Santander sells Midtown office building for $120M

A Midtown office building owned by the Spanish banking giant Santander has traded hands for $120 million, according to public records filed with the city today.

Santander began shopping the 113,000-square-foot building, at 45 East 53rd Street, to potential buyers in March, it was previously reported. Despite its institutional status, it was said to be marketing the building in house as opposed to bringing on a brokerage firm.

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The 20-story property, built in 1991, was constructed specifically to house the European bank’s New York operations. Santander was reportedly planning to sell the building and lease back the space.

The identity of the buyer was not immediately clear. The purchasing LLC, named Kireland East 53rd Street, lists its address as the Florida law firm of Kurkin Forehand Brandes. Attorney Alex Kurkin did not immediately return a call for comment.  Calls to the bank’s U.S. spokesperson were not immediately returned.