer Leo Castelli opened opened a Downtown exhibition space in the building that featured the likes of Roy Lichtenstein.
Luxury menswear designer Paul Smith bought the building for $27.25 million in 2006 and occupied it as its Soho flagship for years; it has since moved on to 88 Wooster Street a few blocks away after selling the building for $39 million in February 2022. The Real Deal announced the sale and identified the buyer as an affiliate of WhatsApp cofounder Jan Koum.
Luxury menswear designer Paul Smith bought the building for $27.25 million in 2006 and occupied it as its Soho flagship for years; it has since moved on to 88 Wooster Street a few blocks away after selling the building for $39 million in February 2022. The Real Deal announced the sale and identified the buyer as an affiliate of WhatsApp cofounder Jan Koum.
Upon completion, floor plans show that there will be separate residential and commercial entrances on Greene Street. The resulting interiors will boast ceilings up to 12 feet high and abundant light from arched windows overlooking Greene Street. The rooftop addition will be surrounded by a private terrace on both levels.
Little information is available about common amenities, but one perk the building is certain to offer is a central address in Soho. It is located in close proximity to other luxury designers' flagship boutiques, Soho art galleries, an Angelika Film Center movie theater, and acclaimed Downtown restaurants. Transportation options include the Broadway-Lafayette Street B/D/F/M, the Prince Street R/W, and the Bleecker Street 6 trains.
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