Overview of London Terrace Gardens at 440 West 24th Street
London Terrace Gardens is a monumental 1,670-unit rental complex completed in 1930, designed by Farrar & Watmaugh for developer Henry Mandel. The massive development occupies an entire block between 23rd and 24th Streets and Ninth and Tenth Avenues, replacing the historic London Terrace townhouses designed by Alexander Jackson Davis in 1845. The site has notable literary history as the former estate of Clement Clarke Moore, author of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." The complex consists of ten connected 16 story midblock buildings and four taller corner buildings, the latter converted to co-ops in 1986 and known as London Terrace Towers.
Built at the onset of the Depression with density exceeding "the worst slums of Calcutta" according to architectural historian Andrew Alpern, the complex originally featured elaborate amenities including Manhattan's largest swimming pool, a rooftop deck styled like an ocean liner, page boys for errands, and doormen dressed as London "bobbies." The development struggled financially, with Mandel entering foreclosure in 1934. Despite its imposing scale, which Paul Goldberger described as creating "a great wall across Chelsea," the building's Romanesque details and courtyard design have made it an accepted part of the neighborhood fabric.
Today, London Terrace Gardens offers Pre War apartments with hardwood floors, spacious rooms, and double glazed windows. A significant draw is that all utilities are included in the rent, covering heat, gas, water, and electricity. Units range from alcove studios that accommodate queen beds to sprawling three bedrooms, many featuring renovated kitchens with full sized appliances and dishwashers. The complex maintains extensive amenities including a 24 hour doorman and concierge, the historic swimming pool with sauna and steam rooms, a fitness center with state of the art equipment, roof deck with Hudson River views, resident lounge, bicycle storage, and on-site parking garage. The central courtyard gardens provide a quiet, almost pastoral setting in the heart of West Chelsea, steps from the High Line and the neighborhood's renowned art galleries.