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Charlton-King-Vandam Historic District
It is important to note that the present boundaries of the proposed district encompass the remains of a small district which has always been, since its beginning, a distinct and separate neighborhood. Charlton, King and Vandam Streets are not only linked physically, but by a common history.
The old houses on these streets are all that remain of a city plan, conceived and mapped in 1797, but almost completely developed between the years 1820 and 1829. The boundaries of this neighborhood were, originally, from the Hudson River (then at Greenwich Street) to MacDougal Street, and from Vandam to King Streets. This small enclave was a piece of "instant city" developed from one large country estate, by the great real estate operator of the day, John Jacob Astor.
The development of these streets in common gave them a continuity and homogeneity which still survives today not only visually, but in spirit as well. This is not Greenwich Village; this is not "downtown"; this is the Charlton-King-Vandam area.
Early History
The estate was the site, in the Eighteenth Century, of one of the most beautiful mansions ever to grace Manhattan, the famous "Richmond Hill". This great Georgian house was built in 1767 for Major Mortier, in New York "on the King's business". It spot on a hill four hundred feet high, surrounded by gardens, meadows and woods, all with an impressive view of the Hudson. foIlowing the Revolution, George Washington used it as his headquarters.
Later, it became the Vice-Presidential Mansion for John Adams, When New York was the capital. Later, the house was boughi; by Aaron Burr, who used it for lavish entertainment. and as a brilliant. background for furthering his ambitions. With the development of the City northwards and the expansion of Greenwich Village from a rural to a city landscape, Burr mapped his property in 1797, planning its future development into lots of 2, by 100 feet on three streets, Which became Charlton, King and Vandam. A copy of this map is still in the Hall of Records.
After his duel with Hamilton, Burr was forced to leave the City, and his estate was taken over by Astor. There was a contract between two men, and Burr retained the right to buy back the house and part of the land anytime within a period of 20 years. In 1817 Burr was paid off handsomely by Astor, and the development of the property proceeded. The mansion house was rolled down the hill to the northeast corner of Charlton and Varick Street where it was used for many years as a theater. The hill was then leveled and, the lots laid out, and building started. Local builders bought the majority of the new lots and erected the first houses as investments.
The largest percentage of the remaining houses on Charlton Street, all the remaining houses on Vandam and many of the houses on King Street were put up within a few years of each other in the early and mid-1820s.
They represent the greatest display New York now has of the rare and attractive Federal style town houses. The few replacements of the Federal houses on the north side of Charlton Street are fine Greek Revival house, built after a fire destroyed four houses in 1840.
Because of this unusual situation, where the land was controlled by one owner and properties released at one time, this area represents an extraordinary architectural and historical document. Here is the exceptional harmony of old hoses built within a few years of each other. On the north side of Vandam Street there is an unbroken row of Federal houses, almost all retaining their original steps and entrances, their pitched roofs and dormers and their ironwork. Charlton Street, on its north side, retains what is probably the longest row of Federal and early Greek Revival houses in the City.
Such continuity of period and such excellent state of preservation is not known to exist anywhere else, even including Greenwich Village and Brooklyn Heights. To walk these streets is as delightful and unexpected step into the past as to walk up Cheyne Row in London.
King Street has a different sort of charm; it has an infinite variety, the unexpected juxtaposition of Federal Houses, Greek Revival houses, Anglo-Italianate, Roman Revival and eclectic buildings of the late Nineteenth Century.
- From the 1966 NYCLPC Historic District Designation Report
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