Ilan Bracha (left) and Marty Markowitz (right) were at BellTel’s landmark ceremony

While BellTel Lofts’ landmark status may be a draw for buyers,
sales have slowed in the building and its retail space remains empty,
the project’s exclusive broker Ilan Bracha, chairman of the Bracha
Group at Prudential Douglas Elliman, told The Real Deal today before
the building’s landmark designation event. Bracha said that because of the downturn his team isn’t close to signing a
tenant for the 39,000 square feet of retail space at the Downtown
Brooklyn building yet. Bracha added that he was in talks with Starbucks
to take part of the space, but the deal fell through. Owners of clubs and
lounges have also shown interest in the space, he said. The Art Deco building, built in 1929 and 1930 as the Long Island
headquarters of the New York Telephone Company, received its landmark
plaque today from the New York Landmarks Preservation Foundation. [more]