Stribling’s historic Chelsea office gets a facelift

Stribling & Associates’ Chelsea location, which the firm bills as the longest-running residential real estate office in the country — the brokerage James N. Wells & Sons first opened in that space in 1819 — is getting a makeover.

The storefront at 340 West 23rd Street, between Eighth and Ninth avenues, is currently closed for renovations. It is set to reopen in 2013 — with new technology and a new layout that will accommodate additional agents.

The renovation of the 3,500-square-foot space got underway in early July, and comes amid Stribling’s rebranding campaign, which includes an overhaul of the firm’s website and a new logo based on the signature of Elizabeth Stribling, who founded the firm in 1980.

“It was time, especially in conjunction with the new branding, to update and refresh and create an office that not only honors that particular building’s history, but also makes it a relevant work environment for the 21st century,” said Rebecca Mason, Stribling’s director of sales and manager of the Chelsea office.

Stribling acquired the three-story building in 1989 after Paul Gay – the CEO of James N. Wells and president of another firm, Wells & Gay, which were acquired by Stribling – died of a stroke. Stribling paid $990,000 for the property, according to city records.

A sign that uses the firm’s new logo has already replaced the heavy gold letters that once spelled out “Stribling” on the stone façade.

While Mason would not discuss specific plans for the renovation, she said that the new office would have the “latest” equipment and technology, as well as a conference room. The space was last renovated a decade ago, she said.

The firm is also planning to add desks, although Mason would not give an exact figure. Previously, the Chelsea office accommodated 30 desks. The agents who are based there are working out of Stribling’s other two offices in Tribeca and the Upper East Side.

The firm has hired the Manhattan interior design firm Brockschmidt & Coleman and architect Walter Radtke of MGA Architecture to handle the redesign.

Elizabeth Stribling was overseas and unavailable for comment.