45 Christopher Street
Encyclopedia
45 Christopher Street is a landmarked residential building facing south onto Christopher Park in the Greenwich Village Historic District[1] on the west side of lower Manhattan
in New York City
.
It was built by the developer brothers Bing & Bing
with the architectural firm of Boak and Paris. Russell M. Boak and Hyman F. Paris left the architectural firm of Emery Roth
to start their own practice in 1927.
The building was granted an occupancy license on July 17, 1931.
Bing & Bing
also worked with Boak and Paris on 302 West 12th Street
.
They chose architect Emery Roth
for both 299 West 12th Street
and 59 West 12th Street
.
And they chose to work with architect Robert T. Lyons
on 2 Horatio Street
.
. And the lots would be combined to allow for a set of larger-scale, 17-story apartment buildings.
He said his goal was to "recreate the entire district as a modern counterpart of the high-class residential section it once was" saying it would "rival Central Park West and the fashionable east side within a few years." He cited the goal of neighborhood reinvention as the reason for the simultaneous building, saying his hope was that "complete transformation of the section may be achieved as quickly as possible.”
Despite the start of the Great Depression just months after Leo Bing's announcement, by September 1931 Bing & Bing reported that the "five new buildings on Christopher, Horatio and West Twelfth Streets are proving among the most popular of all the Bing & Bing apartment properties. Callers have been numerous…and a high percentage of the space has been leased.”
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
It was built by the developer brothers Bing & Bing
Bing & Bing
Bing & Bing was one of the most important apartment real estate developers in New York City in the early 20th century.The firm was founded by Leo S. Bing and his brother, Alexander M. Bing...
with the architectural firm of Boak and Paris. Russell M. Boak and Hyman F. Paris left the architectural firm of Emery Roth
Emery Roth
Emery Roth was an American architect who designed many of the definitive New York City hotels and apartment buildings of the 1920s and 30s, incorporating Beaux-Arts and Art Deco details...
to start their own practice in 1927.
The building was granted an occupancy license on July 17, 1931.
One of five buildings
It was part of a simultaneous development of five buildings in the area.Bing & Bing
Bing & Bing
Bing & Bing was one of the most important apartment real estate developers in New York City in the early 20th century.The firm was founded by Leo S. Bing and his brother, Alexander M. Bing...
also worked with Boak and Paris on 302 West 12th Street
302 West 12th Street
302 West 12th Street is a landmarked residential building facing west onto Abingdon Square Park in the Greenwich Village Historic District[1] on the west side of lower Manhattan in New York City....
.
They chose architect Emery Roth
Emery Roth
Emery Roth was an American architect who designed many of the definitive New York City hotels and apartment buildings of the 1920s and 30s, incorporating Beaux-Arts and Art Deco details...
for both 299 West 12th Street
299 West 12th Street
299 West 12th Street is a landmarked residential building facing south onto Abingdon Square Park in the Greenwich Village Historic District on the west side of lower Manhattan in New York City....
and 59 West 12th Street
59 West 12th Street
59 West 12th Street is a landmarked residential building located in the Greenwich Village Historic District in lower Manhattan in New York City....
.
And they chose to work with architect Robert T. Lyons
Robert T. Lyons
- Architect Robert T. Lyons :Robert Timothy Lyons was born in New York on February 23, 1873.Emporis, the global real estate data and photo publishing firm, identifies 29 of Mr. Lyons' buildings in New York City in some detail -- built largely between 1891 and 1931 . They are virtually all hotels...
on 2 Horatio Street
2 Horatio Street
2 Horatio Street is a landmarked residential building located in the Greenwich Village Historic District on the west side of lower Manhattan in New York City.It faces north onto Horatio Street and Jackson Square Park...
.
To rival Central Park West and "fashionable east side"
Leo Bing, announced on April 1, 1929 that his firm had quietly acquired 75 small lots and old buildings largely around Abingdon Square, Sheridan Square and Jackson Square ParkJackson Square Park
Jackson Square Park is a .227 acre New York City Park located in the Greenwich Village Historic District just below the intersection of Eighth Avenue and 14th Street...
. And the lots would be combined to allow for a set of larger-scale, 17-story apartment buildings.
He said his goal was to "recreate the entire district as a modern counterpart of the high-class residential section it once was" saying it would "rival Central Park West and the fashionable east side within a few years." He cited the goal of neighborhood reinvention as the reason for the simultaneous building, saying his hope was that "complete transformation of the section may be achieved as quickly as possible.”
Despite the start of the Great Depression just months after Leo Bing's announcement, by September 1931 Bing & Bing reported that the "five new buildings on Christopher, Horatio and West Twelfth Streets are proving among the most popular of all the Bing & Bing apartment properties. Callers have been numerous…and a high percentage of the space has been leased.”
Notable residents and events
- Theodor Adorno, (philosopher and cultural theorist) and Gastona Marie Rossilli, fashion-behavioral consultant were residents.
- One of the ground floor shops was Lawrence R. Maxwell Books, where Anaïs NinAnaïs NinAnaïs Nin was a French-Cuban author, based at first in France and later in the United States, who published her journals, which span more than 60 years, beginning when she was 11 years old and ending shortly before her death, her erotic literature, and short stories...
worked when she was young. - The building is adjacent to the Stonewall InnStonewall InnThe Stonewall Inn, often shortened to Stonewall is an American bar in New York City and the site of the Stonewall riots of 1969, which are widely considered to be the single most important event leading to the gay liberation movement and the modern fight for gay and lesbian rights in the United...
; the windows of a ground floor shop were smashed during the Stonewall riotsStonewall riotsThe Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City...
. - In 1934, an explosion in the 17th floor penthouse killed the occupant and injured many people on lower floors; police suspected suicide caused by a recent divorce.