Fritz Richter.
Fritz Richter, 27
Associate Director at Avison Young
Frederick (Fritz) Richter is an investment sales broker who works with the James Nelson team at Avison Young.
Richter got his first taste of the real estate business when he worked for his uncle, a general contractor in the city. In that role, young Fritz workedon the gut renovation of an apartment.
“When I was in high school working for him, the idea of taking a canvas and then gut-renovating it and turning it into something new and tangible, that was my first experience in real estate,” Richter said. And it was motivating.
While at Colgate University, Richter stayed involved in real estate through several college groups, but pursued a slightly different major: environmental economics. “I thought that I wanted to change the world with green buildings,” he said.
After a stint in real estate finance after college, Richter moved to investment sales, first at the Besen Group and then at Avison Young — but he still gets plenty of hands-on experience. Richter’s team completed several large deals during the pandemic, including a 99-year ground lease at the Salvation Army’s headquarters on Manhattan’s West 14th Street with KPG Funds, which will redevelop the building into boutique offices.
That led to a continuing relationship with the Salvation Army, which is looking to do a similar play at 62 Hanson Place in Brooklyn, another asset the nonprofit owns. “They want to consolidate some real estate assets, focus on areas where they can better give back to the community,” Richter said.
Originally from Westchester’s Bronxville, Richter spent part of the pandemic lockdown with his family outside the city, but not for good, like some of his friends. He recently moved to the Financial District, and is enjoying it so far.—C.G.
