659 Broadway, ca. 1980.

No. 657-659 was built in the late 1860s, to designs by architect Griffith Thomas. Like other buildings along this stretch of Broadway — many of which are also attributed to Thomas — No. 657-659's large block-through lofts were used by manufacturing companies, before conversion to residential in the latter 20th century.

While a fire in February 1979 caused extensive damage to Nos. 643-655 to the south, this building was relatively unscathed.