Friday, August 01, 2008

Deal or No Deal?

Crain's Insider is also reporting that a decision on the developer designation is nearing on the Uptown USA project in East Harlem: "The city Economic Development Corp. is a month away from choosing a developer for six acres in East Harlem. Vornado Realty Trust, Thor Equities and General Growth Properties are said to be the finalists to build 1.7 million square feet of “targeted income” housing, 470,000 square feet of retail, and 300,000 square feet of office space on three parcels running north and west from East 125th Street and Second Avenue. Local Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito supports the development."

The question here is whether the designation of Vornado will change the equation; and whether the developer's decision to evict a local Key Food store in the Bronx will come back to haunt it. The support of the councilwoman may hang in the balance here.