Barnett may foil Witkoff’s bid to build supertall at Park Lane Hotel site

Extell chief talks to 30 CPS board about possible purchase

From left: Steve Witkoff, 30 Central Park South and Gary Barnett
From left: Steve Witkoff, 30 Central Park South and Gary Barnett

Extell Development’s Gary Barnett has approached the co-op board of 30 Central Park South — a former hotel that now primarily houses dentists’ offices — about a possible purchase. The move could make it challenging for Steve Witkoff and Harry Macklowe, who own the nearby Park Lane Hotel as well as an adjacent rental building, to build a supertall structure at The Park Lane site.

Witkoff and Macklowe bought the Park Lane Hotel for $660 million in 2013, and also own 21 West 58th Street, which is located right behind 30 Central Park South, the New York Times reported.

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If Both The Park Lane Hotel and 21 West 58th are demolished, the partners could build an 80-story skyscraper at their site. And if 30 Central Park South were incorporated, it could be even taller. But if Barnett takes control of 30 CPS, he could hold up the Witkoff-Macklowe project or build his own project there. He held up a similar project by Vornado Realty Trust at nearby 220 Central Park South, . [NYT]Claire Moses