Crain's New York, May 17, 2006

Columbus Avenue retail project moves forward
by Elisabeth Butler

A plan to redevelop Columbus Avenue between 97th and 100th
streets is moving ahead.

The project, known as 808 Columbus Avenue, includes a 29-
story residential building and 220,000 square feet of
retail space.

PWV Acquisition, which bought the property in 2000, tapped
Winick Realty Group to manage the retail leasing. There
will be 60,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, as
well as a 80,000-square-foot basement and an 80,000-square-
foot second story, according to the realty company.

Winick executives declined to comment beyond a written
statement.

Business leaders in the neighborhood have speculated about
PWV’s plans for the site of the former Park West Village
since retail tenants were told last year that they would
have to move. The last remaining tenant, a C-Town grocery
store, closed last month. The redeveloped retail space is
expected to house a supermarket, fashion boutiques,
restaurants, national retailers and specialty shops.

“The businesses that were there were really serving the
community, and they are a loss,” says Peter Arndtsen,
district manager of the Columbus/Amsterdam Business
Improvement District. “But we don’t have many attractive
businesses to draw people in from outside the
neighborhood.”

808 Columbus Avenue is expected to open in 2008.

©2006 Crain Communications Inc.