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In July 1953, the Ladies Christian Union received a letter from Jean Marie Laguardia at Mademoiselle Magazine. The women’s magazine requested updated information on the LCU’s boarding houses for young ladies, including the Katharine House in Greenwich Village. They received the following information:
“These houses take Protestant, unmarried girls under 35. Widows and divorcees not accepted. Rates determined individually.”
And in the usual New York story, times certainly change.
The Katharine, located at 118 W. 13th St., is now a brand new seven-story luxury condominium, but it had a former life as one of the city’s longest-running homes for young women. Right now, according to StreetEasy, prices start at $9.85 million for a four-bedroom dwelling spanning roughly 3,500 square feet.
The fresh renovation breathed new life into the West Village address, with eight units designed by famed designer Nate Berkus. The project marks Berkus’s first-ever residential development project.
The restoration and renovation was undertaken by developer SLATE and BKSK Architects, in tandem with Berkus. Berkus is best known for his appearances on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” and later “The Nate Berkus Show.”
“At The Katharine, our goal was to honor the building’s storied past and preserve its historic charm, while also ensuring the new homes meet the lifestyle needs of today’s buyers,” Berkus said in an email to The Post. “Each of the eight residences spans a full floor and offers a highly versatile layout.”
The pre-war building was built for the Ladies Christian Union in 1930 by architect Benjamin Wistar Morris, known for the Union League Club and the opulent Cunard Building. For decades, the Katharine House served as a form of independent housing for thoroughly modern women pursuing education and jobs. It was one of the last such women’s homes in the city when it closed its doors in 2000.
The layout of the residence — partitioned, modest sleeping quarters above and wide-open parlor rooms below — later served the building as dormitories for the New School.
BKSK architect Julie Nelson told The Post that the landmarked building was hollowed out when the firm began the project in 2021. Bay windows, stairs and stripped brick walls were all the remained of the building’s original bones, she said.
“There’s something really exciting about giving new life to these buildings, and particularly this one which has such an interesting social history, based on the aspirations of women coming to the city,” Nelson said.
The U-shape around the building’s courtyard allowed for an impressive number of exposures and private bedroom wings, Nelson added, giving every resident a connection to the back garden.
Berkus selected the floor plan layouts, finishes and decor, and personally advised on architectural decisions, according to a spokesperson.
Berkus, a longtime Greenwich Village resident, told The Post that the chance to work on a historic building in the heart of the village was “an instant yes.” The aim of the design, he said, was to make the Katharine feel timeless.
“We were deliberate in what we removed to open up the interiors, allowing the energy of the tree-lined street to flow into each of the eight full-floor homes, and creating a strong connection to the historic brick façade and the bay windows at the rear of the building,” Berkus said.
“The spaciousness of each home and functionality is something I think anyone with a family like me will love and appreciate,” Berkus, a father of two, added.
Sales as the Katharine launched this spring under Compass. Two units, both above $10 million, are currently under contract, according to StreetEasy.
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