181 Sullivan Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 181 Sullivan Street by Carter Horsley

This pre-Civil War, mid-block building was transformed by Jeffrey Gershon of The Gershon Company in 2006 into one of the most modern glass and dark metal façades in Greenwich Village.

The building formerly housed the Sullivan Street Playhouse where "The Fantastiks" ran for more than 40 years until 2002.

Mr. Gershon took the top floor for himself. Apartments on the second through the 4th floor contain 1,530 square feet of space and the garden duplex unit has 1,970 square feet plus a 600-square foot garden that can be view through the 12-foot-high, 24-foot-wide glass window of the duplex's lower level, which has a fireplace.

ADG Architect and Design is the architect for the project.

Apartments ranged in price from about $2,250,000 to $3,150,000.

The mid-block building is between Bleecker and West Houston Streets on the east side of Sullivan Street. Much of the west side of this block is part of the landmark enclave of townhouses that share a communal garden between Sullivan and Thompson Streets.

According to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, "in the 1830s, the entire east side of this street (known as Varick place until the mid-20th Street) had a row of handsome Greek Revival rowhouses, of which 181 (the Sullivan Street Playhouse) and 179 (The American Legion Club...) are the best surviving vestiges. 179 is in fact largely intact, while 181 was remodeled significantly with its stoop removed and the current theater inserted inside. Prior to its conversion to a theater, long-time Village residents report that the building home to a nightclub and speakeasy operated by Jimmy Kelley, a long-time Greenwich Village Democratic Party boss."

Apartments have private keyed elevator access, video intercom systems, central air-conditioning, Valcucine kitchens and very large bathrooms with double-sink vanities. Some units have gas fireplaces.