Substation 219
Also known as: Harlem Substation
Why it's listed
Substation 219, known as the Harlem Substation, is an electrical power building at 309 West 133rd Street in Harlem. Completed in 1932, it converts alternating current purchased from Con Edison into direct current for trains on the 8th Avenue Line of the city-owned IND subway. The rectangular building, about 50 by 100 feet, is a single-story, double-height masonry structure in the Art Deco style. Its brick facade has limestone coping, a diamond and chevron frieze, vertical brick bands, and a monumental limestone portal with embossed aluminum doors and a carved city nameplate. The facade hides the building's industrial purpose. Inside, a large windowless hall retains its original overhead crane, some circuit breaker panels, and basement switchgear, though solid state rectifiers have replaced earlier equipment. The substation supplies power to IND lines between West 125th and West 141st Streets. It was listed for its role in subway transportation, its engineering, and its architectural design, and it is now surrounded by a 1970s apartment complex.
Significance in brief: It is significant under Criterion A in transportation and community planning and development, and under Criterion C in engineering and architecture. It was built to power the 8th Avenue Line of the city-owned IND system and has an articulated Art Deco brick and limestone facade that conceals its function. It retains a relatively high degree of integrity and is significant at the local level.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 06000023, listed February 9, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 309 W. 133rd St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | February 9, 2006 |
| Reference number | 06000023 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1932 |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement/Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture, Engineering, Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used for rail-related transportation; solid state rectifiers have replaced the original rotary converters, and some original equipment remains. Facade repairs were under way in 2004. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.81563, -73.94822 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 06000023.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7632100
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.