UPDATE: This is how the Empire State Building appeared last night after CNN called the election for Barack Obama (since 2000, the Democrats have traditionally been “blue”).
CNN has announced via press release that they’ll be lighting the Empire State Building tonight to honor the winner of the Presidential election. Read More
Earlier this week, the Related Companies announced it had found backers to begin building the first tower of its Hudson Yards project (at the same time that it is trying to get a break from the MTA for payments on the entire 16-acre complex). Should the project get off the ground, it will have a long way to go.
Sure, in terms of time, as it will takes years, if not decades, for the entire 12 million square feet of office, residential, retail and cultural space to be built. But there is also a long way to go in terms of distance. As the design team puts the finishing touches on the first phase of the project, it turns out the other office tower on the site, which has yet to find an anchor tenant or an announced start date, will become the second or third tallest building in the city when it is completed, surpassing the Empire State Building. Read More
Tony Malkin, whose family controls the Empire State Building, just released the following statement regarding this morning’s shootings outside his landmark office tower. He notes that there was no violence inside and he remains open for business. Read More
At least ten people have been shot at the Empire State Building this morning including an as-yet-unidentified shooter according to a spokesman for the New York City Police Department. The male shooter was killed, but the NYPD says further information about the gunman or his motivations is currently “unknown.”
We’ll update this post as soon as we know more. Read More
Citigroup says it gave Nasdaq a chance to make good on the botched Facebook IPO that cost market makers hundreds of millions of dollars. Now Citi has run out of patience, blasting the exchange in a 17-page letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission. “As set forth in detail below, the hundreds of Read More
Is there a better way to enjoy the New York City skyline than from its highest point, atop the swiftly rising 1 World Trade Center? How about with a Shackburger and shake in hand? Read More
As of today, as you probably already know, 1 World Trade Center reached the historic height of 1,271 feet, eclipsing the Empire State Building and reclaiming its place as the tallest building in the city. In honor of that achievement, the tower will be lit up red, white and blue tonight. The Observer asked Tony Malkin, owner of the iconic tower, what he thought of being No. 2 again. Read More
Real estate was never supposed to be a career for Gerard Schumm.
The executive vice president of RFR Realty always wanted to be a musician, a drummer to be exact. But while going to St. Francis College, he asked his father, who worked in the real estate game, to help him find a day job until the record companies came banging at his door. Read More
Garan Incorporated, an apparel company owned by Warren Buffett, has signed a 50,000-square-foot deal to relocate from the Empire State Building to 200 Madison Avenue. Read More
Earlier today, it was announced that Swedish construction giant Skanska had signed a 16,000-square-foot lease at 519 Eighth Avenue. Here’s how The Commercial Observer broke the news on Nov. 2 through various backchannels.
