NEW YORK CITY-Janus Property Co. has appointed Cushman & Wakefield as its exclusive leasing agent for the Taystee Building, a new construction project located at the site of the former Taystee Bakery at 450 W. 126th St. The C&W leasing team of Jonathan Fales, senior managing director, Myles Fennon, director and David Itzkowitz, senior directorhas been appointed to lead the project.
The Taystee Building represents the next phase of Janus' three-acre Manhattanville Factory District master-planned commercial development in west Harlem, located east of Amsterdam avenue between West 125th and 128th streets. The district sits between Columbia University's Morningside Heights campus, its 17-acre expansion into Manhattanville and CUNY's City College campus.
"The building's dual-core construction allows for great design flexibility for tenants" says Fales. "We look forward to bringing in tenants whose creative, modern aesthetic complements the rich cultural history of the surrounding neighborhood."
The Factory District is comprised of several existing buildings, including the Mink building and the Sweets building, both 100% complete and fully-leased, the Taystee building and additional future development sites.
Harlem in general is experiencing something of a rebirth. New data from real estate firm MNS found in January that average rent prices in the area went up 9.4% from $2,191 last year to $2,397. Back in 2002, the average rent was $1,200, according to the Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development.
Janus and its partner, Monadnock Construction, were selected in a citywide competition by the city's Economic Development Corp. to develop the Taystee building into the defining element of the Factory District.
"The Taystee Building will be the newest and most exciting project in our Manhattanville Factory District development, and we're thrilled to have this Cushman & Wakefield team as our building's exclusive leasing agent," says Scott Metzner, principal of Janus.
Adds Jerry Salama, a Janus principal, "This project will be a great resource for existing local businesses, including those affiliated with the universities, and will bring new tenants to a beautiful and storied neighborhood as it enters a strong and bright future. This unique combination will strengthen the community and solidify the local economy for years to come."
Designed by architectural firm LevenBetts, the Taystee building will be a class A 300,000-square-foot LEED Silver-certified building. LevenBetts' plan for the building's exterior incorporates a facade of black steel and large expanses of glass to evoke the area's industrial history, while bringing the transparency of 21st century architecture to the neighborhood.
The site plan also includes outdoor, open space with numerous places for tenants to gather, hold outdoor meetings, or relax. A landscaped through-block passageway will be an integral component of the Factory District, connecting West 125th street to West 126th street and beyond.
The Taystee Building's 11 tenant floors are accessible through separate east and west lobbies. Its core and column spacing have been designed to assure flexible tenant layouts, with high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling glass to ensure that each floor is flooded with natural light, creating warm, inviting and productive workspaces. On several floors, Taystee tenants will enjoy access to extensive private and shared outdoor space. Additional amenities include a bike room and approximately 20,000 square feet of new retail space. The Taystee Building will be completed in 2015.
Surrounded by West Harlem's energy, culture and charm, the Taystee building is close to Riverside Park and its neighbors include the Apollo Theater, Fairway Market, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que and Columbia University's new 17-acre Manhattanville expansion. The building is also close to the 125th street station for the 1, A, B, C and D subway lines, and Midtown is one stop away on the A and D express trains.
GlobeSt.com will update this story Wednesday morning following an interview with Fales.
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Rayna Katz
Rayna Katz is a seasoned business journalist whose extensive experience includes coverage of the lodging sector, travel and the culinary space. She was most recently content director for a business-to-business publisher, overseeing four publications. While at Meeting News, a travel trade publication, she received a Best Reporting award for a story on meeting cancellations in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
