Clement Clarke
March 9th, 2008
As with most buildings named after a person, The Clement Clarke is invariably going to be compared to its namesake. And in this case, it’s not too hard to imagine the building in the times of Clement Clarke, a Columbia professor and creator of the now-famous Christmas poem, “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” The building’s facade looks like something out of the 1800s. In fact, it was made in 1911 as a factory for manufacturing. The crème brick with narrow arched windows looks like a building right out of A Christmas Carol. But that’s where the similarities end. The inside has been totally renovated.
The Clement Clarke is a twelve story development with fifty-one units, located at 140 West 22nd street, in the center of Chelsea, which by the way was the name Clarke’s ancestors gave to their plantation home back in the early 1800’s (and is where Chelsea got its name). It was converted from a factory to an office building in the 1970s, and is now facing a full conversion to a condo development.
Residents have no shortage of things to boast about to their friends. As with most other luxury developments, the units here have hardwood floors made of wide-planked American walnut, a rich and dark wood that goes well with most furniture. The kitchen has a large floating island with white glass countertops. High-value appliances are scattered throughout, including a Subzero refrigerator and an Insinkerator garbage disposal. Kitchens also come equipped with a microwave, a cook-top and built-in convection oven, and a dishwasher. Moving to the Master bath, designers took everything into consideration. A fumed-oak vanity cabinet holds all the bathroom essentials, while the 60″ by 21″ soaking tub gives residents a true place to relax. It’s also got a double sink and a glass shower stall large enough for two people.
Brand name appliances and expensive building materials don’t make these units a home. The Bosch washer and dryer helps, but that doesn’t do it either. A sense of community, a home that exudes tranquility, family bonding…these are the things that truly create a home. The Clement Clarke offers a peaceful setting with high, 11-foot ceilings, oversized windows and plenty of amenities to sooth the soul. The community of Chelsea offers the sense of place that is so important. This includes proximity to libraries and an Equinox fitness club. Ideally, the people who live here provide family bonding.
As of early 2008, there are eight units remaining, including studios, one and two-bedroom apartments. Both the size and the floor plans of these units vary. In general, prices range from $685,000-$2,000,000. Studios start at 540 square feet; one bedrooms have 850 square feet, many with an extra bath and another room that can be used as a study or an office. Larger units go as high as $4.17 million for an apartment 2,225 square feet in size.
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