The title of this album is “The Charlie Parker Residence” and the price is $9.25 million. Located at 151 Avenue B, it’s pretty much a masterwork in Gothic Revival architecture with an impressive preamble: Jazz legend Charlie Parker lived in the garden apartment of this 5-apartment building from 1950 through the time of his death in 1954.
According to listing notes from Elizabeth Stile of Halstead Property, the great American saxophonist lived in the ground floor unit, which is in part why this East Village beauty holds three separate designations: The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, The State Register of Historic Places and The National Register of Historic Places.
A previous owner (Judy Rhodes, who bought the building in 1979) was a champion of African-American art, which led not only to the property getting its enduring recognition, but that the corner of Avenue B and 10th Street was named Charlie Parker Place.
If the walls could talk — and they may indeed give off a vibe — they would tell about the practice sessions that took place in Charlie “Bird” Parker’s apartment. Jazz greats like pianists Cecil Taylor, Mal Waldron and Don Pullen, saxophonists Dewey Redman and George Adams, trumpeters Bill Dixon and Don Cherry and bassist Charlie Haden were said to have held practice sessions in Parker’s apartment.
The building dates to 1849 and features original details inside the 23-foot wide dwelling, including high ceilings, fireplaces and original floors. There are 4 full-floor apartments: The garden floor with a private landscaped garden; a grand parlor floor with original pocket doors and 3 fireplaces; the third and fourth floors, each with 2 bedrooms, and the penthouse unit, complete with private deck, skylights, and a loft space over the bedroom.
The new owner can retain the separate units or turn it back into single-family home.
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