The sponsors of Extell Development’s Rushmore condominium have quietly begun offering sales discounts of up to 25 percent in a campaign to retain at least some of the 30-plus buyers looking to back out of their contracts, according to multiple sources. A group of at least 34 buyers filed complaints with Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s office, looking to get out of their contracts. And sources said that representatives of the Carlyle Group, which is Extell’s partner in the Rushmore, at 80 Riverside Boulevard, have contacted individual members of the group regarding discounts. Carlyle officials were not immediately available for comment, but Gary Barnett, Extell’s president, denied that any discounts were being offered.
“It’s not true,” said Barnett, in an e-mailed statement to The Real Deal. “These rumors are being spread by an attorney with an axe to grind.”
Barnett did not elaborate on which attorney he was referring to, or how he knew about any specific claims.Attorney Richard Cohen, who represents the group of 34 Rushmore buyers,
confirmed that one buyer dropped out of the group in recent days and
one other buyer previously left the group. “Our assumption is they were offered a discount,” said  Cohen. “We don’t think they would otherwise leave the group.” [more]