Corcoran announces new Williamsburg office
The Corcoran Group recently announced the opening of its first Williamsburg office, a 4,100-square-foot space on Bedford Avenue. Twenty-nine real estate agents from Corcoran and 13 new hires from other brokerage firms were slated to set up shop last month at 241 Bedford Avenue, between North Third and North Fourth streets, said Eric McFarland, the new managing director of the Williamsburg office. The office has room for another 12 agents. Corcoran acquired two street-level retail spaces — one was vacant and the other was an Internet caf & eacute; — last fall and has been renovating the site since.
Durst plans far West Side school
Developer Douglas Durst and a former owner of Esquire magazine plan to build a $200 million, six-story private school at 623 West 57th Street, a block from the Hudson River. The Nations Academy venture is led by Christopher Whittle, founder of education management company Edison Schools. The Durst Organization, which has a long-term lease on the block, will build the 240,000-square-foot school.
Platinum Properties launches new residential services
Platinum Properties, which last year brokered the $33.7 million sale of three penthouse units at Trump World Tower, recently announced four new business initiatives to bolster its line of residential services: the Platinum Concierge, a 24-hour personalized service for buyers and renters; international property management for individual condo owners; a partnership with an in-house direct lender, Golden First Mortgage Corporation; and a revamped Web site with an interactive, three-dimensional neighborhood map of Downtown Manhattan.
Derek Jeter teams up with California health club chain
New York Yankees star Derek Jeter has announced a partnership with California-based health club chain 24 Hour Fitness, which will make a foray into the New York market for the first time in June. Jeter is an equity investor in the clubs, which will be called 24 Hour Fitness-Derek Jeter. The first New York branch will occupy 28,000 square feet of space on Fifth Avenue and 26th Street at Madison Square Park.