Financial services tenants beginning to add up at Harborside.

American Financial Realty Trust announced that it has signed Northern Trust Company, a Nasdaq listed company, to a 15-year, approximately 25,800 s/f lease at Harborside Plaza 10, a Class-A office property on the waterfront in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Northern Trust plans to relocate 65 employees from its Manhattan location in September. A leading provider of investment services to institutions and individual investors, Northern Trust one of the largest asset managers in the world.

The transaction represents the second large financial services tenant signed by AFR at the building this year, with Citco Fund Services, a leading hedge fund administrator, taking 70,000 s/f in February.

"AFR's focus on the financial service sector was a key determinant in our decision to select Plaza 10 and Jersey City," says James R. Taylor, vice president of corporate real estate for Northern Trust Company.

"The team's ability to understand our requirements and create a unique package that specifically met our needs was invaluable. We selected Plaza 10 for its state-of-the-art technology and open floor plates as well as expansive views of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline. In addition, the building's amenities and modern design provided the exact image we wanted to project to our clientele."

"We continue to see a diverse mix of companies looking to the Jersey City waterfront to expand their businesses," says Michael Weil, senior vice president of sales and leasing at American Financial Realty.

"Harborside Plaza 10 fits the bill by providing an appealing mix of tax incentives, more affordable rents than New York City and a skilled labor force that makes Jersey City hard to beat for financial service companies. Plaza 10 also provides our tenants with state-of-the-art building technology, numerous local amenities and unmatched views."

American Financial Realty also announced the completion of a 3,000 s/f lease with Amazon Cafe, which will operate its food franchise at the entrance-level of the building.

Frank Doyle of Jones Lang LaSalle led the American Financial Realty brokerage team, along with Cynthia Wasserberger, John Meisel, Tom Reilly, Sam Buckley and Jay Laphan. Augustus B. Field IV of Cushman & Wakefield represented Northern Trust in its transaction. In the deal with Amazon Cafe, Glenn Beyer of Metro Commercial represented American Financial Realty and Melanie E. Stocker of Legends Properties represented the tenant.