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easing, investment sales and return‑to‑office activity are surging across Manhattan, a trend that has finally caught global attention. A recent Wall Street Journal piece revealed that BXP’s upcoming 343 Madison Ave tower—a $2 billion development adjacent to Grand Central—will likely host financial group C.V. Starr. The lease covers 275,000 sq ft, a figure confirmed by the Commercial Observer after BXP had quietly begun vertical construction. The company, listed on the NYSE, declined to comment.
Transwestern’s Q3 earnings report underscored the momentum, noting that the Manhattan office market is “in full swing.” Direct and sublease inventory fell to 14.8 %, while the construction pipeline hit a near‑historic low of 3.2 million sq ft—a 22 % drop from the prior quarter. With demand outpacing new supply, rents are poised to climb.
One Madison Ave, a 1.4‑million‑sq‑ft tower that opened just over a year ago, now sits at 91.2 % occupancy. New tenants include Harvey AI Corp. and Sigma Computing, and an unnamed financial services firm expanded its presence, boosting the building’s appeal. The influx of workers is already benefiting local businesses, such as Daniel Boulud’s La Tete d’Or steakhouse, which is operating at capacity.
SL Green’s headline‑making purchase of the Park Avenue Tower for $730 million highlights the developer’s continued success. Meanwhile, RXR’s 75 Rockefeller Center has secured four new leases totaling 25,000 sq ft. Fenergo occupies 4,670 sq ft on the 22nd floor, while Ayson Corp., Rand Merchant Bank, and Quinbrook have renewed and expanded their agreements. Asking rents in the tower range from $105 to $110 per sq ft.
“Today's competitive office market forces tenants to choose between prime location and top‑tier building quality,” said RXR New York managing director William Elder. “75 Rock offers both.”
