Cast iron buildings in New York City
On Tuesday, February 24, Landmarks will review an application for a new project at 41-43 Mercer Street in the Soho-Cast Iron Historic District. According to a presentation prepared by Alexandr Neratoff Architect, the team seeks to demolish the one-story building at 41 Mercer Street, replace it with a new, six-story cast iron building, and merge this building with the neighboring 43 Mercer Street, a store dating back to 1868 and convert the upper floors to residential use. This requires them to remove the party wall; they also seek to build rooftop and rear yard additions for 43 Mercer Street.
Renderings in the presentation depict a gleaming white cast iron building at 41 Mercer Street with a sleek storefront and floor-to-ceiling windows divided by columns on upper levels. The prewar 43 Mercer Street is shown with a spiffed-up storefront to match 41 Mercer Street's, restored windows, and a modern-looking rooftop addition. The presentation notes that this building has been expanded over the years, and renderings of the new and expanded buildings do not appear overly obtrusive from nearby streets.
In this article:
The hearing will take place more than four years after 41 and 43 Mercer Street were sold to an entity listed as Forty Three Mercer Holdings LLC for a total of $19 million in December 2021 (per public records). More recently, permits filed in February 2026 call for retail on the first and cellar levels, five residential units - three simplex, one duplex with mezzanine, and one quadruplex penthouse with terraces - on top, and amenities including a health club and lobby. Demolition permits have not been filed for the one-story building currently at 41 Mercer Street, a former garage that has been home to popular Mediterranean restaurant Antique Garage since 2003.
Enlarge Image
Enlarge Image
Enlarge Image
Enlarge Image
Enlarge Image
Enlarge Image
Enlarge Image
Enlarge Image
Enlarge Image
Enlarge Image
Cast iron was used for decorative and structural purposes in the early nineteenth century, but entire cast iron facades became feasible after architect/inventor James Bogardus obtained patents for constructing prefabricated iron buildings in 1850. He did not have a sizable foundry, but cast iron proponent Daniel Badger did: Several of the city's most dramatic cast iron designs were created at his expanded site on 14th Street between Avenues C and D (h/t Victorian Society). The next several decades were filled with cast iron design experimentation; but in the wake of revisions to the New York City building code in 1885, they started to fade in popularity.
Cast Iron Building | https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/greenwich-village/cast-iron-building-67-east-11th-street/4401
Cast iron facades were popular because they were less expensive to produce than stone or brick, but could still be used to create ornate Italianate, neo-Grec, French Second Empire, and French Renaissance-style designs. They were also faster to fabricate than the other materials, and it was easy to recast broken pieces and repaint the facade if needed. Decades later, it is equally easy to remove cast iron facades from dilapidated buildings, restore them to their original glory elsewhere, and reattach them to new structures (a case in point may be seen at "Frankenbuilding" 74 Grand Street, located about two blocks from 41-43 Mercer Street). Finally, some paint colors are so convincing that it's not immediately clear that the buildings are made of iron.
Structural cast iron frames are widely considered the precursor to steel-skeleton construction that allows for the construction of New York City's skyscrapers. However, their exterior designs have proven extremely popular at street level.
Moreover, the strength of the iron provided structural support that allowed for large windows and high ceilings. Such features were much appreciated when the buildings were constructed as storefronts or offices in the nineteenth century, and allow for highly desirable interiors as such buildings get converted to residential use.
Below, we look at listings in cast iron buildings. Not-for-profit Soho Broadway Initiative notes that of New York City's approximately 250 cast iron buildings, many are located in Soho, but there are availabilities to be found in other neighborhoods as well.
Listings in cast iron buildings
Cast Iron Building, #314 (Sloane Square LLC)
The Smith Grey, #1D (Modern Spaces)
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
Or call us at (212) 755-5544
95 Greene Street, #2B (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)
477 Broome Street, #53 (Corcoran Group)
138 Grand Street, #2ER (The Agency Brokerage)
54 Greene Street, #3A (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)
109 Greene Street, #5A (Compass)
84 Mercer Street, #2 (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
Little Singer Building, #8A (Compass)
58 Walker Street, #PH (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
150 Thompson Street, #4N (Nest Seekers LLC)
74 Grand Street, #PENTHOUSE (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)
75 Grand Street, #4W (Serhant)
XOCO 325, #7B (Serhant)
15 Union Square West, #5B
$8,495,000
Flatiron/Union Square | Condominium | 3 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths | 2,849 ft2
15 Union Square West, #5B (Triumph Property Group Ltd)
22 Wooster Street, #PHN (Corcoran Group)
85 Worth Street, #3 (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
47 Mercer Street, #PHA (Corcoran Group)
19 Jay Street, #TH (Corcoran Group)
Soho Greene, #PH (Serhant)
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
Or call us at (212) 755-5544
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
6sqft delivers the latest on real estate, architecture, and design, straight from New York City.
