The New York Metropolitan Chapter of the Victorian Society in America is pleased to present this searchable database of the unprotected cast-iron-fronted buildings in New York City.  The survey of these buildings, which have not yet been designated either as individual landmarks or as part of a historic district by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, was conducted in 2006 by architectural historian and Director of Columbia University’s Historic Preservation program Andrew S. Dolkart for the New York Metropolitan Chapter. 

This survey and database is the first project funded by the New York Metropolitan Chapter’s Margot Gayle Fund for Preservation of Victorian Heritage, established in 2003 to honor the eminent preservationist who was one of the original founders of the Victorian Society in America.  Margot Gayle, who passed away in 2008 at the age of 100, was the leading advocate of cast iron, founding the Friends of Cast Iron Architecture to bring the world’s attention to the importance and beauty of this building material. Because of her efforts, the SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District was created in 1973, encompassing the world’s largest concentration of cast-iron-fronted buildings. 

The survey and searchable database were initiated by the Metropolitan Chapter as a tribute to Ms. Gayle’s pioneering work in cast iron architecture.  Prof. Dolkart surveyed all five New York City boroughs, but found cast-iron-fronted buildings only in Brooklyn and Manhattan.  In total, he identified 69 buildings, (representing 63 entries in the cast iron database); 56 in Manhattan and 13 in Brooklyn.  Since the completion of the survey, two buildings, 871-873 Sixth Avenue and 24 East 23rd Street, have been demolished.

This website is made possible by the generous support of the Felicia Fund, the Peggy N. and Roger G.  Gerry Charitable Trust, and the New York Metropolitan Chapter of the Victorian Society in America’s Margot Gayle Fund for Preservation of Victorian Heritage.

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