YESTERDAY, Alliance for Downtown President Liz Berger said she wished that computer maker Apple would come downtown.
She may yet get her wish.
Sources tell us that Apple is seriously negotiating for the entire 12,500-foot building at 23 Wall St.
Located at the iconic corner of Wall and Broad streets, the small granite building nicknamed “The Corner” was developed by the financier J.P. Morgan and, after its completion in 1914, served as J.P Morgan and Co.’s headquarters.
It’s now an empty building connected to its tall residential and luxury condominium neighbor at 15 Broad St., which has an Hermes shop on the Broad Street side, facing the New York Stock Exchange.
The building still bears some scars from a bomb hidden in a horse drawn carriage – that rocked Wall Street on Sept. 16, 1920.
While over $1 billion in gold sat inside the Assay Office across the street, the Morgan property at 23 Wall took the brunt of the noontime blast, which killed 30 people, and wounded hundreds more.
Foreign terrorists were suspected, but the exact target was never identified.
The current owners, Africa-Israel, recently hired Robert K. Futterman & Associates to take over retail leasing for 180,000 square feet at 15 Broad and 23 Wall Street.
RFK’s Karen Bellantoni, who represents Apple, declined comment.
Rotem Rosen of Africa-Israel did not return a call seeking comment.
Retail rents for ground floors in the area are zooming into the $500 a foot range, but the exact price would vary by location, size, floor and term.
Recall that 23 Wall also serves as the quirky Philippe Starckand Yoo Development-designed rooftop terrace for the residents of 15 Broad St.
It has tremendous windows that we’re sure Apple CEO Steve Jobs will enjoy illuminating with neon Apple logos.
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One thing downtown will soon have is True Religion.
The hot denim brand is squeezing into 700 square feet at Josh Zamir and partner Carlyle Group’s 14 Wall St.
The asking rent for the mini space was $700 a foot, but the company can now tout their own Wall Street location. The Kaufman Organization represented True Religion while Darrell Rubens of Winick Realty represented Zamir’s company, Capstone Equities, in the deal.
“This thriving neighborhood continues to attract luxury retailers who see new residents and businesses moving in every day,” said Daniel Ghadamian, a principal at Capstone Equities, in a statement.
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While Sam Chang is selling sites here and there, we just learned that he bought 6 Water St. and 32-38 Pearl St. on Valentine’s Day.
The $56 million deal, signed last November, came in at a downtown record of $448 a developable foot.
The building that goes from 6-12 Water St. is a five-story structure on the corner of Moore St., now occupied by McDonald’s.
Behind it is 32-38 Pearl St., a seven-story loft building with an Italian restaurant.
The sellers were a long-time partnership of Richard Breton of Breton Properties, Stephen Meringoff and Jay Shidler.
The three-block-front site is about 8,400 feet and can be built to 125,000 feet of commercial or mixed-use space – such as one of Chang’s McSam hotels.
“Hotel developers have been outbidding residential developers in the financial district, Times Square and even in the East 40s for the past couple of years,” said Alan Miller of Eastern Consolidated, who represented the sellers along with colleagues Peter Hauspurg, David Johnson, Jeff Troy and Ronda Rogovin.