The former residence of Mayor James Walker, St. Luke’s Place, 1939.

One of fifteen relatively uniform Italianate townhouses on St. Luke’s Place, No. 6 was built between 1851-54. James John “Jimmy” Walker was born in 1881 and grew up on St. Luke’s Place. Walker rose quickly through the ranks of the state’s Democratic machine, serving as a New York Assemblyman and State Senator before serving as Mayor from 1926-32. The townhouse on St. Luke’s became the Mayoral residence, as indicated by the twin lanterns framing its stoop (a tradition dating to the city’s Dutch days).

Walker, who had a deserved reputation for drinking and carousing, was not up to the task of public office in a post-crash environment. His political career ended in disgrace when an investigation by then-governor Franklin D. Roosevelt uncovered evidence of corruption and Walker was forced to resign. He quickly skipped town, traveling Europe with his girlfriend, the showgirl Betty Compton.

Today, the playground across from Mayor Walker’s residence is named in his honor.