Wells Fargo to pay $550mn for Neiman Marcus’s empty space at Hudson Yards

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Wells Fargo has agreed to purchase Neiman Marcus’s vacant area at 20 Hudson Yards for $550mn in a deal that confirms the altering fortunes of certainly one of New York Metropolis’s largest property developments.

The area totals 400,000 sq. ft unfold over three flooring, and can complement the five hundred,000 sq ft Wells Fargo already occupies at neighbouring 30 Hudson Yards.

When it dedicated to a 50-year lease in 2014, Neiman was alleged to be the retail centrepiece for the $25bn mixed-use improvement on the far west aspect of Manhattan.

However the high-end division retailer declared chapter in Might 2020, introduced low by on-line buying, a heavy debt load and the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a blow to the Associated Corporations, Hudson Yards’ principal developer, and its associate, Oxford Properties, it opted to shut the shop that July — little greater than a yr after opening its doorways with a glitzy, champagne-soaked social gathering.

Jeff Blau, Associated’s chief govt, had indicated in latest months that he would search an workplace tenant, versus one other retailer, to fill the area. That strategy mirrored the developer’s perception that there was nonetheless ample demand for the most recent and best-equipped workplace towers in New York Metropolis whilst distant working has pushed the broader workplace market into disaster.

It additionally marked a shift from Associated’s unique thesis that Hudson Yards’ places of work would primarily serve to drive visitors for its retailers and luxurious condominiums. As an alternative, these classes have underperformed whereas three Hudson Yards workplace towers — 10, 30 and 55 — are actually full. In the meantime, one other, which counts BlackRock and Fb as tenants, is almost full.

For Wells Fargo, the expanded area could turn out to be useful because it embarks on its newest effort to construct out its funding banking enterprise. Tim O’Hara, who joined Wells from BlackRock final yr and is predicated in New York, now leads its funding financial institution. Final week, Wells introduced that it had employed Thomas Nides, a former high govt at Morgan Stanley, to be its new head of public affairs.

Associated and Wells Fargo declined to remark.