Overview

About Christadora House, 143 Avenue B

This 17-story, dark brown brick structure began its existence as the Christadora Settlement House in 1928.

Fronting on Tompkins Park in the heart of the East Village, this handsome building was designed by Henry C. Pelton in a style that was an interesting and strong example of the transition between the minimalist neo-classical and Art Deco styles. Pelton also designed the Park Avenue Baptist Church at 64th Street and the Park Avenue Methodist Church on East 86th Street

The building has had an interesting history. George Gershwin gave his first public recital in its third floor concert hall, according to Elliot Willensky and Norval White in their book, "The A.I.A. Guide to New York City, Third Edition," (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988).

Decades later it was the center of a community center controversy that became part of serious civil disturbances in and around the park.

By the 1980's, the East Village was beginning to be gentrified and this building by converted by Harvey Skydell and Sam Glasser in late 1986 to condominiums. John T. Fifield Associates and Justin Georges were the architects of the conversion.

Its neighborhood is very mixed with attractive townhouses around the park, tenement ruins with drug dealers within blocks, hip art galleries and restaurants and boutiques in every direction.

Because it is an isolated tower, it offers many superlative views from its upper floors. There are 85 condominium apartments and the building has a concierge, doorman and health club and pool. There are also some fireplaces.

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