Real Estate

Real Estate

Effective Negotiators

Kasowitz’s Real Estate Transactions group advises clients in a full array of complex issues relating to office, residential, lodging, gaming, shopping center and mixed-use projects throughout the United States.  We represent clients in acquisitions and dispositions of single properties and property portfolios; acquisitions and participations of mortgage and mezzanine debt; workouts and restructurings; financings of real estate properties and projects; office and retail leasing; and joint venture development.

Our attorneys are regularly recognized by leading legal publications including ChambersLaw360The Real Dealand The Legal 500.

Development and Joint Ventures

One of the first development projects (including a Wegmans Food Market) at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.  Kasowitz also represented Brooklyn Urban Retail Partners in the closing of a $233 million construction loan involving the construction of the Wegmans project.

Acquisition, joint venturing, financing and development of a mixed-use project on West 57th Street in Manhattan known as the Steinway Site.  We also represent JDS Development in one of the largest proposed mixed-use developments in Miami, Florida, consisting of more than 1,000 residential units plus office, retail, hotel and parking components with more than 2.5 million square feet.

Negotiation and preparation of GreenOak's joint venture with East End Capital involving the purchase of an iconic Miami Beach building located at 555 Washington Avenue, and the closing of financing with Mesa West Capital for the acquisition in Miami, Florida.

Several matters related to BRP's affordable housing and commercial developments in the Greater New York area.

The sale of the Base Village project in Snowmass, Colorado, to a joint venture of East West Partners and Aspen Skiing Company, and an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners.

Joint ventures involving the acquisition, ownership and management of various retail centers, office buildings and apartment complexes throughout the United States.

Development and financing (both construction and permanent) of an apartment complex with a retail component in Brooklyn, New York.

The $470 million purchase of a mixed-use, office, retail and hotel project in San Francisco, California.

Capital Markets and Financing

Secured a $664 million construction loan to build a 1,066-foot tower located at 9 DeKalb Avenue in Brooklyn, New York. Upon completion, the mixed-use luxury tower will be Brooklyn’s tallest skyscraper.

An $82 million construction loan involving the renovation and development of 3 three-story buildings, a $40 million construction loan involving the demolition of two apartment buildings and the development of a four-story building, and a $113 million construction loan refinancing involving the development of a 6.6-acre mixed-use complex located in Austin, Texas.

A $137 million construction loan as part of the final funding for the Monad Terrace project in South Beach, Miami, and the $91 million construction loan for the construction of a 297-unit Class A, multi-family rental building in Washington, D.C.

Numerous sales and mortgage loan matters across the nation, including in North Carolina, Florida, Michigan, California and New Jersey.

Negotiating a ground lease to affordable housing developers Phoenix Realty and Artimus Construction as ground tenant, which will include a new 25-story mixed-use building on the property with 408 units of affordable housing and 135 market-rate units.

A $152 million senior loan to finance the recapitalization and lease-up of the iconic Pioneer Building located at 41 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, consisting of office and retail space and in providing a mezzanine loan as part of a $100 million construction financing to a major New York developer for a residential tower in downtown Manhattan

Various rounds of modifications of $100 million in senior and mezzanine construction financing for the development of the Ace Hotel Brooklyn, a 157,000-square-foot, 13-story hotel located at 61 Bond Street in Brooklyn, New York.

Secured a $97 million construction loan and $30 million senior mezzanine loan from Mack Real Estate Credit Strategies for a condominium redevelopment project located at 1 Prospect Park West in Brooklyn, New York.

A $37 million mortgage loan to finance the operation of a multifamily residential property in Jacksonville, Florida.

An affiliate of The Bainbridge Companies in the negotiation of a joint venture with Pacific Coast Capital Partners for the construction of a multi-family residential project in Jacksonville, Florida, and the negotiation of the construction financing for the project with Synovus Bank.

The acquisition and financing of a 48-acre industrial facility in Massillon, Ohio, from Geis Companies.

Acquisitions and Dispositions

The acquisition of the 350,000-square-foot Newport Office Center 6 in downtown Jersey City, New Jersey, from the LeFrak Organization.

The $106 million acquisition of (and zoning issues for) a development site located at 56th Street and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, which was one of the five largest land transactions in the United States in 2019, and the negotiation of a joint venture with Zahi Hagag, Israel’s largest developer.

A joint venture agreement to acquire, develop and operate the property known as Burnet Gateway and Innovation Park in Austin, Texas.

The sale of the Clock Tower Building at 5 Madison Avenue and the sale of the Times Square retail condominium at 229 West 43rd Street in Manhattan.

The sale of a 144,000-square-foot office building located at 31 W. 27th Street in Manhattan to Savanna.

The negotiation of purchase and sale agreements for the acquisition, financing and disposition of retail centers, apartment complexes and office buildings throughout the United States.

The $104 million sale of a development site located at 131-01 39th Avenue in Flushing, Queens in New York City, to United Construction and Development Group.

In multiple transactions, including the sale of a Class-A office center in Scottsdale, Arizona to a California-based real estate investment group, a Class-A office center in Atlanta, Georgia to a Texas-based real estate fund, and a million-square-foot distribution center in Orlando, Florida to a prominent privately owned real estate firm.

Lending

Closing of a $240 million senior mortgage financing to Cronin Development for the St. Regis Residences, a 114-unit luxury condominium tower in Boston’s Seaport District

Closing of a $180 million construction loan to Five Points Development to build New York’s skinniest residential skyscraper at 262 Fifth Avenue in New York City.

Closing of a $105 million bridge loan to real estate developer Savanna for the refinancing of a maturing construction loan and the capitalization and lease-up of The Six, a newly-developed, 26-story, 90,000 square foot office building located at 106 West 56th Street near Central Park in Manhattan.

Its $104 million loan to Driftwood Capital, a vertically integrated commercial real estate firm based in Florida, to finance Driftwood Capital's acquisition and renovation of The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, located in Scottsdale, Arizona.

In connection with the restructuring and UCC foreclosure as the senior mezzanine lender on a 500,000+ square foot trophy office tower in Arlington, VA.

In the closing of a $40 million EB-5 loan to Fortuitous Partners to fund the construction of the Tidewater Landing stadium, home to the Rhode Island FC, a professional soccer club in the United Soccer League (USL) Championship. 

The origination of more than 150 commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) loans throughout the United States.

The origination of mortgage loans throughout the United States for the company’s bridge lending platform.

Represented Quinlan Development Group's participation as co-lender in a lending syndicate led by Och Ziff and MSD Capital Partners to provide a $90 million senior, project and building loan to an affiliate of Silverback Partners to finance the construction of a 13-story residential project at 359 Second Avenue in Manhattan.

Landlord Representation

The one million-square-foot retail project at Hudson Yards in Manhattan.

The ground leasing of the building and parking lot located at 136-32 Roosevelt Avenue and 136-51 41st Avenue in Flushing, New York.

Several office and retail leases in Manhattan and Miami, Florida.

Long-term ground leases from the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation and a long-term lease with Wegmans Food Markets in Brooklyn, New York.

Represented the fee owner of a 60,000-square-foot lot in Queens, New York, in a long-term ground lease to Phoenix Realty Group and Artimus Construction for the development of a 550,000-square-foot affordable mixed-use development.

Tenant Representation

The headquarters lease at Hudson Yards in Manhattan.

Headquarters lease with the Durst Organization at 1133 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan.

Lease at 1301 Avenue of the Americas in Manhattan from Paramount Group.

Headquarters lease in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, from Equus Capital.

Pro Bono

Secured a favorable settlement that allows the Church to pay its debts and remain at its historic location after facing foreclosure, and provide for the development of 45 units of affordable housing.

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