How about a little wine with that condo?
November 18, 2008 06:00PM By Candace Taylor
34 Leonard Street
New Tribeca development 34 Leonard is wining and dining prospective buyers -- literally.
Roger Dagorn, the master sommelier at Chanterelle Restaurant in Tribeca, has been named official sommelier at the development, according to its developer, R Squared Real Estate Partners.
The building, located at 34 Leonard Street between Hudson and West Broadway, has struggled to unload its units since sales began nearly a year ago. Only five of the 16 loft-style homes have sold so far, according to the Marketing Directors, the exclusive marketing agent for the property.
Asking prices in the building average $1,600 a foot. Other amenities include a pet spa and wine tasting room.
Dagorn will host one-on-one complimentary private consultation sessions with each buyer, the developer said. Once he recommends an appropriate vintage and label for each homeowner, the developer will throw in a case of the selected wine as a house-warming gift. The building has a climate-controlled wine cellar, and each unit comes with a wine cabinet with space for 300 bottles.
R Squared principals, cousins Mitchell Rechler and Gregg Rechler, could not be reached for comment.
When asked if the sommelier announcement was timed to jump-start sales in a weakening market, a company spokeswoman Carolyn Philipps said, "wine plays a major part in 34 Leonard's marketing."
Philipps did not respond when asked whether the cost of the sommelier would come out of the resident's monthly maintenance.
This is not the first time alcohol is being used to sell apartments in Tribeca.
Last week, one real estate broker offered prospective buyers a neighborhood open house condo tour with the promise of alcoholic beverages at every stop, the New York Times reported.
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Comments
Anonymous
You've got to be kidding, right? Forget about the case of wine and drop the price by $500 a square foot!
Comment #1 Posted By: Anonymous 11/18/08
tunnel traffic noise
Are you kidin. ..dont drop the 500 drop the conversation Nothing But Hudson Tunnel Traffic Niose no one in their right nor wrong mind will liove on leonard st.. Whats their the noise of morning and 4 pm to 7 pm rush hour vehicular passenger and trucker traffic beeping thier horns.. ready to open thier door and have road rage.. spend one late afternoon on hudson or varick st..and feel the stress exuding from the widshields....you cant pay me to live their
Comment #2 Posted By: tunnel traffic noise 11/18/08
Anonymous
I would pay you to use spell check before you post
Comment #3 Posted By: Anonymous 11/19/08
Anonymous
nice comment #3!!
Comment #4 Posted By: Anonymous 11/19/08
Anonymous
I live on that block and noise is not a problem. Con Ed construction and the continuing nightmare of NY Law School and 53 Leonard...well, that's another story.
Comment #5 Posted By: Anonymous 11/19/08
Anonymous
no 5. NOISE IS NOT A PROBLEM??? Are you kidding me? Are you deaf.... sgdvowglshvp9 8sgyb
Comment #6 Posted By: Anonymous 11/19/08
Anonymous
A company spokeswoman Carolyn Philipps said, "wine plays a major part in 34 Leonard's marketing." What she meant is that everyone involved in this project will be drowning their sorrows with alcohol. Drink up Ms. Philipps. Wine be a major part of your compensation.
Comment #7 Posted By: Anonymous 11/23/08
Anonymous
Can you stock the fridge with 100 shares of Pets.com.
Comment #8 Posted By: Anonymous 12/02/08
Anonymous
These are great lofts and have great finishes and the location to die for. I haven't heard anything about the noise from anyone inside the building. A double pane window will mostly block the noise.
Comment #9 Posted By: Anonymous 12/03/08
Hello
Hello
Comment #10 Posted By: Hello 06/05/09