BRIDGE TOO FAR:The Whitestone Bridge frames scenic sections of The Donald’s golf course at Ferry Point.
BRIDGE TOO FAR: The Whitestone Bridge frames scenic sections of The Donald’s golf course at Ferry Point. (
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With a year to go before its fall 2014 opening, Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point is already taking a shape — green and gorgeous.
Bounded by the Whitestone Bridge, the Long Island Sound, St. Raymond’s Cemetery and public parks, the former landfill on 200 acres at the southern tip of the Bronx is turning into what will become a stunning world-class golfing destination.
“It will be a great compliment to New York,” said Donald J. Trump, who was awarded a 20-year lease for the site at the end of 2011 by the Bloomberg administration.
Trump won the RFP process after a developer selected 16 years ago by the Giuliani administration gave up in the face of rising costs.
By the time it opens, the city will have spent nearly $100 million to prepare the holes for the turnover to Trump, who has spent millions more on the grounds.
“It’s just like the Wollman Rink,” said Trump, who still runs the Central Park ice rink after late Mayor Ed Koch famously took him up on his offer to fix it and complete stalled renovations at no cost to the city.
At Ferry Point, Trump will lay out $10 million to build a clubhouse with dining facilities, which is still undergoing design tweaks. He has visions of major events bringing in millions of dollars in fees, filling hotel rooms and packing restaurants under a split-revenue deal with the city.
According to the city, Ferry Point will bring in more than $20 million in gross revenue over the next 20 years, at least $10 million dollars in capital investment and $25 million in maintenance and improvements.
Designed by Jack Nicklaus as a Scottish-style “links” course because of its windy location and water views, there are literally no trees, said Ronald Lieberman, Trump’s vice president who is managing its development.
Instead, the topography is being created with gentle rolling meadows and dunes, whose hardy grasses and plantings are being installed and overseen by Gregory Eisner, the course superintendent brought over from Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey.
As the city’s Parks Dept. completes bulldozing gravel from the Second Avenue subway construction and sand from Long Island across each tee and fairway, the Trump team takes over and begins planting and maintenance.
Already 13 holes are growing and have long seed heads gently fanning in the breezes, leaving five more holes and a 350-yard central driving range to go.
At one hilly spot at the western edge of the course, the Whitestone’s toll lanes bring in the cacophony of urban living, but along most of the course, golfers will be teeing off in quiet isolation.
Three tees are constructed at each hole, providing play for everyone from pros — who will have a challenging 7,350-yard course — to newcomers, who will hit across 5,202 yards, both at par 72.
“Jack [Nicklaus] is a great architect,” said Trump. “He had an amazing vision for this property — it’s right on the water. There’s nothing like it probably in the world.”
“They love the urban backdrop,” added Lieberman, referring to televised golf events that will include the Whitestone and Throggs Neck bridges along with Manhattan’s skyscrapers and a steady stream of planes.
There is no membership fee; public day rates have not been set but will be “reasonable,” Lieberman said.
Golf programs for city youths are also being planned through the city Park’s Foundation and The First Tee, a nationwide group that encourages young people to play golf.
The 2014 opening will allow time for both the completion of the clubhouse and, literally, for the grass to root and grow.
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A Fidelity Investor Center has traded up to 22,000 square feet on the ground and mezzanine of the Sapir Organization’s 11 Madison Ave.
Fidelity’s new space along the Park Avenue South facade spans the full block between East 24th and 25th Streets. The brokerage will move there in October from a space a quarter the size across Madison Square Park at 200 Fifth Ave.
The 2.3 million square-foot 11 Madison tower is the current US headquarters of Credit Suisse.
CBRE’s Annette Healy represented Fidelity, while Sapir, which had an asking rent of about $130 a foot, was represented by Robert K. Futterman, Greg Covey and Peter Whitenack of RKF.
“Fidelity’s presence is both a welcomed addition to our stellar tenant roster and a great amenity for our tenants and the surrounding Midtown South community” said CEO Alex Sapir.
He and partner Rotem Rosen are investors in the restaurant group, Zuma, which they are bringing to 23,000 square feet at their 261 Madison building.
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Midtown bookworms will be thrilled that Jack Resnick & Sons has renewed the lease for the city library at 110 E. 59th St. for another 15 years.
The two-story, 7,750 square-foot branch has been in its space on the ground and second floors of the East 58th Street side since the 36-story tower opened in 1969.
It was on the site since 1905, moving briefly during the Resnick’s construction.
The library’s David D. Offensend worked its deal, while Dennis P. Brady represented the Resnick’s.
Burt Resnick, chairman and CEO of the family-owned company and a philanthropist, gave the city a big break on the retail asking rent, which otherwise is $200 a foot.
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A few blocks away, a new Reebok Fit Hub has signed a 10-year deal for 4,078 square feet at 1132 Third Ave. on the northwest corner of East 66th Street. The store, across the avenue from Lululemon, will provide fitness and training products, plus advice and fitness events.
Jeremy Ezra and Yael Amron of RKF represented Reebok, while CBRE’s Michael Kadosh negotiated for the building, which had an asking rent of $250 per foot.
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According to Avison Young, the number of office leases with rents over $100 per square foot has nearly doubled from last year. This year there have already been 31 such deals compared with 34 in all of 2012.