Colliers ABR closes urban learning center lease.

Colliers ABR, Inc. is pleased to announce the completion of a lease transaction on behalf of the New York Open Center, the largest urban holistic learning center in the United States.

The New York Open Center is a nonprofit educational and cultural center offering holistic classes and programs and will be relocating to 22 East 30th Street from 83 Spring Street, its home for the past twenty-five years.

Expected to move in the late Spring, the New York Open Center is eager to offer its comprehensive array of programs in a new, larger and more centralized location. The Open Center previously sold its existing condominium unit on Spring Street, and has been occupying that site as a tenant until the new space is completed.

The Open Center will now occupy 15,270 s/f comprised of 1,400 s/f of ground floor space on 30th Street, a second entrance on 29th Street and the entire 2nd and 3rd floors of the blockthrough portion of a new 55 floor residential complex constructed by the Clarett Group.

Clarett purchased the land from The Church of the Transfiguration and as part of the transaction, built a four floor institutional condominium for the Church. The Church decided to retain a ground floor reception hall and the 4th floor and put the rest of the space on the market for lease.

The Open Center had been carefully combing the market for over a year and once they inspected the site, immediately saw its unique advantages. "The high ceilings, column-free space and new construction were very appealing" said Walter Beebe, head of the Open Center. "We were impressed by the Church's mission and leadership and felt we could develop a strong synergistic relationship between the two organizations."

"After such a long arduous search and a few false starts, including a lease out for another location which didn't pan out, I was delighted to identify a space which fit their requirements so well" said Brian Weld, managing director at Colliers ABR. "Robert Tanzmann of Cushman & Wakefield was a pleasure to work with and the negotiations proceeded smoothly from start to finish."

According to Robert Tanzmann, the Church echoed Mr. Beebe's sentiments, "The Rector, Bishop Andrew St. John, and the Vestry of the Church are excited to have found a tenant whose mission complements that of the Church and the Church looks forward to collaborating with The Open Center." There were a number of outside approvals necessary to finalize the deal which closed in early February.

The New York Open Center was represented by Neal Weinstein and Nathan Nudelman of the boutique real estate law firm of Goldfarb & Fleece. The Church of the Transfiguration was represented by Peter S. Britell and Patrice Stavile of Dewey & LeBouef LLP.