Parker, Charlie, Residence
Why it's listed
Built in 1849 across from Tompkins Square Park, this three-story townhouse in Manhattan's East Village was one of a group of identical Gothic Revival rowhouses. Its brick walls, painted brownstone facade, pointed-arch doorway with colonettes and trefoil reliefs, and hood moldings over the windows remain largely intact. The house was divided into apartments in 1945, and a rooftop penthouse was added then. From late 1950 until 1954, jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker lived in the basement apartment with his family. Those years marked the peak of his career. He was a leading creator of Bebop, toured in Europe and North America, recorded for Mercury Records, and topped a major magazine's readers poll for saxophone. Parts of the apartment, including the rear room, kitchen, bathroom and some original floors, survive from his time there. The street was renamed Charlie Parker Place in 1993. The building's cornice is badly deteriorated and its rear wall is braced because of structural weakness.
Significance in brief: The building is significant under Criterion B as the home of jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker, who lived in its basement apartment with his family from late 1950 to 1954. These years coincided with the height of his career as a Bebop pioneer and recording artist. It meets the exception for properties under 50 years of age because of his exceptional importance to jazz and African-American history.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 94000262, listed April 7, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 151 Charlie Parker Pl. (Avenue B), New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | April 7, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000262 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1950-1954 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Black, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to apartments in 1945 and still in multiple-dwelling use, with a children's day nursery also listed as a current function. The cornice is severely deteriorated and the rear wall is braced because of structural weakness. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.72674, -73.98006 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 94000262.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q11702859
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.