[NYguy]

http://commercialobserver.com/2013/0...1-astor-place/

Waiting on a Dream: Betting on ‘Spec’ at 51 Astor Place


By Al Barbarino 4/10/13

...As the grand opening of the 13-story, 430,000-square-foot building approaches, Mr. Minskoff and those at the helm of the project anticipate a similar trajectory at 51 Astor. The property towers above the rest of the neighborhood, where a 24-hour McDonald’s, a Ray’s Pizza and an array of small shops and restaurants harbor strong foot traffic that is accentuated by the perpetual buzz of college students.

The project comes in an era characterized by a construction lull, offering an anchor tenant the visibility that even a Midtown skyscraper would not, with access to an army of students from neighboring New York University and the Cooper Union (from which Mr. Minskoff purchased the land under 51 Astor).

The LEED Gold-rated building features ceiling heights between 14 and 18 feet, an outdoor plaza off Astor Place and a 15,000-square-foot rooftop terrace on the fifth floor. Three storefronts wrap around the ground floor, and a school will occupy a second-floor space. What’s more, the black-and-white granite lobby will be anchored by a “14-foot candy apple red balloon rabbit” sculpture by Jeff Koons.

“It’s probably going to be one of the most iconic sculptures that Jeff Koons has ever done in his career,” said Mr. Minskoff, who is known outside of the real estate industry for his impressive art collection.

VIEW LARGE here


Rendering



Reality








Simply beautiful.