You may be aware of the upzoning plan that De Blasio has for Soho – to bring more affordable housing into a neighborhood that is rarely affordable today. You may also know that the landmarking of many properties in Soho was done to call out the use of gorgeous cast iron that allowed builders to admit more light with lighter (and less brick-ey) facades. It also, of course, helped that it was faster and cheaper.

You don’t, however, need to go to Soho to see cast iron used in construction. These photos were taken at a pedestrian building on Madison Avenue at 132, where beautiful pillars hold up the upper floors so the lower one (ground floor) could be a more economically viable commercial space with plenty of space and the potential for plenty of light and doorways.

As Seen on 2nd Avenue at 110