166 Avenue A

The Peace House

166 Avenue A represents the rarest of offerings and the opportunity to acquire a property which has been woven into the artistic and activist heart of New York City for over 54 years. The iconic, instantly recognizable façade of The Peace House, Anton van Dalen’s longtime family home and studio, is an impactful introduction to a very special building.   

The property is comprised of three apartments, each with their own distinct feel and all featuring extraordinary light from south, east, and west exposures and views over neighboring gardens. The garden level is  lined  with windows and offers  multiple communal spaces, as well as three bedrooms and a large lower level. 

Up one flight awaits the full floor loft of the glass artist Bill Schneider, with 11 windows, great bones and  architectural detail, including riveted steel beams and exposed brick. This floor can be maintained in its current loft like layout, or modified to include as many as three bedrooms.  

An upper duplex crowns the building and features tremendous light, bucolic views, and lovely architectural detail.  The lower level features a sunlit expansive great room and kitchen which opens seamlessly onto a large tranquil terrace to the rear.  The second level features vaulted ceilings and extraordinary light through multiple skylights. This space has been maintained as Mr. van Dalen’s studio, but could easily convert into an additional 3+ bedrooms. Just above, and accessed via a whimsical staircase, the building’s roof offers tremendous potential and lovely views over the village.  

Ideally located just a half a block north of Thompkins Square Park, 166 Avenue A sits at the epicenter of one of Manhattan’s most enduringly independent neighborhoods, where community gardens, intimate restaurants, and a rebellious creative spirit continue to shape daily life. With its distinctive façade, artistic provenance, and compelling possibilities, this is a rare opportunity to write the next chapter of a house deeply woven into the fabric of downtown New York.