Crains New York - April 22, 2013 - (Page 9)

Waste facility trashed Continued from Page 3 shuttered in 1999. “Where’s the logic?” asked Pat, a retired community-college professor who lives across the street (and who asked that her last name not be used).She pointed out that the ramp the trash trucks will use to access the facility cuts through the middle of Asphalt Green, a popular neighborhood recreational facility used daily by thousands of children. “What about all those shrimpy kids?” she moaned. Rather than find out, diehard opponents are battling on—and on. Some have threatened to lie down in front of the construction equipment that could roll in as early as this summer. Others have vowed to do worse to the intruders. While the battle to block the return of the garbage trucks rages on in the hearts and minds of many residents, the outcome has been crystal-clear for months. Almost 10 years after the Bloomberg administration first proposed building the waste-transfer station as part of a citywide plan to more equitably distribute the city’s trash facilities and reduce truck traffic by shifting more garbage onto river barges, all the i’s have been dotted and the t’s duly crossed. Low-income neighborhoods, which for decades bore the burden of hosting a disproportionate share of the city’s garbageprocessing facilities, will catch a break. Under the city’s plan, the old 91st Street facility would be demolished, and a new transfer station capable of handling more than 4,000 tons of garbage a day—though the city says it will process only 1,800 tons—will open in its place in 2015. A new battlefront But hard-core opponents continue to file lawsuits attempting to block the construction.To date, various courts have ruled in favor of the station no fewer than 11 times. Meanwhile, the city in March obtained a permit to demolish the original facility, having already re- ceived the thumbs-up from the Army Corps of Engineers. Recently, even the Federal Aviation Administration got into the act, ruling that the birds drawn by all the garbage will not pose a threat to airplanes taking off and landing at La Guardia airport. Having suffered defeat on all fronts, anti-trash activists have recently opened a new one.They have tried to make the facility an issue in the race to succeed their archenemy and fellow Upper East Sider, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose official residence at Gracie Mansion is just three blocks downstream. At a debate among the mayoral candidates at the 92nd Street Y in mid-March, activists turned out in full force sporting green “Dump the dump” T-shirts and aggressively booing Ms. Quinn’s attempts to tie the issue to the need for environmental justice. “You can boo all you want,” Ms. Quinn hollered over the din. “But we need a city that fights environmental racism.” Fully aware that many of their fellow New Yorkers write off opponents as a bunch of rich, white, NIMBY whiners, they insist nothing could be further from the truth. Instead, opponents note that the facility will be just a block from two publichousing developments, where most residents are elderly and minorities. city of new york IN THE BOROUGHS MANHATTAN TRAIL OF TEARS: Rendering of waste-transfer station. ‘Hardly a white enclave’ “This is not a NIMBY issue,” said Carol Tweedy,the long-serving executive director of the citysubsidized Asphalt Green and one of the leading opponents of the waste-transfer station. Standing in front of the recreation center as children, many of them AfricanAmerican and Latino, streamed through the doors, Ms. Tweedy said: “Look at these kids! This is hardly a white enclave.” Maybe not, but census data show that eight out of 10 of the neighborhood’s approximately 60,000 residents are white, and that their average household income is nearly $100,000—among the highest in the city. What’s more, at least four new luxury high-rise towers have sprouted up within three blocks in recent years. While many residents still hope that somehow the trucks will never roll,inside Conte’s Market,which is known for its old-world charm and Friday afternoon musical jam sessions, opinions are slightly more nuanced. “Most people who live here are concerned,” said Parvezur Rahman, a cashier. “But as a business, we’re not that concerned.” On the contrary, Mr. Rahman reckons that the big new neighbor could be a boon for his and other businesses. After all, he points out, garbagemen have to eat, too. Ⅲ REAL ESTATE DEALS Air India lands on lower floor at GE A ir India did not have to fly far for new office space. The airline, which offers nonstop flights from John F.Kennedy International Airport to destinations halfway around the world including New Delhi, has struck a deal in Manhattan to move one floor down—to 14 from 15—at 570 Lexington Ave., between East 50th and 51st streets. The company took 7,800 square feet in the deal, a smaller portion of the floor than it occupied upstairs. Using a more efficient layout, the airline will be able to fit the same number of workers into 20% less space. “They were able to change their layout by switching floors,” said Robert Eisenberg, a broker with Newmark Grubb Knight Frank who represented the airline. “They have the same head count, but they’re in about 2,000 square feet less space.” Air India will occupy its new office for 15 years.The asking rents were in Say cheese! Wisconsin hits NY A small slice of Wisconsin is coming to the West Village. 5oz. Factory, a food shop that sells cheese melts, frozen custard and beer—all from Wisconsin—is opening its first location at 24 W. Eighth St. The asking rent for the 10-year deal, comprising 1,100 square feet on the ground floor and a 1,000-square-foot basement, was $104 per square foot. The host of nearby culinary establishments helped to lure the newcomer to the West Eighth Street corridor, which is quickly becoming a restaurant row. Popular coffee roaster Stumptown is opening a café there later this month, while a wine bar, beer growler station and gourmet chicken-finger shop are already in attendance. “I would rather be on a street where there are other food vendors so that people will decide to explore, as opposed to being the only food option around,” said Angela Kuzma, operations partner at 5oz., which was named for the traditional Wisconsin custard portion size. Her shop should open for business in July. The tenant was represented in negotiations by Jason Pennington and Zach Nathan of Ripco Real Estate. Elba Diaz and William Abramson of Buchbinder + Warren Realty Group represented landlord the Jen Co. —adrianne pasquarelli Law firm renews big lease on Sixth Twenty years ago, Tom Bow, director of leasing at the Durst Organi- the $50s per square foot.The airline will move in August. Mr. Eisenberg said Air India’s previous lease had stretched for an identical 15-year span and that the company was eager to commit to what will be a 30-year term at the property. “They like the building, and they envisioned staying there,” Mr. Eisenberg said. The 82-year-old tower was built in 1931 as the headquarters for RCA and later became headquarters for General Electric. The 50-story, 460,000-square-foot property, famed for its ornate, golden crown, is a midtown landmark. The building is owned by the Feil Organization, which was represented in-house by Brian Feil. —daniel geiger zation, negotiated a lease for law firm Patterson Belknap at 1133 Sixth Ave. with Studley Executive Vice President Ira Schuman. Last week, the two men again sat across from each other and signed off on the renewal of that lease for 200,000 square feet that will extend it for another two decades. “We already put the next one on our calendar for 2033, though we may need a reminder at that age,” Mr. Bow joked. The deal, for floors 18 through 26, was well timed for Mr. Bow.The Internal Revenue Service is poised to vacate its space on the second through 10th floors of the 45-story tower next year, so the Dursts were concerned about having two big blocks of space in the building to fill. Mr. Bow managed to keep the attorneys in the building—they are the largest tenant at 1133 Sixth BARE BONES 2 WASHINGTON ST. 125 FIFTH AVE. 5 HANOVER SQUARE ASKING RENT; TERM: $36 per square foot; 20 years ASKING RENT; TERM: $62 per square foot; five years ASKING RENT; TERM: Mid- to high $30s; 11 years SQUARE FEET: 166,400 SQUARE FEET: 4,500 SQUARE FEET: 9,750 TENANT; REPS: Nyack College; Christopher Mansfield and Gerry Miovski of CBRE Group Inc. TENANT; REP: Shift Communications; Arkady Smolyansky of CBRE Group Inc. TENANT; REPS: Escalate; Frank Cento and Jonathan Fein of Cushman & Wakefield LANDLORD; REPS: Prime Properties Inc.; Matthew R. Bergey and Stuart J. Siegel of CBRE Group Inc. LANDLORD; REP: Savanna; David Menaged of Intrepid Real Estate Group LANDLORD; REPS: Undisclosed; Jeff Gural and Adam Leshowitz of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank BACK STORY: The Christian college will move from 361 Broadway to a location in downtown Manhattan that more than doubles its current space. BACK STORY: The integrated communications agency will take the entire fourth floor of the five-story building, moving from its current location at 915 Broadway. Ave.—and while he would not disclose the price, he did say average rents in the Emery Roth-designed tower range from $75 to $80 per square foot.Patterson Belknap’s current lease runs through Dec. 31, 2014, at which point the new one starts. The tenant will be renovating the space at its own expense. Meanwhile, the Dursts have been busy freshening up the com- BACK STORY: The marketing and branding agency will take the ground and mezzanine floors of the 25-story building, according to The Commercial Observer. mon areas to help attract a tenant for the IRS space. The renovated lobby reopened in January with new polished travertine walls and an onyxinlaid desk.The centerpiece is a light sculpture hanging from the ceiling designed by New York artist Leo Villareal, who recently installed a nearly two-mile piece on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. —matt chaban April 22, 2013 | Crain’s New York Business | 9

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Crains New York - April 22, 2013

Crains New York - April 22, 2013
IN THE BOROUGHS
IN THE MARKETS
THE INSIDER
BUSINESS PEOPLE
CORPORATE LADDER
REAL ESTATE DEALS
OPINION
ALAIR TOWNSEND
GREG DAVID
REPORT: GREEN NEW YORK
THE LIST
FOR THE RECORD
CLASSIFIEDS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
SOURCE LUNCH
OUT AND ABOUT
SNAPS

Crains New York - April 22, 2013