Churchill Secures $35M Financing for Newly Acquired Garment District Lot
By Matt Grossman June 19, 2018 5:38 pm
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New York City-based private equity fund Pembrook Capital Management has lent $35 million against Churchill Real Estate Holdings‘ retail construction project at 259-261 West 34th Street in the Garment District, according to property records.
The lot, between Seventh and Eighth Avenues directly across from Madison Square Garden, is the site for a proposed six-story retail building tallying almost 42,000 square feet, according to CoStar (CSGP) Group. It was part of a chunk of space co-owned by Shifra Hager‘s Cornell Realty Management and the Chetrit Group, before those companies ended their partnership in January 2016 and split their holdings on West 34th Street, The Real Deal reported.
Records filed with New York City show that Cornell transferred the deed for the property to Churchill this week, but no purchase price was listed. It wasn’t clear right away whether the loan supported Churchill’s acquisition of the property or the planned construction, as representatives from Pembrook and Churchill did not immediately respond to inquiries.
Until last year, the north side of West 34th Street, across from the entrance to Penn Station, was home to a bevy of tourist shops selling T-shirts and bargain stores peddling bags and electronics. But with the adjacent construction of Moynihan Train Hall, rents in the neighborhood have trended north. Hudson Yards, a stone’s throw to the west, has attracted high-end retailers like Neiman Marcus, coach and Tory Burch, with retailers paying anywhere from $400 to $700 for digs in The Shops & Restaurants at Hudson Yards.
