Welcome to the August 31 newsletter — our final issue of the month.
As August comes to a close, we’re taking a look at the latest activity across New York City’s commercial real estate market. This week’s roundup covers leasing, development, investment activity, and the market trends shaping Manhattan and the boroughs.
Also, check out the latest Q2 2026 Manhattan Office Market Report out on the website.
Here’s a roundup of the CRE stories and developments worth following as we close out the month.
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The Real Deal
Genius Sports Inks 53K SF Lease At Vornado’s 1290 Sixth Avenue – TRD
Spitzer Gets OK to Demolish 985 Fifth Ave After Suing State – TRD
MAC Cosmetics Inks Deal For SoHo Store At 579 Broadway – TRD
New York City’s Top Construction Permits: Aug. 21, 2026 – TRD
The Commercial Observer
Circle Realty Secures 38K SF of New Leases at 14 Penn Plaza – Commercial Observer
Law Firm DLA Piper, Insurance Group Ascot Ink Deals at 1251 Avenue of the Americas – Commercial Observer
KeyBank Expands to 113K SF at Elecor’s 1301 Avenue of the Americas – Commercial Observer
Sports Tech Firm Genius Sports Moves U.S. HQ to Vornado’s 1290 Avenue of the Americas – Commercial Observer
Law Firm Nutter Expands to 11K SF at Durst’s 5 Grand Central East – Commercial Observer
Nonprofit Biohub, Software Firm Fundraise Up Lease 20K SF at 100-104 Fifth Avenue – Commercial Observer
AI Startup Thinking Machines Lab Takes 22K SF at 79 Fifth Avenue for First NYC Office – Commercial Observer
Arca Financial Group Takes 8K SF at Moinian’s 60 Madison Avenue – Commercial Observer
Savills Inks 20K-SF Deal at Rudin’s 560 Lexington Avenue – Commercial Observer
Global Wellness Network Havas Health Expands to 254K SF at 200 Madison Avenue – Commercial Observer
Crain´s New York
Whole Foods Daily Shop to open on Third Avenue in Murray Hill – Crain’s New York Business
REBNY report finds that filings for new buildings were historically down in Q2 – Crain’s New York Business
MAC Cosmetics to relocate store to 579 Broadway – Crain’s New York Business
RFR’s Aby Rosen says he doesn’t know how foreclosure happened at vacant 90 Fifth Ave. – Crain’s New York Business
Savills signs 20K+ lease at Rudin’s 560 Lexington Ave. – Crain’s New York Business
New York YIMBY
Extell’s 50 West 66th Street Completes Construction on Manhattan’s Upper West Side – New York YIMBY
Renderings Reveal 430 Park Avenue Renovation in Midtown East, Manhattan – New York YIMBY
Exterior Work Nears Completion on 80 Clarkson Two-Tower Development in Manhattan’s West Village – New York YIMBY
Amenity Center Under Construction At One Liberty Plaza – New York YIMBY
Maison171’s Exterior Progresses at 171 East 86th Street on Manhattan’s Upper East Side – New York YIMBY
Rendering Revealed for 322 West 15th Street in Chelsea, Manhattan – New York YIMBY
Permits Filed for 324 West 15th Street in Chelsea, Manhattan – New York YIMBY
Construction Awaits To Resume at 77 West 66th Street on Manhattan’s Upper West Side – New York YIMBY
New York Post
NYC’s Union Square seeing frenzy for office, retail – New York Post
New York Business Journal
Mac Cosmetics moving SoHo storefront – New York Business Journal
Claes Oldenburg SoHo studio slated for demolition – New York Business Journal
Life Time eyes Manhattan expansion across Upper West, East Sides – New York Business Journal
Savills expands NYC headquarters with Midtown lease – New York Business Journal

