It looks like Aby Rosen of RFR Realty is trying to make a quick few million bucks from 190 Bowery, the former Germania Bank Building.
He purchased the 1898 landmark from photographer Jay Maisel last year for $55 million. In April, a new creative agency headed by Matthew Moneypenny agreed to lease the 2nd through 6th floors. Rosen was seeking a high profile retail tenant for the ground floor.
But now, Curbed reports, the high profile property is back on the market. Here’s part of the pitch from the marketing brochure:
190 Bowery represents one of the most remarkable conversion opportunities currently available in all of New York City. Originally constructed by Robert Maynicke in 1898 to house the Germania Bank, the Beaux Arts-style building is one of the most iconic and architecturally significant buildings in all of Downtown Manhattan. The building was designated a landmark in 2005 and features stunning original architectural details throughout… The open floor plans combined with the property being delivered vacant, offer an unusually large blank canvas for a developer or user to execute a myriad of potential visions, including a boutique residential condominium, a retail flagship, or a truly historic and one-of-a-kind single family residence. Regardless of the strategy, the end result will be a project that changes the landscape of the Bowery for years to come.
That’s right. The property would be delivered vacant. Curbed speculates:
(It) might mean that Rosen’s just been in it for the clams all along. Or, being that the property’s listing says it’ll be “delivered vacant,” maybe his deal with the consortium of companies that planned to rent floors two through six fell through, leaving him scot free to probably make a couple million.
You can peruse the whole brochure below.
UPDATED 11:24 a.m. Curbed now reports that the story is false:
A representative for Aby Rosen’s RFR Realty has reached out to squash rumors that 190 Bowery is for sale. Basically, the Cushman & Wakefield listing a tipster pointed out yesterday is old news and will be removed from Cushman’s site. As per the representative, “The listing is not current. The property is not for sale. The tenant build-out is in process and they are looking forward to occupying the building.
