Discover the Staple Street Skybridge
In a city bursting at the seams with architectural marvels and historic oddities, it takes something truly special to stand out in New York. And nestled in the heart of Tribeca is just that: the charming and mysterious Staple Street Skybridge. It’s not a towering skyscraper, flashy sculpture, or giant tourist trap. In fact, it’s only three stories high. But this dainty little bridge, quietly spanning the narrow gap between two old buildings, has a story that stretches over a century—and a vibe straight out of a movie set.
Yep, at first glance, the Staple Street Skybridge might seem like a curious blip in the architectural landscape. But dig a little deeper, and it becomes a symbol of New York’s ability to evolve, adapt, and preserve the oddities that give it soul. It’s not just a bridge between buildings—it’s a bridge between eras, connecting early 20th-century medicine with 21st-century luxury, practical design with artistic ambition, and past dreams of the future with present-day reality.
The History of the Staple Street Skybridge
So, what’s the deal with this quaint little footbridge that seems to have wandered in from another century?
It all started in 1907, when the New York Hospital needed a smarter way to connect two of its facilities: a main building at 67 Hudson Street and an auxiliary site—essentially a laundry and ambulance garage—at 9 Jay Street, right across Staple Street. The solution? Build a bridge through the sky.
Designed by the architecture firm Robertson & Potter, this elevated walkway let staff zip between buildings without braving the bustling cobblestone streets below. At just a few meters off the ground, it’s one of the lowest skybridges in Manhattan, but don’t let its modest height fool you—it has some serious charm.
And if you’re looking for clues to its origins, just take a peek at the terra-cotta Red Cross shield still mounted nearby, stamped with the initials “N.Y.H.” It’s a relic of the days when the House of Relief, a division of New York Hospital, operated emergency services out of the building.
From Hospital Hack to High-End Hideaway
After World War I, the hospital shuttered the House of Relief and moved operations elsewhere, leaving behind the buildings—and the bridge. For a while, the old structures passed through various owners and purposes, but eventually, the quirky skybridge caught the eye of someone with an eye for the unique: fashion designer Zoran Ladicorbic.
Ladicorbic snapped up both the townhouse at 9 Jay Street and a condo at 67 Hudson Street, essentially making the bridge his private walkway to work. One side held his studio, the other his home—a daily (hassle-free) commute most New Yorkers can only dream of.
Wanting a little more light in his life, the designer even lobbied to swap out the skybridge’s original three-panel windows for full-length ones. After some back and forth with the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and a lucky find of the bridge’s original blueprints in city archives, he got the green light to renovate. Now, the skybridge features a full wall of windows, perfect for soaking in that golden-hour Tribeca glow.
A Street Full of Stories: The Surroundings of Staple Street
Staple Street may be pint-sized—it runs only two short blocks—but it’s bursting with history. Once a private access lane to the horse stables of wealthy Hudson Street residents in the early 1800s, the street has evolved from hay and hooves to butter, eggs, coconuts, and now high-end lofts and street art.
At 171 Duane Street, you’ll find a building with a storied past that ranges from schoolhouse to spice wholesaler. The cast-iron front and multiple renovations have created a structure that’s practically a time capsule of architectural styles. A few doors down, 55-61 Hudson Street was once the headquarters for none other than American Express. Back in the 1800s, they weren’t dealing with credit cards but express shipments—kind of like a Gilded Age FedEx.
Staple Street is also a haven for quiet discoveries. From weathered “no parking” posts to ghost signage and layers of graffiti, the alley hums with hidden life. Oh, and if you’re walking by, keep your eyes peeled for a terra cotta crest carved with “N.Y.H.”—one of the few visible clues to the area’s hospital roots.
Skybridges: A Peek into the Past—and the Future?
While the Staple Street Skybridge is definitely a standout, it’s far from the only one in New York. The city is home to over a dozen skybridges, many of them relics from an era of architecture that dared to build upward and across. These raised corridors weren’t just about function—they were about vision, imagining a city where you could float from building to building without touching the ground.
That idea even made its way into pop culture. Sci-fi classics like Metropolis (1927) and The Fifth Element (1997) depicted futuristic cities with skybridges zipping through the air. While we’re still waiting for flying cars and floating highways, the Staple Street Skybridge offers a grounded glimpse into that imagined future.
Why the Staple Street Skybridge is So Photogenic
If you’ve scrolled through Instagram or wandered through Tribeca with a camera, you’ve probably seen this dainty connector before. Framed by historic brick buildings, old-school fire escapes, and the narrow curve of Staple Street itself, it’s one of the most photogenic spots in downtown Manhattan. It practically begs to be photographed.
Suspended three stories above the ground, the bridge’s cast-iron frame, paired with its broad industrial windows, an angled elbow that wraps around the corner of the building, and a wonderfully weathered patina that has only grown more photogenic with time. It’s an architectural whisper from another time—one that somehow feels both futuristic and nostalgic.
A Skybridge Up for Sale
Today, the bridge connects two luxury residential lofts. Want to live there? You’d better have a healthy bank account and a fondness for odd real estate trivia, because this 7,500-square-foot space reportedly features five bedrooms, five bathrooms, high ceilings, a roof deck, and (let’s not forget) your very own skybridge.
Speaking of real estate, in recent years, the Staple Street Skybridge (still owned by Zoran Ladicorbic) and its connected properties hit the market for a staggering $24 million, setting a record for the neighborhood. And while the bridge itself might not have been sold separately, its story helped turn a quirky architectural feature into a luxury real estate selling point.
Visiting the Staple Street Skybridge
So how do you find this offbeat architectural gem? Easy. Hop on the 1 train and hop off at Franklin Street. From there, it’s a short walk west to Staple Street, which cuts between Duane and Harrison just off Hudson.
The bridge itself isn’t accessible to the public (unless you happen to own the whole loft setup—lucky you), but it’s totally visible from the street and makes for a killer photo op. Visit in the golden hour if you want that perfect shot for Instagram.
And remember: the street might be called Staple, but it has nothing to do with office supplies. The name may derive from a local landowner named John Staples, or it might be a twist on the word “stable,” a nod to the area’s equestrian past. Either way, it’s classic NYC: weird, wonderful, and just a little mysterious.
Explore Beyond the Staple Street Skybridge with CityDays
Once you’ve snapped your artsy photo and soaked in the surreal quiet of this tiny alley, don’t pack it in just yet. There’s a whole city out there, brimming with secret spots, twisted tales, and offbeat legends—and we at CityDays can help you uncover them.
Our scavenger and treasure hunt tours are the perfect way to see New York from a new angle. Solve clues, follow trails, discover hidden histories—and maybe even stumble on the next skybridge-style secret.
We run team-building activities not just across New York City, but around the world. So whether you're in Tribeca or Melbourne, there’s a CityDays challenge waiting for you.
