139, 141, and 143 York Street together comprise a conglomeration of a three-story town house building near the corner of Crown and York Street. Constructed in 1870 in what was the “Business AA” zoning district, these structures provided 6,720 square feet of living space within three side-by-side addresses, and were probably used only as multi-family dwelling units. As the commercial core of Chapel Street flooded into neighboring areas in the mid to late nineteenth century, the City of New Haven attempted to preserve the residential qualities of streets like York by building a number of multi-occupant townhouses between 1840 and 1900. 139-143 York is probably one of those city developments. By 1911 this town house, along with another around the corner at 313-319 Crown Street, was owned by a woman of the name Ella S. Truman.



On March 30, 1959, ownership shifted hands, as 139-143 York was sold to Yale University. In possession of real estate on the border of campus, Yale converted the townhouse into what is now their York-Crown Apartments, providing nine dwelling units for local residents. Now a component of the Chapel Street Commercial Historic District, the building is valued at $395,606 and is more specifically described as constructed of brick and clapboard siding with an asphalt roof. The City of New Haven Planning Department describes the building as a set of “Second Empire” townhouses – with its smooth grey surfaces, triangular pediments atop subtly elaborated front entries, and relatively mute ornamental façades, the building appears to be in the Greek or Neoclassical revival style. Surrounded by the Yale Digital Media Center and Crown Street, 139-143 York, along with other former town and row houses along the way, contributes to the historic quality of York Street.