541 Broadway

Overview of 541 Broadway

541 Broadway is a distinguished through-block cast-iron building connecting to 112 Mercer Street in SoHo's Cast Iron Historic District. Designed by Charles Mettam in 1868 for Gilsey and Beekman, this five story structure features an ornate façade with Corinthianesque capitals, rope molding around windows, and an impressive main entablature crowned by pediments and decorative urns. The building was converted to a co-op in 1974 and sits on historically significant land that once housed the granite mansion of millionaire John G. Coster, and later served as P.T. Barnum's American Museum until a devastating fire in 1868.

The building has attracted notable residents including Jenna Lyons, former creative director of J. Crew, who purchased an apartment $6 million, and renowned sculptor Jackie Winsor, whose estate recently offered her full floor loft where she lived and worked for decades. Winsor gained national recognition with a 1979 MoMA retrospective and her work is held in major museum collections. The apartments are characterized by expansive full floor layouts with soaring 12 to 13 foot tin ceilings, oversized windows providing multiple exposures, and generous living spaces ranging from 3,500 to 3,700 square feet.

A unique financial advantage sets this building apart from typical co-ops: substantial income generated by ground floor retail tenants results in extraordinarily low monthly maintenance fees of just $200, with shareholders reportedly receiving monthly payments of $5,000 from the building's retail income. The apartments feature high end renovations with premium appliances including Sub-Zero refrigerators, Thermador ovens, and Miele appliances, along with spa like master baths finished in glass mosaic tile and marble. Many units include private terraces, basement storage rooms, and keyed elevator access directly into the lofts, embodying the authentic SoHo loft living experience in one of Manhattan's most architecturally and culturally significant neighborhoods.