North River Company (NRC) has retained JLL as the exclusive leasing agent for 610 West 26th Street, the 230,000 s/f midtown property known as The B&O Building.
NRC’s Chris Pachios and Forrest Mas will work closely with JLL’s Bill Korchak, Edward DiTolla and Henry Warner to market available space, which includes an approximately 100,000 s/f “building-within-a-building” opportunity.
“We are excited to bring this space to market and have selected an experienced JLL team that specializes in this type of unique asset in Manhattan,” said Pachios. “Our adaptive redesign of this property, along with its flexible zoning, has created an unparalleled offering for a multitude of users that can benefit from the building’s prime location in the heart of Manhattan.”
Originally constructed in 1913 by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad as a freight terminal, the nine-story property was once the largest concrete structure in Manhattan.
Situated five blocks south of Hudson Yards and steps from the West Side Highway, the building has been owned and operated by NRC affiliate Bulgroup Properties since 1982, primarily as an art storage and self-storage facility.
Tenants include celebrity fitness trainer Simone De La Rue’s fitness studio Body by Simone, non-profit organization Printed Matter that is founded by artists and art workers, and specialized art storage for various institutions. The building is also home to NRC’s headquarters.
Current availability includes a 20,143 s/f portion of the 9th floor and the ability to occupy the entire penthouse floor with an additional 9,803 s/f that is newly built out as creative office space; full 29,000 s/f 3rd and 4th floors; 6,500 s/f on part of the 2nd floor and 2,000 s/f on part of the ground floor.
NRC, which successfully repurposed the historic Terminal Stores in Manhattan, as well as The Matsil Building and The Anable Building in Long Island City as tailor-made flex space, believes 610 West 26th Street is similarly positioned to capture the attention of a cross section of users as the Manhattan market slowly returns to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Said Mas, “The B&O Building stands out in a market where so much space has been converted to office to accommodate the tech sector.
“In the coming months, as businesses become fully operational, 610 West 26th Street provides office options that are well-suited to service providers, startups and feeder companies looking for a direct connection to Hudson Yards and West Chelsea firms at rental rates well within their range, as well as last-mile delivery convenience for light industrial users. We look forward to working with the JLL leasing team to realize this goal.”
With some 200 galleries in the neighborhood, Chelsea is well known for its art industry. The High Line elevated park has turned the neighborhood into a tourist destination and its classic loft-style buildings are populated by creative office space, restaurants, bars and shops.
Transport options include the nearby Penn Station where the A, C, E, 1, 2, 3 lines run through. The N, Q, R, and L trains along with the 7 line, are also close by.
“610 West 26th Street is a unique offering based on its M1-5 zoning and its extraordinary infrastructure and flexible use profile,” said Korchak. “This property is ideal for a distinct office space and also can accommodate manufacturers as well as tenants seeking a location to meet local distribution. The West Chelsea location and freight elevators make it an ideal option for art storage or archive use.”
