NYC real estate in brief

Liberty Travel closes on three Manhattan locations
Yonkers-based Friedland Realty recently closed on three Manhattan lease deals totaling over $6 million for travel company Liberty Travel. Gene Meer, president of Friedland Realty and exclusive broker for Sprint/Nextel, handled the transactions for the three locations at 1425 Second Avenue, 1365 Sixth Avenue and 86 Nassau Street in Manhattan. He said this was the ideal time for Liberty Travel to take advantage of the softer Manhattan rental market and he predicts the retail market will regain its strength in about 18 months. “I’ve discussed this with various retailers, who have said they see the market stabilizing and sales picking up monthly,” Meer said.
 
Lofts for auction in Bridgeport Conn
One- and two-bedroom loft condominiums at Lofts 881, an upscale condominium community in Bridgeport, Conn., will be auctioned Aug. 30 at the Trumbull Marriott in Trumbull, Conn., by Sheldon Good & Company Auctions Northeast. The homes range in size from 540 to 1,452 square feet and the minimum bids start at $90,000 for a one-bedroom and $110,000 for a two-bedroom. The condos were originally priced between $264,000 and $360,000. According to Michael Fine, executive vice president of project management for Sheldon Good & Company, the lofts are attractive to buyers because of their proximity to New York.
 
Newark celebrates opening of Nat Turner Park
The city of Newark, NJ, and the Trust for Public Land celebrated the opening of Nat Turner Park yesterday. The nine-acre park, on Boyd Street and Muhammad Ali Avenue in Newark, was built after community activists demanded green space because of the lack of major parks in the area. The new park will include a two-acre athletic field, a regulation track, a 200-seat amphitheater, multiple playgrounds and a half-mile of walking and biking paths. In attendance at the grand opening was Newark Mayor Cory Booker and former New York Giant Tiki Barber. TRD