499 Park Avenue
A group of residential brokers hardly needs schooling on the importance of location. Now Halstead will move its flagship office to a prime spot at Park Avenue and 59th Street.
Access to public transportation was a key consideration, according to an internal memo sent to staffers.
In addition to the more utilitarian concerns, the firm will make its new home in an I.M. Pei creation. Not everyone loves the aesthetics of a sleek glass slab on Park Avenue, but there’s no doubt it offers some stunning Central Park views from Halstead’s new perch on the 14th and 15th floors.
The 900-agent firm, which has weathered the recession without closing an office, will double the size of its flagship space to 17,000 square feet. After the move, it plans to shutter its East Side office at 1356 Third Avenue between 77th and 78th streets.
It’s been quite the journey since the firm, which was founded by Clark Halstead and Diane Ramirez in 1984, opened its original flagship in a townhouse at 1065 Madison Avenue. Now it will cozy up with new neighbors finance firm Cantor Fitzgerald, in the building where Bloomberg news once buzzed.
Architecture firm Gensler will design the new space, which is still in the planning stages.
