As a part of our Look Up series highlighting the architecture of SoHo, we set our gaze on 60 Mercer Street, and it took our breath away. This stunning structure (also listed as 443–449 Broome Street and 487 Broadway) was erected between 1895–1896, and its architect, John Townsend Williams, was also the owner.
The building was landmarked in 1973, and the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District Designation Report described it as “a late 19th-century extravaganza in stone, brick, terra cotta and iron, stretching along the entire blockfront of Broome Street for an impressive 29 bays.” It went on, “The most elaborate decorative treatment is reserved for the upper three stories. The pilasters dividing the windows as well as the spandrel arches contain elaborately florid Baroque terra-cotta ornamental details. Finally topping the entire creation is the broad entablature; its cornice is supported by elaborately molded brackets.”
These pictures capture the intricate ornamentation on the facade and just how slender the footprint of this building is.
The full report can be found here, and it’s a delight to read: SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District Designation Report