West 28th Street Subway Station (Dual System IRT)
Why it's listed
Beneath Seventh Avenue in Chelsea, this subway station on the Broadway/7th Avenue Line was built between 1914 and 1918 as part of the Interborough system's Dual Contracts expansion. It is a single-level, three-track, side-platform station built by a variation of cut-and-cover construction, with a concrete foundation and walls and steel columns. Platforms were extended to 530 feet in 1966. Squire J. Vickers, the Dual System's chief architect, designed it with simple, colorful Arts and Crafts mosaic friezes, name tablets and directional signs, including hexagonal plaques bearing the numerals 28. Most mosaics remain in good condition, though white wall tile was added in 1990 and some tile has deteriorated from leaks. Original concrete stair entrances survive at West 28th Street, and one stair at West 27th Street retains a cast-iron balustrade and lotus-capped lampposts. The station was recognized for its role in transportation and city development and for its engineering, design and artistic qualities.
Significance in brief: The nomination finds it significant under Criterion A for transportation, community planning and development, and social history, and under Criterion C for engineering, architectural design and art. It is a typical Dual System station designed by Squire J. Vickers, with intact Arts and Crafts mosaic banding, plaques and signage. 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 05000235, listed March 30, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Seventh Ave. bet. West 26th and West 29th Sts., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | March 30, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000235 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1914-1918 |
| Architect / builder | Vickers, Squire Joseph (architect) |
| Architectural style | Other/Arts and Crafts |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture, Art, Engineering, Community Planning and Development, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Station remains in transportation use; mosaics are in good condition with some water damage, and the platforms were extended in 1966 and renovated in 1990. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.74676, -73.99373 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 05000235.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q2982207
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.