| Bulding Address: | 611 Broadway, New York NY 10012 |
| Building Name: | Cable Building |
| Building Alternate address: | 611 Broadway |
| Zip Code: | 10012 |
| Neighborhood: | Greenwich Village |
| Borough: | Manhattan |
| Stories: | 11 |
| Year Built: | 1894 |
| Building Class: | B |
| Block & lot: | 00523-0048 |
History of 611 Broadway (The Cable Building), Manhattan, NYC
The Cable Building, located at 611 Broadway at the northwest corner with Houston Street in NoHo and Greenwich Village, Manhattan, was constructed between 1892 and 1894. Designed by Stanford White of the architectural firm McKim, Mead & White, it is a nine-story Beaux-Arts steel and iron frame structure faced with brick, stone, and terra-cotta, featuring a limestone base with a two-story arcade with show windows, iron spandrels, and elegant keystones. The building is crowned by a prominent copper cornice adorned with lions' faces, egg-and-dart moldings, and acanthus details. This structure is believed to be McKim, Mead & White's first commercial building with a complete steel frame.
Originally, the Cable Building served as the headquarters and power station for the Metropolitan Traction Company, which operated the city's cable car system along Broadway. This costly system, with $12 million invested, ran cable cars from Bowling Green to 36th Street, carrying 125 cable cars and servicing approximately 100,000 passengers daily at its peak in 1893. The building’s basement was excavated 46 feet beneath street level to house four 32-foot winding wheels that pulled the cables moving the streetcars at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour.
The offices occupied the upper seven floors arranged around a large internal court with rectangular light wells. However, less than ten years after completion, cable traction became obsolete when the system switched to electricity in 1901, marking the end of cable streetcar transportation in New York City. The last cable car departed on May 21, 1901, after which the Metropolitan Traction Company was reorganized as the New York Railways Company.
Post cable car era, the building was sold in 1925 and transitioned to use by small businesses and manufacturers, primarily garment makers from the 1940s to the 1970s. It was converted back into office space in 1983, including new ground-floor storefronts. The building houses the Angelika Film Center, which occupies the former cable powerhouse basement and is known for screening independent films since 1989. Additionally, a Crate & Barrel store has occupied part of the ground and second floors since 2002.
The Cable Building is part of the NoHo Historic District, designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1999, and remains a significant architectural and historical landmark reflecting both the technological ambitions and urban development of late 19th-century New York City.
611 Broadway, Manhattan, NYC
Also Known As: The Cable Building
Location: Border of NoHo and Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York, NY 10012
Year Built: 1892
Architect: McKim, Mead & White
Building Class: B
Total Floors: 9
Building Height: 11 stories
Total Size: Approximately 200,000 - 340,000 square feet
Typical Floor Size: Approx. 25,400 SF
Features & Amenities:
- High ceilings and large windows providing abundant natural light
- 24/7 building access
- Friendly doorman service
- Renovated marble bathrooms
- Sophisticated air systems with individual climate control
- Venetian marble walls and stylish architectural details
- Convenient retail on ground floor including Crate & Barrel
Location Highlights: Gateway to SoHo, NoHo, and Greenwich Village neighborhoods
Nearby transportation includes multiple subway lines at Broadway-Lafayette and Bleecker Street stations, with bus routes along West Houston Street and Mercer Street.
Building Amenities at 611 Broadway, Manhattan, NYC
- 24/7 Access: Full round-the-clock entry for tenants
- Attended Lobby: Friendly doorman greeting and assistance
- Renovated interiors including marble bathrooms
- Advanced air conditioning system with individual controls
- High ceilings with abundant natural light through large windows
- Venetian marble walls and stylish architectural details
- Convenient retail options located on the ground floor
- High-speed internet availability
611 Broadway, Manhattan, NYC, is home to a diverse range of office tenants, including:
- Crate & Barrel
- Yumi Kim
- Duke Properties
- Cinema Tropical
- Seo
- Ellen Jacobs Associates
- Tonic Group
- Breaking Media
- GreenRoom
- BWArchitects
Internet Providers at 611 Broadway, Manhattan, NYC
Residents and businesses at 611 Broadway in Manhattan have access to several high-quality internet service providers offering reliable and fast connections. The main providers available in this location include:
- Verizon Fios – Verizon’s fiber-optic service delivers speeds starting at 300 Mbps and up to 2 Gbps. Known for symmetrical upload and download speeds and strong customer satisfaction, Verizon Fios covers most of Manhattan, including central commercial areas like 611 Broadway.
- Spectrum – Spectrum provides cable and fiber internet plans with speeds up to 1 Gbps. It offers widespread coverage in Manhattan with competitive pricing and reliable service, including advanced WiFi capabilities suitable for home and business use.
- Astound Broadband (formerly RCN) – This provider offers both cable and fiber internet with plans reaching up to 1.5 Gbps. Astound is known for affordable pricing and unlimited data, serving most parts of Manhattan with robust coverage.
These providers offer a variety of plans tailored to different speed requirements and budgets, ensuring residents and businesses at 611 Broadway can find an internet option that meets their needs.
611 Broadway, also known as The Cable Building, is located in Manhattan, NYC. It is situated at the northwest corner of Broadway and Houston Street in the NoHo and Greenwich Village neighborhoods. The address also extends to 2–18 West Houston Street and 178–188 Mercer Street.
Public Transportation Options:
- Subway: The nearest subway stations include Broadway-Lafayette Street (1-minute walk), Prince Street (3-minute walk), and Spring Street (7-minute walk). Other nearby subway lines are 6, 6X, B, D, F, W, M, N, Q, R, A, C, and E.
- Bus: The closest bus stops are West Houston Street/Mercer Street (1-minute walk) and Broadway/West Houston Street (2-minute walk). Bus routes include M1, M21, SIM7, SIM9, and SIM33.
- Train: PATH and Harlem trains are also options for reaching this location.
Cross Streets:
- Broadway
- Lafayette Street
- West Houston Street
- Mercer Street
