The Real Deal New York

From left: Mitti Liebersohn, 1290 Avenue of the Americas and Matthew Astrachan

In what is the largest sublease of the year so far, Morgan Stanley has inked a 148,421-square-foot deal at Vornado Realty Trust’s 1290 Avenue of the Americas, according to data from commercial real estate firm Cassidy Turley provided to The Real Deal. [more]

Jonathan Butler and the East River State Park

Much to the consternation of area families, the New York State Department of Parks and Preservation has cut free children’s movie programming in Williamsburg’s East River State Park, in the wake of the Brooklyn Flea marketplace, co-founded by Brownstoner blogger Jonathan Butler, moving to the park, DNAinfo reported. [more]

Rockaway Beach

“Numbers to know” is a weekly web feature that catalogues the most notable, quirky and surprising real estate statistics. Bialystoker Nursing Home wins landmark approval, service to the Rockaways via the A train has been restored and Jacques Torres celebrated its factory groundbreaking. [more]

Hallets Point in Astoria

Lincoln Equities Group received unanimous approval from Queens Community Board 1 on a plan to build apartments, parkland and retail space at Hallets Point in Astoria, DNAinfo reported. [more]

27 Downing Street and Luis D. Ortiz

Developer and real estate lawyer Andrew Leider has unloaded his townhouse at 27 Downing Street in the West Village for $7.2 million, the New York Post reported.

The 5,094-square-foot, 19th-century mansion, which once served as a carriage house, was featured on last night’s episode of “Million Dollar Listing New York.” At the time of filming, the property had not yet sold. [more]

Rocco’s Tacos (Credit: Flickr)

The restaurant row on Adams Street in Downtown Brooklyn is gaining a Mexican eatery new to the city.

Rocco’s Tacos has signed a 15-year lease at 339 Adams Street, the building’s developer Muss Development said in a release. The restaurant – which has five locations in Florida, including Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Boca Raton – doubles as a tequila bar. It boasts 225 varieties of the beverage distilled from agave. [more]

The Rushmore and Gary Barnett of Extell

Extell Development and Carlyle Realty Partners must pay $5.8 million to 40 former buyers in their Rushmore condominium for the interest on funds that the purchasers had in escrow, a state court judge has ruled.

The decision Wednesday by New York State Supreme Court Justice Anil Singh is another blow to Extell and Carlyle in a three-year dispute with the group over the escrow funds. [more]

Bill Murray and the Villager (Building photo via StreetEasy)

Comedian Bill Murray put his penthouse duplex at the Villager on the rental market only three weeks ago, but he has already dropped the rent by $2,000 — from $14,500 to $12,500, the New York Post reported. [more]

From left: Dan Shannon, Nancy Ruddy, Morris Adjmi and Eran Chen

From the May issue: When the construction pipeline slows down, it’s not just developers who suffer. The architects who are usually brought on board to design the projects get hit, too. But while new building slowed down during the recession, it’s been heating up lately because developers are rushing to bring apartments online to deal with the shortage of inventory that resulted from the halt in construction. [more]

Fort Greene, Brooklyn

Fort Greene is slated for a five-story, 32-room hotel along Park Avenue, according to Department of Buildings permits seen by Brownstoner.

The hotel will rise over three vacant lots between Cumberland Street and Carlton Avenue, and will be part of the Choice Hotels group which includes Comfort Inn, Quality Inn and Clarion Hotels, the owner told Brownstoner. [more]