From left: Izak Senbahar, David Von Spreckelsen and the stalled site

Developer Alexico Group has offloaded a troubled First Avenue development site, plans for which went belly-up as a result of the financial crisis.

The firm, which stalled several of its projects, including 56 Leonard Street, after the collapse of Lehman Brothers in 2008, has sold another stalled site at 953-961 First Avenue, at East 53rd Street, to the homebuilder Toll Brothers, according to public records filed today with the city. The deal for the site, which closed December 28, was for $64 million. Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller in the transaction. [more]

Harry Macklowe has struck a deal to buy 737 Park Avenue for between $250 million and $255 million, sources tell Crain’s, and plans to convert the 108 rental units into condominiums. Macklowe’s interest in the property was widely reported, but details of the sale price and his intentions for the property are new. It’s the second building in the area that Macklowe has purchased in the hopes of doing a condo conversion, as last month Macklowe purchased a property at 150 East 72nd Street near Lexington Avenue for $70 million. Macklowe also bought 953-961 First Avenue with Prudential Douglas Elliman chairman Howard Lorber earlier this year. In purchasing 737 Park, 30 percent of which is comprised of rent stabilized units, Macklowe joined an undisclosed equity partner, according to Crain’s. … [more]