Monday, November 10, 2025

Jazz landmark alert: The Charlie Parker Residence is for sale on Avenue B

The Charlie Parker Residence, a Gothic Revival-style townhouse at 151 Avenue B between Ninth Street and 10th Street, is now on the sales market. (Thanks to the EVG reader for the tip and photo!)

The landmarked building, built in 1849, was home to the jazz great and Chan Richardson and their three children from 1951 to 1954 — the height of his career. He died in March 1955 at age 34.
Here's more from the listing at Stile Real Estate
This five-apartment, 23-foot-wide building offers an impressive combination of historic charm and generous proportions. Featuring high ceilings, original wood floors, and beautifully preserved decorative fireplaces with both marble and wood mantels, each residence exudes classic character. Natural light pours in from the second floor all the way up to the penthouse, enhancing the sense of space throughout. And those apartments also enjoy stunning, unobstructed views overlooking Tompkins Square Park. 

There are 4 full-floor apartments: The garden floor, former home of Jazz great Charlie Parker, with a private landscaped garden, a grand parlor floor with original pocket doors and 3 decorative fireplaces, and the third and fourth floors, each with 2 bedrooms. The fourth floor has an open country kitchen and an exposed brick wall in the living room. The Penthouse apartment is set-back, with a huge private deck, skylights, and a loft space over the bedroom. Previously configured, the Garden and Parlor floor apartments can easily be combined to create an owner's duplex! And live in your dream owner's duplex while enjoying income! 

It also has the honor of 3 designations: The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, The State Register of Historic Places, and The National Register of Historic Places. 
Asking price: $7.2 million. 

The building was last on the market in 2015 for $9.25 million. 

Jazz booker Judy Rhodes bought the property in 1979, reportedly for $90,000. You can read an interview with her from 2016 here. Discover more building history here

This portion of Avenue B along Tompkins Square Park was co-named Charlie Parker Place in 1992.

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