| Bulding Address: | 107 Suffolk Street, New York NY 10002 |
| Zip Code: | 10002 |
| Neighborhood: | Soho |
| Borough: | Manhattan |
| Stories: | 5 |
| Year Built: | |
| Building Class: | B |
History of 107 Suffolk Street, Manhattan, NYC
The building located at 107 Suffolk Street in Manhattan's Lower East Side, also known as Loisaida, is a historic civic structure originally built in 1897. Designed by architect Charles B. J. Snyder in the collegiate neo-Gothic style, it exemplifies the wave of large public school buildings erected in New York City in the late nineteenth century. These buildings were intended as civic monuments embodying values of education, health, safety, and community upliftment.
Originally known as Public School 160 (P.S. 160), the building served as a school until the 1970s when a fire forced its closure. After remaining vacant for several years, the building found new life in 1981 when Solidaridad Humana, a community-based educational organization, began using it as a school serving Spanish-speaking immigrants.
In 1993, the building was transformed into a cultural center named the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center, honoring Puerto Rican writer and activist Clemente Soto Vélez. The founders Edgardo Vega Yunqué, Nelson Landrieu, and Mateo Gómez established it as a hub for Puerto Rican and Latino arts and culture, while fostering an inclusive and multicultural environment reflecting the diversity of the Lower East Side.
The Clemente now hosts a variety of cultural activities, including four theaters, three exhibition galleries, artist studios, and offices for nonprofit arts and educational organizations. It supports Latino and BIPOC artists with subsidized studio spaces and serves as a key institution for cultural engagement and education in the neighborhood.
In recent years, the building has undergone major renovations to modernize its facilities and improve accessibility. In 2024, a nearly $13 million project began to make the building fully ADA compliant, including the installation of a six-story elevator, new lobby and corridor designs, wheelchair-accessible restrooms, and enhanced exhibition spaces. The renovation aims to expand access for its 70,000 annual visitors and ensure the building's continued role as a vital community and cultural resource.
Today, the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center remains a proud symbol of the Lower East Side's rich Latino heritage, artistic innovation, and community resilience, housed within this landmark 1897 school building at 107 Suffolk Street.
The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center
Located at 107 Suffolk Street, New York, NY 10002 (between Rivington & Delancey), in Manhattan's historic Lower East Side.
The Clemente is a Puerto Rican and Latinx cultural center founded in 1993, housed in the former PS 160 building, designed by architect Charles B. J. Snyder in the collegiate neo-gothic style.
Building History:
- Originally PS 160, built in 1897 as a public school
- Vacated after a fire in the 1970s
- Used from 1981 by Solidaridad Humana for Spanish-speaking immigrants' education
- Transformed into The Clemente Center in 1993 to serve as a cultural and educational hub
The Center supports contemporary artists and Latino cultural organizations through subsidized studios, theaters, galleries, and community programming.
It houses multiple performing arts groups and offers exhibition, rehearsal, and event spaces.
Contact: | Phone: (212) 260-4080
Location is accessible by F, M, J, Z subway lines at Delancey/Essex Street station.
Building Amenities at 107 Suffolk Street, Manhattan, NYC
The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center, located in the historic former P.S. 160 building, offers a variety of amenities within its landmark facility designed in the collegiate neo-gothic style by architect Charles B. J. Snyder.
- Four theaters available for performing arts programming
- Three exhibition galleries showcasing diverse cultural and artistic works
- 46 subsidized artist studios fostering creative workspaces
- 12 subsidized offices for arts and education non-profit organizations
- Rehearsal spaces prioritizing accessibility for BIPOC and underserved communities
- Multiple event venues suitable for community events such as film screenings, workshops, festivals, music, and performances
- Historical architectural features including ornamental terra cotta, limestone, brick work, and a striking steeply pitched roofline with dormers
- Accessibility improvements underway, including installation of a six-story elevator to meet ADA compliance
- Soundproofed and well-ventilated spaces designed originally for health and safety, providing a conducive environment for learning and artistic creation
The building has undergone extensive restoration to preserve its architectural heritage while enhancing functionality for contemporary arts and educational use.
107 Suffolk Street, Manhattan, NYC
Office Tenants Rented / Leased
The building known as the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center, located at 107 Suffolk Street in Manhattan's Lower East Side, primarily serves as a cultural hub and affordable workspace for arts and educational non-profits. It houses subsidized studios and offices for a variety of Latino and Puerto Rican arts organizations.
- Hispanic Organization for Latin Actors (HOLA): Focused on promoting Hispanic artists in mainstream media.
- Afro Brazil Arts / Capoeira Angola Quintal: Offers programs inspired by the Brazilian martial art, capoeira.
- Fantastic Experimental Latino Theater (FELT): Provides interactive theater and educational programming.
- Mark DeGarmo & Dancers / Dynamic Forms Inc.: Delivers arts experiences to economically disadvantaged youth.
- The Society of the Educational Arts, Inc. (SEA): Bilingual arts-in-education organization and Latino theatre company for young audiences.
- Teatro LaTea: A premier Off-Off-Broadway Latino theater company in New York City.
In addition to offices, the building also contains subsidized artist studios and performance spaces, supporting a vibrant community of artists and cultural workers.
Internet Providers Available at 107 Suffolk Street, Manhattan, NYC
At 107 Suffolk Street in Manhattan, several major internet providers offer service, although exact availability may vary by unit and building infrastructure. The primary providers likely available include:
- Verizon Fios: Offers high-speed fiber internet with plans starting around $34.99/mo. and speeds up to 2.3 Gbps. Known for reliability and extensive coverage in Manhattan.
- Astound Broadband Powered by RCN: Provides both cable and fiber internet with plans starting around $25-$35/mo., speeds up to 1.5 Gbps, and unlimited data usage.
- Spectrum: A cable and fiber provider with ubiquitous coverage in Manhattan, offering speeds up to 1 Gbps and starting plans near $30/mo.
- T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Fixed wireless internet option with speeds ranging from 87 to 415 Mbps and available in parts of Manhattan.
- Starry Internet: Fixed wireless provider with speeds up to 1 Gbps, available in Manhattan.
These providers offer various connection types including fiber, cable, and fixed wireless, with no data caps on most plans. Availability at 107 Suffolk Street is consistent with Manhattan neighborhood coverage patterns, favoring Verizon Fios, Spectrum, and Astound Broadband as predominant options.
107 Suffolk Street, Manhattan, NYC Transportation and Cross Streets
Located in the Lower East Side neighborhood, 107 Suffolk Street is well served by multiple modes of public transportation.
Subway Lines Nearby
- F (Queens Blvd Express / 6 Av Local)
- J (Nassau St Local)
- M (Queens Blvd Local / 6 Av Local)
- Z (Nassau St Express)
- FX (Brooklyn F Express)
- B (6 Avenue Express)
- D (6 Avenue Express)
Closest Subway Stations
- Delancey St-Essex St - approximately 2 minute walk
- Bowery - approximately 8 minute walk
- East Broadway - approximately 10 minute walk
- Grand St - approximately 10 to 12 minute walk
Bus Lines Serving the Area
- B39 (Williamsburg Bridge Plaza - Lower East Side)
- M14A-SBS (Lower East Side - Abingdon Sq)
- M15 and M15-SBS (East Harlem 125 St Via 1 Av - South Ferry)
- M21 (Lower East Side - West Village)
- M9 (Battery Park City - Kips Bay)
Nearest Bus Stops
- Essex St / Rivington St - approximately 3 minute walk
- Essex St / Delancey St - approximately 4 minute walk
- East Houston St / Norfolk St - approximately 5 minute walk
- Allen St / Delancey St - approximately 6 minute walk
Cross Streets
107 Suffolk Street is situated between Rivington Street and Delancey Street.
