WASTELAND NO MORE?
New hope for W. 55th St. lot
Astalled Plaza District site that’s been bouncing around for a decade may have finally landed in the deep pockets of a developer who can get it done.
Orin Wilf’s Skyline Developers has just purchased the now-vacant land that runs from 12 to 18 W. 55th St. — right next to the Peninsula Hotel — and can host 150,000 square feet for a mixed-use property.
This New York affiliate of Garden Homes Development closed on the deal on Tuesday for $83 million.
Andrew Scandalios of HFF represented the sellers, Cornerstone Advisors.
Back in June 2006, I reported that 22,300 feet of air rights from the landmarked townhome at 9 W. 54th St. were sold for $4.3 million, or roughly $192 per square foot, for what would be a new condo hotel. Then-owner Lincoln later obtained more air rights from both 10 W. 55th St. and 7 W. 54th St.
Lincoln’s deal partner, Cornerstone Properties, is now the seller.
While the assembled site was sold with 110,000 square feet, Wilf’s company owns the adjacent 20 W. 55th St. and 13-15 W. 54th St. —a.k.a. the Rockefeller Townhouses — that house the company offices.
Hot on buying the land for the last six years, Wilf even bought air rights two years ago from the Rockefeller co-op but wasn’t able to strike a deal for the site until 2017. “When you walk by the property every day, you want to protect your interests,” Wilf explained. He’s now happy to be into the assemblage for a mere $665 per square foot.
Wilf said the development team is currently “brainstorming” options it has dubbed “A through F,” so the future architect will depend on the final mix of retail, commercial, residential or perhaps a hotel.
Nothing will be started until late next year, he added, as Skyline is still completing its 65-unit market rental at 1040 Sixth Ave.
“In New York, it’s easier to do one at a time,” Wilf explained. And one thing is certain, Wilf insisted: As longterm family owners, they won’t be doing a tall “Billionaires’ Row” condo but rather something “appropriate for the site.”
Eclipse viewers and others who like fashionable frames will be able to see clearly once eyewear company Moscot opens in Chelsea Market in mid-October.
The 1,000-square-foot space will be next to Anthro- pologie in a spot now occupied by Fat Witch, which will move a few doors away.
This will be the fourth city location for the 102-year-old global eyewear company founded by Orchard Street peddler Great Grandpa Hyman in 1915. Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio and Zoe Saldana are among the fans of the company-designed eyewear. Great grandson Harvey Moscot and his son, Zack Moscot, a fifth generation owner, also celebrate their past with historical tchotchkes and treasures. Arian Ahmadian of Maddox Retail represented Moscot, while Chelsea Market’s ownership, Jamestown, was represented in-house.
On Tuesday, the block-long Chelsea Market began the opening of some of the grocery-focused retailers at its new 30,000-square-foot Chelsea Local.
Flex-work provider Knotel has signed two new leases.
The first is for 29,171 square feet at 137 Varick St. on the northwest corner of Spring Street in Soho, where it will have the entire third and eighth floors. Peter Fontanetta and Harrison Katzman of the Schoen Group at Savitt Partners represented Knotel. Matthew Fox and John Franqui of Trinity Real Estate represented the ownership in-house, which had an asking rent of $45 per square foot.
Knotel also signed a three-floor deal for 27,000 square feet at 40 Exchange Place in the Financial District. Under this 10-year deal, Knotel will have three floors. Michael
Morris and Gregory DiGioia at Newmark Knight Frank represented the tenant.
On the 13th floor of the same building, Breather, a company that rents conference facilities by the hour or by the day through its mobile app, signed a 1,250-square-foot lease.
Ramsey Feher and Zachary Price of CBRE Group acted on behalf of the tenant in the transaction. This will be Breather’s second in the Financial District.
The 20-story tower also signed a 4,554-square-foot lease on the third floor with January Digital, a marketing agency represented by
Stephan Steiner of Savills Studley.
Building owners Newmark Holdings and the Northwind Group were repped by Allen
Gurevich of Newmark Holdings. The asking rent is in the low-to-mid-$50s per square foot for prebuilt spaces.