See Photos of This 101-Year-Old Apartment in the Bronx

This 101-Year-Old “Prewar NYC Landlord Special Apartment” Became an Absolute Oasis

published Aug 4, 2025

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About this tour

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Home Type

Apartment

Location

University Heights, Bronx, New York

Style

Bedrooms

Square feet

1000

Sq ft

1000

Being a freelance makeup artist, Lakesha Charles (who’s represented by Bernstein & Andriulli), has met a lot of people throughout her 15 years of experience. She’s compiled a client list of brands, including Ulta, Macy’s, Google, and Netflix, but it’s also led to meaningful personal experiences, like finding a home.

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Credit: Kiritin

When Lakesha, her husband, Matthew, and daughter, Samarah, moved to New York City, she had never visited before. They were coming from Phoenix, Arizona, where they got a lot of house for their rent. While living at Matthew’s aunt’s home, Lakesha was finding it difficult to find a space in the city that would work for their family — until a fateful day at work.

Credit: Kiritin

“I found this apartment while on a job, chatting with a friend about how bad my search was going, when she recommended a Realtor to me that just helped her find an apartment,” Lakesha remembers.

Credit: Kiritin

Another design rule that Lakesha has happily broken is framing the living room around the television. She also has a TV in her room. "I watch a lot of YouTube, and a lot of people try to hide their TVs, but I think they are a part of everyday life, so why should I be ashamed of it? I love watching TV," she admits.

The Realtor took her to visit a unit in the Bronx, but, at the time, Lakesha needed to wrap up some things in Arizona. When she came back, the unit was gone, but the Realtor said there was a three-bedroom apartment available for only $100 more. Lakesha was thrilled.

Credit: Kiritin

“As soon as I walked into the apartment, the first thing I noticed was all of the bright sunlight and its 9-foot ceilings,” Lakesha says. “The apartment has 12 windows in total, and even on a cloudy day, the house is filled with light, which was important for me to have, moving from a city where it is sunny without a cloud in the sky almost every day of the year.”

Credit: Kiritin

The building was constructed in 1924, and Lakesha remembers the first night in the apartment, waking up to the sound of the radiator clanking and being frightened — only to realize it’s normal. The family has rented the home for 10 years now and shares it with their two cats, Peanut and Pistachio. Throughout the years, Lakesha has made the home a reflection of her family and a quiet retreat from the city.

Credit: Kiritin

“I’m always thinking of new ways to make it both more appealing and practical,” Lakesha says of her home. “After a long day in the busy streets of the city, I believe it’s important to come home to a space that feels calming and like a little oasis just for yourself.”