Harry Helmsley and Villard Houses on Madison Avenue
A Renaissance revival six-story mansion that forms part of the historic Villard Houses at 455 Madison Avenue between 50th and 51st streets is available for lease for the first time, the Wall Street Journal reported. The building was formerly home to publisher Random House, the offices of the Archdiocese of New York, and the Municipal Art Society, the latter which left in 2009. [more]
After 25 years, the Municipal Art Society of New York is swapping its Villard Houses headquarters at the Palace Hotel for the Steinway Hall Building at 111 West 57th Street. The non-profit urban design organization inked a 10-year, 12,749-square-foot lease for the 16th floor of the Warren & Wetmore-designed landmark, where it will replace architecture firm Kohn Pedersen Fox, which is moving to Tishman Speyer’s 11 West 42nd Street. The entire Steinway Hall Building is in the midst of a rejuvenation right now, said Mark Lauzon of Cushman & Wakefield, who represented Steinway in the transaction. He said non-profits and foundations like the Municipal Art Society are flocking there in the wake of the Economist’s relocation to 730 Third Avenue. The asking rent on the new Municipal Art Society space was in the low $50s per foot. [more]
