Christie’s, the white glove Manhattan auction house, will find a home in Red Hook, it was reported this week.
According to the blog Brownstoner, Christie’s signed a lease for 235,000 square feet of space at 62 Imlay Street, a transaction considered the largest commercial deal in Brooklyn this year.
Christie’s expects to occupy the six−story warehouse building early next year, according to the report. The company would not say how much it paid for the space, but commercial brokers estimated costs at $8 to $10 per square foot, a report in Crain’s New York stated.
“We are delighted to have a long−term relationship between Christie’s and Industry City,” said George Arzt, a spokesperson for property owner Industry City. “This will benefit the Red Hook community as well as Brooklyn at large,” Arzt said, adding that the auctioneer plans to hire “community people” to work in the cavernous space.
Arzt said the building would be used for offices, storage and restoration.
The timing of the news reports is curious: the lease was negotiated in December, and ratified in January, Arzt noted.
