The ever effervescent Michael Shvo is planning a big and tall tower for downtown.

Locals tell us the developer and condo marketer is in contract to buy a site at 22 Thames (aka 125 Greenwich) from Fisher Bros. and Steven Witkoff for around $180 million.

The broker is Andrew Scandalios of HFF, who did not return requests for comment.

Witkoff and the Fishers simply could not turn down the price that is roughly $90 million more than the $87.5 million they paid in September 2012.

As first revealed by New York Yimby, they had plans to build a 359,130 square-foot, 956 foot-tall project designed by Rafael Vinoly, with 70 floors of 6,489 square feet geared to rental units.

But Shvo will likely redesign the tower with smaller floor plates for grand, full and half-floor luxury condos.

Add a sprinkling of street retail plus a hotel base and the residential views will tower over the World Trade Center, Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor.

There is no height limit, and for a visionary like Shvo, there are no limits.

The former marketeer for others before the 2007 bubble burst resurfaced last year with his own developments, and now has two shorter ones planned with different partners at 239 Tenth Ave. and 100 Varick, but this one would be a dramatic signature skyline statement.

Shvo did not return requests for comment. Stay tuned.


The Soho office building at 375 W. Broadway near Broome Street is in contract and could be sold this week for $125 million to equity investors, Pearlmark Real Estate Partners.

The 80,000 square-foot building across from the Downtown Cipriani is full, with a recently signed lease for Square of 43,689 square feet and a 7,050 square-foot Anthropologie as a retail tenant with a future upside rent boost.

The sellers, Michael Miller, son Brandon of Real Estate Equities and Mark Siegel along with a city-based fund, who hired Douglas Harmon and Adam Spies of Eastdil Secured to market the building. No one returned requests for comment.


John Barrett’s 3,000 square-foot upcoming salon at 54 Bond St. at the Bowery will be spread on two stories, but when it opens in November will include a new mezzanine.

John Barrett is finalizing plans for a two story development at 54 Bond St.Tamara Beckwith

Investor and CEO Jim Hedges told us, “We wanted to be in a place that spoke unequivocally of luxury. The snazziest boutiques in town are opening on Bond.”

The space will have a separate VIP celebrity entrance and interior areas that will blend seamlessly into the 20-chair salon being designed by Daniel Romualdez and transformed with details reflecting the historic area and building that was the former Bouwerie Lane Theater.

“We also have new collaborations with designers like Tom Ford, who will create one-of-a-kind accessories just for our clientele,” Hedges added.

Jonathan Scuteri of Andrews Building represented the ownership in the deal. Area asking rents are pushing toward $300 per foot. Hedges discovered the space while visiting his friend who lives in the building’s penthouse.

He declined to discuss any possible World Trade Center deal, but did confirm they plan to open a downtown location. Stay tuned.


Last night, the Real Estate Board of New York’s Most Ingenious Retail Deal of the Year was awarded to Richard B. Hodos of CBRE for bringing Polo/Ralph Lauren to its new, 38,000 square-foot store at Coca-Cola’s 711 Fifth Avenue.

The award for the Most Significant Retail Deal of the Year that is important to the city’s retail market was won by Peter Ripka of Ripco Real Estate for attracting Barney’s to lease 57,000 square feet at its original 107 Seventh Ave. and 17th Street home.