Christadora House,
143 Avenue B

Overview of Christadora House at 143 Avenue B

The Christadora House stands as a distinctive 17 story dark brown brick tower built in 1928, originally serving as the Christadora Settlement House before its transformation into one of the East Village's most notable condominium buildings. Designed by Henry C. Pelton in a compelling transitional style between minimalist neo classical and Art Deco architecture, the building holds significant cultural history as the venue where George Gershwin gave his first public recital in its third floor concert hall. After decades of community use and neighborhood controversy, the building was converted to condominiums in late 1986 by Harvey Skydell and Sam Glasser, with John T. Fifield Associates and Justin Georges serving as conversion architects.

The building offers 85 condominium apartments with full service amenities including a 24 hour doorman, concierge, health club, and pool. As an isolated tower fronting Tompkins Square Park, the Christadora provides exceptional views from its upper floors, with many units featuring floor to ceiling windows and unobstructed park and city vistas. The building maintains its pet friendly policy and provides practical amenities such as laundry facilities on every floor, a live-in superintendent, bike storage, and private storage options.

Apartment features consistently include soaring beamed ceilings ranging from 10 to 10.5 feet, original hardwood floors, and oversized windows that flood units with natural light. Many residences showcase pre war architectural details, with some units featuring fireplaces and custom millwork. The apartments range from studios to larger combination units, with several listings highlighting extensive renovations featuring high end finishes like Wolf appliances, custom kitchens, and designer bathrooms. Notable units include architect designed modernist lofts and corner apartments with particularly stunning bridge and park views.

The Christadora House has attracted a notable roster of celebrity residents over the years, including Iggy Pop, Vincent D'Onofrio, Julia Stiles, Marisa Monte, and Freedy Johnston, cementing its reputation as a cultural landmark in downtown Manhattan. Located directly across from the recently restored Tompkins Square Park with its dog run, meadows, and frequent events, residents enjoy easy access to the East Village's renowned dining, nightlife, and cultural scene while maintaining a peaceful residential environment above the park's tree line.