CCRNY hires Asch as director of retail leasing

City Connections Realty (CCRNY) has hired Steve Asch as its director of retail leasing. His responsibilities will include managing and growing the retail leasing division by mentoring retail brokers currently at the firm and recruiting others, as well as consulting for both tenants and landlords. Asch comes to CCRNY with over 35 years of retail leasing experience starting at Garrick-Aug Associates Store Leasing, after which he co-founded New Spectrum, a retail brokerage powerhouse, in the '80s. In 2000, New Spectrum was acquired by Newmark Knight Frank with Asch as managing partner and executive vice president. He has served as leasing agent for scores of high profile owners and tenants. Asch has handled over 40 lease transactions for The Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic alone. In addition, he was the leasing agent for landlords Harlem USA, the groundbreaking 275,000 s/f retail mall on 125th St., and D.C. USA, the award winning retail project in Washington D.C. "To say that I am pleased that Steve decided to be part of City Connections Realty would be an understatement. I was very aware of his success with New Spectrum as well as his other significant retail transactions over the years. I am totally confident that with him being here, our retail brokerage business will reach a whole new level," said David Schlamm, founder of City Connections Realty. "I decided to associate with City Connections Realty for a few reasons: I like the casual, friendly and informal environment; the business model that the firm offers provides a lucrative compensation package; and I look forward to the challenge of taking the firm's current retail brokerage to the next level," said Asch.