RXR Realty is planning to create 50k SF of ground-floor retail at the 20-story, 2.3M SF Starrett-Lehigh office building in West Chelsea.
The new retail space will span a full block along Eleventh Avenue from West 26th to West 27th streets, Crain’s reports. The building has a roster of tenants that includes Martha Stewart Living, Tommy Hilfiger and advertising firm McGarry Bowen, but an unimpressive array of retail options nearby.
RXR was able to put the wheels in motion for the new retail space after striking a deal to relocate Verizon, which occupied the first two floors on the Eleventh Avenue side. RXR has tried to address the food options issue by letting food trucks drive onto the office floors via industrial-sized service elevators.
Plans are in the early stages for the retail addition, which is expected to run into the millions of dollars and begin next year. RXR CEO Scott Rechler was the inaugural interviewee for Bisnow TV. [Crain’s]
