| Bulding Address: | 393-399 Lafayette St, New York NY 10003 |
| Building Name: | The DeVinne Press Building |
| Building Alternate address: | 393-399 Lafayette St |
| Zip Code: | 10003 |
| Neighborhood: | Greenwich Village |
| Borough: | Manhattan |
| Stories: | 8 |
| Year Built: | 1885 |
| Building Class: | B |
| Block & lot: | 00544-0001 |
The De Vinne Press Building, located at 393–399 Lafayette Street at the corner of Fourth Street in the NoHo neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, is a historically significant commercial building and former printing plant. It was designed by the architectural firm Babb, Cook & Willard in the Romanesque Revival style and constructed between 1885 and 1886.
The building occupies a rectangular lot measuring 14,627 square feet, with frontages of approximately 125 feet on Lafayette Street and 118 feet on Fourth Street. The site was originally part of the estate of John Jacob Astor, a prominent German-American businessman who acquired the land in 1803. In the 1830s, the area began to develop residentially as New York's wealthy moved northward, and by the post-Civil War period, Lafayette Street became a hub for printing and publishing activities.
The De Vinne Press was among the notable bookbinding and publishing firms in the vicinity, printing prominent publications such as The Century and St. Nicholas magazines, as well as the Century Dictionary. The building was expanded between 1890 and 1891 with a seven-story brick-and-terracotta annex at 21–23 East Fourth Street, also designed by Babb, Cook & Willard.
The building’s history includes challenges during the planning of the New York City Subway's first line under Lafayette Place (now Lexington Avenue Line). The De Vinne Press Company opposed the subway construction due to concerns about damage to the building’s basement vaults. Nevertheless, the subway opened in 1904, and subsequent renovations to the building accommodated the new infrastructure, including alterations to the main entrance and underground vaults.
Further modifications included the installation of a rooftop water tank in 1909, a renovation designed by Walter S. Timmis in 1911, and the addition of new elevators and rooftop bulkhead in 1914. After the death of printer Theodore Low De Vinne in 1914, his estate and James Bothwell managed the building and company operations.
Today, the De Vinne Press Building is recognized as a New York City Landmark (designated in 1966) and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the New York State Register of Historic Places. It stands as a distinguished example of Romanesque Revival architecture and a testament to the rich printing history of the NoHo neighborhood in Manhattan.
The De Vinne Press Building is located at 393-399 Lafayette Street in Manhattan, NYC. It is also known by additional addresses: 21 E 4th St and 23 E 4th St. This historic building is situated in the NoHo neighborhood.
Located at 393-399 Lafayette Street in Manhattan, the De Vinne Press Building offers several amenities:
- Historic Building Features: Romanesque Revival architecture with segmental arches and round-arched windows.
- Office Spaces: High ceilings, large windows, and a mix of open floor plans.
- Loading Dock and Freight Elevator: Convenient for moving large items and equipment.
- Unique Ceilings: Notable barreled terracotta ceilings.
- Internet Providers: Options include Verizon Fios, Astound Broadband Powered by RCN, Spectrum, and Stealth Fiber.
The De Vinne Press Building, located at 393-399 Lafayette Street, Manhattan, NYC, is a historic office building with tenants in various sectors. Notable current or past tenants include:
- Astor Wines and Spirits (ground floor since 2006)
- André Balazs Properties
- The Orchard (a digital distribution company)
- Shootdigital (a photo studio and production company)
- Helpern Architects
- A temporary Taco Bell pop-up restaurant (in 2017)
At 393-399 Lafayette Street in Manhattan, NYC, residents can access a range of internet services from top providers. The location benefits from being in a highly connected area, offering options like:
- Verizon Fios: Known for its fast, symmetrical fiber-optic speeds, starting at $49.99 per month with speeds up to 2.3 Gbps.
- Spectrum: Offers speeds up to 1 Gbps with unlimited data, starting at $50 per month. Spectrum is available across most of Manhattan.
- Astound Broadband Powered by RCN: Provides both cable and fiber services with speeds up to 1.5 Gbps, starting at $35 per month.
- Optimum: Offers faster speeds reaching up to 8 Gbps, though at a higher price point.
- Xfinity: Available with speeds up to 2 Gbps, starting at $30 per month.
Other providers such as T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and Verizon 5G Home Internet may also offer service in the area, offering innovative 5G internet solutions at competitive rates.
Transportation Near 393-399 Lafayette St, Manhattan, NYC
393-399 Lafayette Street is located at the northeast corner with East 4th Street in the NoHo neighborhood of Manhattan.
Subway Stations Nearby
- Broadway-Lafayette St (serving 6, 6X, B, D, F, M, 4, E, FX, N, Q, R, W lines) – approximately 3 to 6 minutes walking distance
- Bleecker St – about 1 minute walk
- 2 Av – about 5 minutes walk
- Prince St – about 6 minutes walk
- 8 St-NYU – about 5 minutes walk
- Astor Pl – about 6 minutes walk
Bus Stops Nearby
- Lafayette St/E 4 St – approximately 2 minutes walk
- East Houston St/Lafayette St – approximately 1 minute walk
- Broadway/West Houston St – approximately 3 minutes walk
- West Houston St/Mercer St – approximately 3 minutes walk
- Bowery/E Houston St – approximately 4 minutes walk
- Broadway & W 3rd St – approximately 3 minutes walk
- Broadway & 3rd St – approximately 3 minutes walk
Bus Lines Serving the Area
B39, B57, M1, M103, M21, M101, M15, DOWNTOWN LOCAL, SHORTLINE HUDSON
Subway Lines Serving the Area
6, 6X, B, D, F, M, 4, E, FX, N, Q, R, W
Cross Streets
393-399 Lafayette Street is located at the corner of Lafayette Street and East 4th Street.