First-timers win REBNY commercial awards

The Real Estate Board of New York’s most ingenious commercial deals awards for 2008 all went to first-time winners. The top award went to Cushman & Wakefield’s Paul Glickman and Mitchell Konsker, who convinced the Hakimian Organization to stop its residential conversion of 636 11th Avenue and redevelop it into a commercial space, and then got advertising firm Ogilvy & Mather to sign for 560,000 square feet in the building. CB Richard Ellis’ Darcy Stacom and William Shanahan came in second place for the sale of Harry Macklowe’s portfolio buildings, including the GM Building, 2 Grand Central Tower, 540 Madison Avenue and 125 West 55th Street. And third place went to Ackman-Ziff’s Shawn Rosenthal for setting up $700 million in financing for the $680 million purchase of 650 Madison Avenue by Ashkenazy Acquisitions. [NYO] and [Post]