Rent Office 16480 12th Avenue

History of 16480 12th Avenue, Manhattan, NYC

16480 12th Avenue in Manhattan is the location of the former Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) Powerhouse, an iconic Beaux-Arts style building constructed in 1904 by the renowned architectural firm McKim, Mead & White. This monumental structure was originally built to power New York City's first subway line and upon its completion more than a century ago, it was the largest powerhouse in the world.

The building occupies an entire city block bounded by 11th and 12th Avenues and West 58th and 59th Streets, reflecting the grand ambition of early 20th-century urban infrastructure. Its architectural design features a granite base, brick facades, two-story arched windows, and terracotta moldings and keystones, with six chimneys originally designed to echo the smokestacks of nearby Hudson River steamships. Though the original six chimneys were removed in 2009, one large chimney built in 1967 remains.

The structure was designed not only as a functional industrial facility but also with aesthetic grandeur to encourage public acceptance of the subway, which was a new mode of transportation at the time. The architectural style and craftsmanship embody the ideals of the City Beautiful movement, which held that beautiful, monumental buildings would promote civic virtue and pride.

Today, while the plant no longer powers the subway, it continues to serve Consolidated Edison’s steam operations. In 2017, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the former IRT Powerhouse a city landmark, marking it as the first power plant in the city to receive such status. This designation protects the building’s historic architecture and ensures its preservation as a testament to New York City's engineering and architectural heritage.

Internet providers servicing 16480 12th Avenue, Manhattan, NYC include:

• Verizon Fios: Offers fiber-optic internet with speeds starting at 300 Mbps up to 2 Gbps. Known for fast symmetrical speeds and competitive pricing. Covers approximately 85.3% of Manhattan, including most residential areas.
• Astound Broadband Powered by RCN: Provides cable and fiber internet services with unlimited data usage. Known for low prices and gigabit plans, covering most of Manhattan except some areas like Washington Heights and Roosevelt Island.
• Spectrum: Widely available across Manhattan with cable and fiber options. Offers speeds up to 1 Gbps and competitive bundles including TV and phone services. Spectrum coverage is ubiquitous, reaching about 82.7% of the borough.
• T-Mobile Home Internet: Fixed wireless internet service with speeds ranging from 72 to 245 Mbps. Available in much of Manhattan but with some dead zones especially indoors due to signal interference.

These providers use a combination of fiber, cable, and fixed wireless technologies offering a variety of speed and pricing options suitable for different internet usage needs in the Manhattan area.