Leviev’s buildings in trouble

Two projects purchased by Israeli diamond merchant and developer Lev
Leviev last year — the Apthorp, an apartment building at 390 West End
Avenue, and the old New York Times headquarters at 229 West 43rd Street
— are now struggling. The Apthorp is in danger of defaulting and only
one unit has sold in the last six months. Leviev filed an emergency
injunction last week to take control of the project from its managing
party and 50 percent owner, Maurice Mann. The former Times building
remains mostly unleased.