| 45 Christopher Street | |
|---|---|
 On Christopher Park | |
 Interactive map of the 45 Christopher Street area | |
| General information | |
| Type | Condominium |
| Architectural style | Art Deco |
| Location | Christopher Park, 45 Christopher Street,New York,New York 10014,United States |
| Coordinates | 40°44′02″N74°00′06.5″W / 40.73389°N 74.001806°W /40.73389; -74.001806 |
| Current tenants | 113 apartments |
| Construction started | 1929 |
| Completed | 1931 |
| Renovated | Converted to condominiums in 1987 |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 18 including two penthouse floors |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Boak & Paris |
| Developer | Bing & Bing |
45 Christopher Street is a residential building on the north side ofChristopher Street, nearChristopher Park, in theGreenwich Village neighborhood ofManhattan inNew York City.
It was built by the developer brothersBing & Bing with the architectural firm ofBoak & Paris.[1] Russell M. Boak and Hyman F. Paris left the architectural firm ofEmery Roth to start their own practice in 1927.[2]
The building was granted an occupancy license on July 17, 1931.[3]
The construction of 45 Christopher Street was part of a simultaneous development of five buildings in the area.Bing & Bing also worked with Boak and Paris on302 West 12th Street.[4] They chose architectEmery Roth for both299 West 12th Street[5] and59 West 12th Street.[6] In addition, they chose to work with architectRobert T. Lyons on2 Horatio Street.[7]
Leo Bing announced on April 1, 1929, that his firm had quietly acquired 75 small lots and old buildings largely aroundAbingdon Square, Sheridan Square andJackson Square Park. And the lots would be combined to allow for a set of larger-scale, 17-story apartment buildings.[8]
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 ofneighborhood 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."[8]
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."[9]