Carter's Review

This very handsome, 13-story structure, known as the Gerken Building, was originally built as the New York National Exchange Bank Building at 90 West Broadway, adjacent to the Bogardus Triangle Garden, in TriBeCa. 

It was designed by George Edward Harding and William Tyson Gooch of Harding & Gooch. 

It was erected in 1898 and is also known as 138 Chambers Street. 

It has 13 cooperative apartments.

Bottom Line

This very attractive, 19^th Century tower has a prime location in TriBeCa close to City Hall to the east, Battery Park City to the west and the World Trade Center site to the south.

It is also very close to many fine restaurants and coffee shops and excellent public transportation.

Description

The building has a very impressive entrance surround with a deeply inset arch and two columns.  

The lower three floors of the building are faced with brownstone and the upper floors are covered with rusticated limestone. There are arched windows and a large cornice on the 12^th floor.

Amenities

The building has a doorman, a roof deck and some fireplaces.

Apartments

Most of the apartments are full floors with about 3,000 square feet of space each. 

The penthouse occupies two full floors with about 7,000-square feet and a private, 1,850-square-foot rooftop terrace.  The elevator opens into its 34-foot-long living room with a wood-burning fireplace and a 25-foot-long open kitchen with an island.  The upper level also has a 26-foot-long master bedroom with a Jacuzzi and two small bedrooms.  The lower level has a 28-foot-long exercise room, a 25-foot-long living room with a 12-foot-long open kitchen with an island, a 14-foot-long laundry and four bedrooms. 

Another apartment has a large entrance foyer that leads to a corner, 31-foot-long living/dining room next to an 18-foot-long open kitchen that adjoins a 24-foot-long playroom.  The apartment has a 20-foot-long master bedroom, two smaller bedrooms, a 14-foot-long guest suite and a gym/maid’s room and a wine closet. 

A two-bedroom unit has a 16-foot-long entry foyer that opens onto a 34-foot-long corner living/dining room next to an open 18-foot-long kitchen.  

A two-bedroom unit with a 17-foot-long entry foyer has a 13-foot-long living room with a 9-foot-long dining space and an 8-foot-long open kitchen.