“We attracting a number of advertising and creative tenants looking very seriously at Lower Manhattan, and we will continue that trend,” he says. “There is no question that when you make a commitment to relocate a tenant from Midtown to Lower Manhattan, that’s going to have a lot more people asking why and considering the market before they make their decision,” he adds, noting that the Financial District’s building stock has “relative value” and still maintains the “architectural charm that goes well with those industries.”

The brokerage firm will also continue its relationship with the city’s blue-chip landlords and tenants. Over the last several years, JLL has handled various high-profiled deals, particularly with large occupiers like Bank of America renewing their 767,000-square-foot space at the World Financial Center, as well as representing MetLife on Oppenheimer & Co.’s relocation and consolidation at 85 Broad St.

In addition, Wheeler has handled more than 1.1 million square feet of transactions in the neighborhood, including the 450,000-square-foot, 20-year master lease for the New York City Housing Authority at 180 Water St., as well as deals for General Electric, Aegon Insurance, among many others.

Wheeler also directs JLL’s activities on behalf of Gramercy Capital Corp., which has amassed a portfolio that encompasses 13.5 million square feet of office space and bank branches throughout the United States. Wheeler’s brokerage clients include JPMorgan Chase & Co., Cr