Broome Street in SoHo

SoHo is the former manufacturing district south of Houston Street (and bounded on the east by Lafayette Street, on the west by the Hudson River and to the south by Canal Street). The neighborhood is characterized by Belgian block streets and cast iron–facade buildings with enormously high ceilings—made to accommodate manufacturing equipment—and gargantuan windows, built to flood the floors with sunlight in the otherwise dimly lit gas-lamp days. Beginning in the 1960s and lasting through the 1990s, the district was the live/work playground of many of the city's most famous artists. Today those glorious 19th-century buildings, are occupied by retail stores and some are co-operative apartments, such as the beautiful building in the top photo (right) which is also known as Haggin Building, Silk Exchange Building, or the French Telegraph and Cable Building.

HEATH LEDGER: GONE TOO SOON

Youtube from HeathLedgerTribute
On January 22, 2008, the brilliant Australian born actor HEATHCLIFF ANDREW LEDGER was found dead in his fourth-floor apartment at Broome Street in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. He was 28. Above are photos of his apartment building and the makeshift memorial put together by mourning friends and fans of the actor at the entrance of the building. I made these images two days after Mr. Ledger's passing. Mr. Ledger had become a familiar and well-liked figure in the SoHo neighborhood since moving there after he broke up with the actress MICHELLE WILLIAMS, who played his wife in “Brokeback Mountain.” Ms. Williams is the mother of Heath's daughter.

Born on April 4, 1979, Mr. Ledger was an Academy Award-nominated actor. After appearing in television roles during the 1990s, he developed a Hollywood career. He starred in both critical and financial successes, including "Ten Things I Hate About You, The Patriot, Monster's Ball, A Knight's Tale" and "Brokeback Mountain." He has also completed the role of the Joker in the forthcoming "The Dark Knight," the latest chapter in the Batman saga.

Heath Ledger will always be remembered as an enormously talented actor and an exceptional person.