Brookfield scores major lease at WFC

Oppenheimer Funds has signed a 15-year direct lease for 235,000 square feet at 2 World Financial Center, where it’s currently a subtenant, the Post reported. The deal is a coup for landlord Brookfield Properties, which is facing relocations by current World Financial Center tenants Merrill Lynch and Nomura in the coming years. Oppenheimer’s current sublease is from Merrill Lynch, and expires in 2013. Stuart Romanoff, who represented Oppenheimer in the deal along with Cushman & Wakefield colleagues Amy Fox and Robert Constable, said the company conducted “an exhaustive search” for space but ultimately decided to stay put. As Crain’s reported this week, New York City tenants looking for large chunks of office space are actually facing a shortage, with fewer blocks available in desirable locations than there are tenants who would potentially want them. [Post, 2nd item]