Hester Gardens

The mostly one- and two-bedroom units get lots of light, but finishes may be outdated

One- and two-bedroom units dominate condo layouts, with a few outlying studios and three-bedrooms available. Unit sizes vary, with one-bedrooms starting at 543 square feet but crossing 1,000 square feet in some instances. Two-bedroom units are equally mixed, starting at 650 square feet and climbing to over 1,600 square feet, several with two bathrooms.

Whether units face the street or overlook the “L”-shaped building’s courtyard, all receive ample amounts of light. Apartments on the street-side feature juliet balconies, while those with courtyard views offer balconies just large enough to hold a small patio set. A few apartments, like 5G, boast double exposure. Original finishings include hardwood floors, polished granite kitchen countertops and high ceilings. Almost all units come with foyers, stainless steel appliances and galley kitchens, although only some kitchens are open to the living area. Most of the owners seem to have kept the original finishes, which may be a little dated at this point but they’re all still in great shape. Duplexes are on the top floors, and at least one has been thoroughly updated with an added skylight and a contemporary aesthetic.

Market rate apartments move quickly

Units here are rented more frequently than they are sold, suggesting that most owners don’t live at the address, but even rentals are difficult to secure. The summer of 2024 saw the building’s first sale of the year — a 1,383-square-foot, three-bedroom, two-bathroom, street-facing unit that went for just under $2.5 million. The last sale prior was the remodeled duplex, which sold for $2 million in 2022. The summer of 2024 also offered two rentals — a one-bedroom and a two-bed, two-bath — which went for $3,450 and $3,650 respectively. Common charges remain under $1,000 for most units. M.S. 131 and Emma Lazarus High School both receive a “B+” on Niche.com. Pace High School receives a “B.” They all share a campus two blocks east on Hester Street, right before the tail end of the seven-block stretch of public park space between Chrystie and Forsyth streets called Sara D. Roosevelt Park (added bonus — there is an EV charging station at the pavilion on this end of the park).

This corner of Chinatown is like an open gateway to most of lower Manhattan

Hester Gardens’ location is ideal for several reasons; however, proximity to a non-specialty grocery store is not one of them. Hong Kong Supermarket, which offers food directly from China is down the block. The closest non-specialty grocery store is C-Town, a 12-minute walk, and located in a part of town that’s off the city street grid; it can feel far and almost inaccessible. But, who needs groceries when residents can eat authentic Peking duck for dinner, then literally cross the street for an aperitivo at C. Di Palo, the sister wine shop to an Italian deli opened in 1910? Hester Gardens also puts residents in proximity to SoHo, NoLita and the Lower East Side, all of which are known for their abundance of restaurants and things to do. In Chinatown, stores and sidewalks packed with all manner of Chinese goods are in no shortage. If a change in vibe is needed, Whiskey Tavern (a dive bar) and Apotheke (a jazz club and mixed-drinks haven), two much-talked-about social spots, are both within a six-minute walk. The Regal Essex Crossing and the Essex Street Market are 15 minutes on foot, so it’s easy to catch dinner and a movie at any time. And, especially on weekends, SoHo and NoLita are destinations for shoppers and brunchers, with the main difference between the two areas being the ultra-high-end stores of SoHo, like Céline and Chanel, versus the trendy indie boutiques of NoLita. From Hester Gardens, it takes less than six minutes to get to the FDR, six minutes to walk to the B and D trains at Grand, and six minutes to the 4 and 6 trains at Canal Street. Columbus Park is a five-minute walk south of the building.