The Real Deal New York

Founded in 1949 by Stanley Stahl, the Stahl Organization, along with the related Stahl Real Estate, is perhaps best known for purchasing or renovating New York City landmark buildings, including the Western Union Building (60 Hudson Street) and the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. That specialty has also brought the firm some controversy. In 2011, the company battled with residents of two walkups on the Upper East Side when it claimed the buildings were losing money. Residents said Stahl had removed stone carvings and terra cotta trim from one of the buildings to jettison its landmark status in its ambition to demolish the building. Shortly after Stahl died in 1999, the company was split up among the heirs, including current CEO Richard Czaja, but the split was somewhat acrimonious. Czaja was forced by a judge in 2012 to pay former co-owner Abe Hirschfeld, who had served prison time for hiring a hit man to kill Stahl years ago and was deemed by Czaja to be unfit to pass his interest in the firm to his son.