Fosun Hive Holdings leases 18,958 s/f to NYCLA at 28 Liberty, Direct Energy takes 6,327 s/f

Manhattan, NY According to Fosun Hive Holdings, The New York County Lawyers Association (NYCLA) has leased 18,958 s/f on the 9^th floor of 28 Liberty. The organization will relocate from 14 Vesey St.

In addition, Direct Energy, a North American retailer of energy and energy services and a division of Centrica has leased 6,327 s/f on the 9^th floor of 28 Liberty. 

“We welcome NYCLA and Direct Energy to 28 Liberty, a dynamic office, retail and dining destination that stands over an abundant mass transit at the very center of Lower Manhattan,” said Bo Wei, chief executive representative of Fosun International in the U.S. and vice president of Fosun Hive Holdings. 

Thomas Costanzo, managing director of leasing for Fosun represented the property owner in the transactions. Also representing the owner were Peter Riguardi, chairman and president of New York operations; Mitchell Konsker, vice chairman; John Wheeler, Michael Berman and Daniel Turkewitz, managing directors; and Eliza Akers, vice president, all with JLL. Michael Geoghegan, vice chairman at CBRE represented NYCLA. Nathan Katz, commercial real estate advisor, with CBRE represented Direct Energy. 

“28 Liberty is an ideal location for NYCLA and Direct Energy, enabling them to benefit from the momentum in Lower Manhattan while providing enhanced amenity and transportation options,” said Thomas Costanzo, managing director of leasing for Fosun. “Fosun’s comprehensive redevelopment of the property created an ideal environment for the companies and their employees.”

Fosun has completed Marketplace 28, a 200,000 s/f retail destination at the base of 28 Liberty with multiple street-level access points and glass facades to engage pedestrian traffic and open sightlines. Marketplace 28, like all of 28 Liberty, is accessible to six subway lines and is a five-minute walk from the Fulton St. transit hub and the World Trade Center transit hub, connecting it to nearly every mass transit line in the city, and to New Jersey via the PATH.

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has leased 40,000 s/f in Marketplace 28 for a 600-seat, 10-screen theater that is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2019. In addition, Legends Hospitality will operate a culinary and live entertainment destination to be designed by Jeffrey Beers in 35,000 s/f on the ground floor of Marketplace 28. 

At the top of the 28 Liberty tower are the Manhatta and Bay Room, the newest restaurant, bar and event venue from Danny Meyer’s Union Sq. Hospitality Group. The restaurant and venue offer, 360-degree views of the city's skyline.

At the base of the 28 Liberty tower is the landmarked plaza, an open space that is programmed with arts, cultural and community events. Events on the plaza include Sing for Hope Pianos, a yearly initiative that gathers local artists to create pianos that are displayed on the plaza in June and then placed in public spaces before being donated to New York City Public schools. The plaza has also been host to the Lower Manhattan food festival Dine Around Downtown, the annual arts festival River To River, Summer Movie Nights and numerous other events.

Americans for the Arts recently has named Fosun and 28 Liberty as a 2018 recipient of the BCA 10: Best Businesses Partnering with the Arts in America Award for its commitment to supporting arts and culture both internationally and in the U.S. through Fosun Hive Holdings.