Prepared by Richard Plehn
Welcome to the Weekly Real Estate Newsletter — January 26th Edition.
This week’s issue highlights the latest leasing activity, development updates, and the market signals shaping New York City’s commercial real estate landscape. From notable transactions to projects advancing across the city, this edition offers a timely snapshot of the trends and momentum defining the market as 2026 continues.
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The Real Deal
Multifamily AI Firm Signs Lease in Midtown Manhattan – TRD
Union Investment Puts 140 Broadway For Sale – TRD
AI Giant Anthropic Seeks More Office Space in NYC – TRD
Charles Cohen’s 750 Lexington Auctioned Off – TRD
NYC’s Top Construction Permits of the Week: Jan. 16, 2026 – TRD
Bisnow
Office Market Avoids ‘Sinking Lower’ As CMBS Loans Signal Stabilization – Bisnow
AI Boom Brings Hope To Long-Vacant Morgan North Redevelopment – Bisnow
Anthropic Reportedly Seeking Up To 450K SF Office In Manhattan – Bisnow
The Commercial Observer
Kroll Bond Rating Agency Moving Global HQ to Black Rock – Commercial Observer
Meet the Manhattan Office Market’s Quiet Driver: Smaller Deals – Commercial Observer
EliseAI Signs 109K-SF Lease at Chetrit Organization’s 401 Fifth Avenue – Commercial Observer
Dental Tech Company Dandy Inks 37K-SF Lease at 22 Cortlandt Street – Commercial Observer
Hudson Square Properties Renews Two Leases in Namesake Neighborhood – Commercial Observer
AI-Powered Insurance Firm Modern Life Relocates to 134 Spring Street – Commercial Observer
Convene Parent to Bring 1,000-Capacity Events Venue to Flatiron District – Commercial Observer
MIC Capital Partners Grows to 55K SF at 375 Park Avenue – Commercial Observer
United Hospital Fund Renews Lease at 1411 Broadway – Commercial Observer
South African Consulate Signs 31K-SF Lease at 805 Third Avenue – Commercial Observer
Betches Coming to 360 Park Avenue South – Commercial Observer
Angeles Wealth Management to Initiate Midtown’s Rolex Tower – Commercial Observer
Sessa Capital Expands to 10K SF at Vornado’s 888 Seventh Avenue – Commercial Observer
Crain´s New York
Société Générale weighs moving New York base from 245 Park Ave. | Crain’s New York Business
Japanese investor buys Birkenstock SoHo store for $18.5M | Crain’s New York Business
Vornado nears $525 million refinancing for Park Avenue tower | Crain’s New York Business
Cohen Brothers headquarters at 750 Lexington Ave. heads to foreclosure auction | Crain’s New York Business
750 Lexington Ave. fetches nominal sum at foreclosure auction | Crain’s New York Business
Owners abandon conversion plans for 745 Fifth Ave. | Crain’s New York Business
Insights from the upcoming Q4 Manhattan Market Report
Plus, our Q4 2025 Market Report is coming soon—here’s clips of Richard sharing a few highlights.
New York YIMBY
Sunset Pier 94 Studios Opens In Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan – NY YIMBY
New York Business Journal
Cochran Firm leases full floor at FiDi office tower – New York Business Journal
Watershed moving to NoHo as GFP complex hits full occupancy – New York Business Journal
Sunset Pier 94 Studios lands Paramount as first tenant – New York Business Journal
SME Capital takes over Chelsea office building after foreclosure – New York Business Journal
EliseAI to quadruple NYC headquarters footprint with move – New York Business Journal
Dandy to open first headquarters in FiDi – New York Business Journal
MIC Capital expands to 55K square feet at Seagram Building – New York Business Journal
