One of the most fascinating transformations in recent New York real estate sits on a quiet, tree-lined block in Greenwich Village.
The Katharine — originally built in 1930 as a residence for young women pursuing education and careers — has been reborn as an eight-home boutique condominium that blends landmark architecture with high-design interiors.
Nearly every residence sold shortly after launch. Today, just one remains: the 3,981-square-foot penthouse, newly listed for $22.5 million.
A New York City landmark with a unique history
The building began life as The Katharine House for the Ladies Christian Union, one of the last purpose-built women’s residences in New York City.
It offered safety, community, and affordability at a time when opportunities for single women in the city were expanding but still limited.
Almost a century later, developers and architects approached the building with deep respect for its legacy. BKSK Architects restored its brick façade, garden setback, and historic windows, preserving a rare piece of Village streetscape.
A full interior reimagining by Nate Berkus and BKSK Architects
For the interiors, the project turned to Nate Berkus in his first-ever complete residential building.
His signature palette — warmth, texture, earth tones, and lived-in comfort — runs through every space. Instead of a dramatic overhaul, Berkus’s approach emphasizes refinement and longevity, the idea that a New York home should feel both timeless and deeply personal.
Services are equally discreet: a 24-hour doorman shared by only seven homeowners, underscoring how boutique the building truly is.
The penthouse opens directly from a private elevator
The last remaining residence is the penthouse, which takes up the top level and rooftop portion of the building.
An elevator opens directly into a checkerboard-tiled foyer — a subtle prewar nod — before nearly 4,000 square feet of living space unfolds across two floors.
South-facing great room with room to entertain
The main level centers on a sun-filled great room framed by south-facing bay windows.
With 9′-5″ ceiling heights and an open flow between formal and casual living areas, the layout is designed for hosting without feeling imposing. Light pours in throughout the day, and the scale creates a rare sense of calm above the Village.
A chef’s kitchen outfitted for serious cooking
Off the great room is an exceptional windowed kitchen wrapped in Arabescato marble. Top-tier appliances include LaCanche, Sub-Zero, and Bosch — choices that reflect Berkus’s preference for functionality paired with classic style.
The eat-in layout makes it equally suited to Sunday pancakes and dinner parties.
A rare U-shaped floor plan creates two private bedroom wings
The penthouse’s shape — uncommon in Manhattan — allows for a thoughtful separation of spaces.
The private bedroom wings sit opposite each other, creating both discretion and flexibility.
A primary suite with classic NYC views and a Calacatta Gold marble bathroom
One wing houses the primary suite, anchored by a large south-facing window that frames quintessential Village rooftops.
The Calacatta Gold marble bathroom channels old New York glamour, and the suite includes a walk-in closet with generous storage.
Three additional bedrooms, all ensuite
The opposite wing contains two more ensuite bedrooms with deep closets and classic proportions. A fourth bedroom sits at the northwest corner and works equally well as a guest suite or office.
A skylit upper level for entertaining
A staircase leads to the penthouse’s upper level, where an airy recreation room is wrapped in floor-to-ceiling windows.
It’s the kind of flexible bonus space that can shape-shift with its owners — media room, lounge, studio, or all of the above.
A private terrace with views to Wall Street
Through tall French doors, the rec room opens onto a 399-square-foot terrace. Its southern views stretch all the way to Lower Manhattan, making it feel like your own outdoor living room perched above the Village.
A wet bar on this level means everything from morning coffee to sunset cocktails happens seamlessly.
Thoughtfully curated amenities beyond the penthouse
The building offers a landscaped rooftop terrace shared only by residents, plus a fitness center with natural light and access to outdoor space.
Each home also includes a private storage room — essential in prewar buildings and incredibly rare in new conversions.
A location between two iconic neighborhoods
The Katharine sits at the natural seam between Greenwich Village and the West Village, putting residents near Jackson Square Park, Washington Square Park, and the cultural energy of both neighborhoods.
Dining, boutiques, jazz clubs, and galleries cluster in every direction, with Chelsea, Union Square, and the Meatpacking District just blocks away.
A final residence in a building that embodies both past and present
The Katharine’s penthouse embodies the full story of this building: a respectful preservation of its 1930s roots married to a warm, contemporary vision of New York living.
With nearly every residence already spoken for, the $22.5M penthouse stands as the last chance to buy into one of the Village’s most thoughtful transformations: one where history isn’t erased but elevated.
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The post After a Nate Berkus makeover, one of NYC’s last women’s residences is down to its last $22.5M penthouse appeared first on Fancy Pants Homes.
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