A notable Greenwich Village fixer-upper

REAL ESTATE • Townhouses

The Federal-style townhouses at 18-20 Christopher St. (above) were always some of the most charming in the Village — so much so that eclectic retailer John Derian designed a shop to fit their 19th century aesthetic back in 2020. 

Now, three years later, the store is closed due to a vacate order, and the crumbling buildings have traded hands three times after the 2018 death of Celeste Martin, a beloved Village eccentric. Martin died without a will, leaving behind a Village property portfolio valued north of $25 million.

The fate of the 196-year-old twin townhouses on Christopher Street? Unclear. But the current owners, who purchased the buildings for $12 million last year along with three properties nearby on Gay Street, must embark on repairs under the watch of the city and the Landmarks Preservation Committee. John Derian, meanwhile, remains open for business in the East Village.