Vanbarton Closes on 31 Penn Plaza

Vanbarton Group, a privately owned real estate investment and advisory firm launched last month by Gary Tischler and Richard Coles, completed the acquisition of 31 Penn Plaza in New York for $265 million. Savanna sold the 18 story, 450,000 square foot building after paying $130 million for the property in 2011, then adding around $20 million in capital improvements. Douglas Harmon, Adam Spies, Joshua King, Adam Doneger and Michael Saclarides of Eastdil Secured represented Savanna in the sale transaction, according to a citybizlist article. Attorneys Christopher Price and Adam Kopald of Goodwin Procter served as the seller's counsel.

"31 Penn Plaza has been a transformative case study that we are proud of," said Kevin Hoo, Managing Director at Savanna. "Savanna has significantly repositioned the property's infrastructure and tenant profile, and in the process, restored its attraction and reputation in a submarket that has experienced tremendous growth over the past few years. We are grateful to our entire team of partners and service providers who helped us achieve the turnaround."

"Landlords in these buildings are holding out for top dollar and can scrutinize the firms competing for their space more rigorously," said Bill Montana, Savills Studley's senior managing director in a prepared statement. "Class A tenants seeking 10,000 to 40,000 square feet, particularly those who are geographically flexible, have a wealth of options. Informed tenants who do not have a very limited geographical or floor requirement can take a calculated approach to leasing."

For more news and information visit Blumberg Partners.

Savanna Completes Sale of 100 Wall Street for $275M

Savanna closed on the sale of 100 Wall Street to Cornerstone Real Estate Advisers this week in a deal worth $275 million. Savanna originally acquired the 29-story office tower between Front and Water Streets in the Financial District in 2011 for about $120 million, adding about $25 million in capital improvements. Eastdil Secured's Douglas Harmon and Adam Spies brokered the sale on behalf of Savanna; terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"We are proud of the transformational change we achieved at 100 Wall Street," said Kevin Hoo, Managing Director at Savanna. "The incremental capital investment has significantly added to the property's future resiliency and repositioned it as a premier destination for a wide range of global, institutional quality tenants." In the past two years, Savanna leased over 355,000 square feet of space to several prominent businesses, raising the building's occupancy from 78% shortly after acquisition to 97% today. Major tenants include Lester Schwab Katz and Dwyer, Loeb Holding Corporation, Crenshaw Associates, and PCubed.

For more news and information visit Blumberg Partners.