Artisan Lofts, 143 Reade Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 143 Reade Street by Carter Horsley

The 16-story commercial building at 157 Chambers Street was converted to 45 residential condominiums in 2007 and given a new address of 143 Reade Street and named the Artisan Lofts. 

TriBeCa Associates, of which William Brodsky and Elliot Ingerman are principals, were the converters of the mid-block building that was erected in the early 1930s and designed by Victor Mayper, who was the architect of several commercial buildings in Lower Manhattan including 155 Sixth Avenue, 121 Varick Street, 160 Varick Street and the Maltz-Franklin Building. 

At the time of the conversion, TriBeCa Associates was also building a 13-story hotel with 96 hotel rooms and 15 condominium apartments at 128 Chambers Street on the southeast corner at West Broadway. 

Steven F. Byrns of BKSK Architects was the architect for the conversion.

Bottom Line

A through-block building that has an attractive entrance on Reade Street at the foot of TriBeCa, this converted office building has large apartment layouts and is very convenient to the Battery Park City and the Financial District.

Description

The beige brick, mid-rise, mid-block building has a few setbacks near its top and large multi-paned windows.

Amenities

The building has a concierge, a doorman, a gym, a live-in superintendent, a package room and a children’s playroom. 

It permits pets.

Apartments

Apartment 2B is a two-bedroom unit that has a 28-foot-long living/dining room with a large pass-through kitchen and a 33-foot-angled terrace. 

Apartment 6C is a two-bedroom unit that has a 27-foot-long living/dining room with an open kitchen with an island and an 11-foot-long home office. 

Apartment 9A is a three-bedroom unit that has a 21-foot-long entrance gallery that leads to a 41-foot-long living/dining room with an open kitchen with an island, and a 13-foot-long home office.  One of the bedrooms has a 9-foot-long balcony. 

Apartment 14A has a 27-foot-long living/dining room next to an open 13-foot-long kitchen.  The unit also has a 14-foot-long home office and two bedrooms, one with a 9-foot-long balcony. 

Apartment 15B is a three-bedroom unit that has a 43-foot-long living/dining room with an open kitchen with an island and a 12-foot-long home office. 

Apartment 16S has a 31-foot-long entrance gallery that leads past a 20-foot-long, south-facing terrace to a 17-foot-long dining room with an open kitchen and an island adjoining a 25-foot-long corner living room.  The 19-foot-long, north-facing master bedroom has a 9-foot-long balcony and there are two other bedrooms. 

The penthouse has a long entrance gallery that leads to a north-facing 36-foot-long living/dining room flanked by two terraces and next to a 20-foot-long, eat-in kitchen.  The apartment has four bedrooms and a 14-foot-long media room.

History

An article by David Lombino in the November 27, 2006 edition of The New York Sun noted that many of the older commercial properties on Chambers Street were being converted to residential use, citing, among others, planned conversions at 87-9 Chambers Street, 88 Chambers Street, 92 Chambers Street, and renovations at 119, 122 and 148 Chambers Street. 

“A senior director for Massey Knakal Realty Services, who specializes in Lower Manhattan, Peter DeCheser, said Chambers Street, once known for its ‘nickel and dime stores and honkytonk retail,’ is now booming, according to Mr. Lombino’s article, which added that Mr. DeCheser said that “It is changing from a bazaar atmosphere, to more of a real mixed-use neighborhood."