Mercedes to Vacate One of New York City’s Few Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings
By Daniel Geiger June 20, 2012 8:00 am
reprintsThe Mercedes showroom in 430 Park Avenue is one of the few commercial spaces in Manhattan designed by the famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Now, with Mercedes set to leave the location at the end of the year, 430 Park Avenue’s landlord, Midwood Properties, is said to be in the market shopping for new tenants.
Mr. Wright designed the space in the early 1950s for the European car importer Max Hoffman and for years was known as the Hoffman Showroom.
The space is a miniature prelude to Mr. Wright’s architectural triumph the Guggenheim Museum, featuring a small circular ramp that allows cars to be displayed and also to exit the showroom onto the street outside via a sidedoor.
The floor features a circular track that at one point allowed cars to be parked on a rotating display, but an attendant at the Mercedes dealership who gave The CO a tour on Tuesday said that motor powering revolving track has long been broken.
For all the space’s charms, it would appear to present a leasing challenge.
First, it’s landmarked, which could make adapting it for use by another type of tenant difficult. Mercedes has occupied the showroom since the late 1950s and is leaving to consolidate on 11th Avenue where it has a larger showroom.
Brokers familiar with the space say that finding a replacement auto dealership is likely the easiest replacement and Mr. Wright’s timeless architecture would likely be a selling point in that approach.
John Usdan, chief executive of Midwood stubbornly refused to field The Commercial Observer’s calls inquiring about the space.
The CO will post a slideshow with pictures of the space later today.
