I
n Marvel's Thunderbolts, a significant portion of the action takes place in and around what was formerly known as Avengers Tower, now called The Watchtower. This plot point ties up a storyline that began when Happy Hogan moved the Avengers out of their HQ in Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017). However, it raises several questions about the building's ownership and renovation costs.

    Avengers Tower doesn't exist in real life; instead, it was modeled after 200 Park Avenue South, also known as the MetLife Building. The comic book version is a 93-story skyscraper with a helipad that allows Iron Man and Quinjets to take off. However, this feature would be impossible in reality due to a 1977 ban on rooftop helipads in NYC.

    Michael T. Cohen, a real estate expert, estimates that Avengers Tower would sell for over $1 billion based on its size, location, and prestige. He notes that the building's value would be measured by price per square foot, but this information is not publicly available. Other buildings in the area have changed hands or are being renovated, including a Hyatt hotel and several office buildings.

    Cohen points out that Avengers Tower has several idiosyncratic considerations that would impact its sale price. The building's frequent attacks by supervillains would make it challenging to secure property insurance for conventional investors. Additionally, the rooftop helipad would require special permits and arrangements with the city.

    The building's location on top of Grand Central Station also raises concerns about liability and potential damage from attacks. However, as Kevin Draper notes, the magnetic attraction of cities like New York is so great that people will tolerate a certain amount of discomfort.

    In reality, buying Avengers Tower would involve a multi-step process, including creating an offering memorandum and inviting interested parties to sign confidentiality agreements. The seller would then receive sealed bids from potential buyers, who would evaluate the building's worth and gather funds for their offer. In this case, Valentina Allegra de Fontaine purchased the building around 2016 but abandoned it for years before introducing a new Avengers team in Thunderbolts.

    Cohen notes that it's unusual for prime real estate like Avengers Tower to sit vacant for so long, but it can happen due to lack of capital or casualty events. Now that the New Avengers team is introduced, it's likely that Valentina will revamp and renovate the building to meet their needs.