1400 Broadway

The decision last month by fashion design house leader Ellen Tracy to relocate its showroom headquarters to W&H Properties' 1400 Broadway is "a clear signal that our repositioning program to make this the finest fashion and apparel building in New York is making strides towards success," says W&H Senior Vice President Fred C. Posniak.

Ellen Tracy, a premier designer of fashion ensembles for career-oriented women, will occupy more than 27,000 square feet of office and showroom space, comprising the entire 32nd and 33rd floors, under terms of a 12-year lease. The company has long made its reputation as a source of fashionable, high-quality and accessibly priced clothing for business women at all levels. The firm is moving from a nearby building on Broadway that has been stalled in its conversion to an office building.

"This is exactly the result our ongoing capital improvement program was designed to achieve, attracting internationally respected, high-credit companies in the fashion industry that will be proud to call 1400 Broadway their home," says Mr. Posniak.

He notes that: "We have strived to attract fashion industry leaders that will in turn attract other major fashion tenants. Successful firms want to be located with other successful firms, and we are providing the environment in which that can happen."

Mr. Posniak says overall leasing activity for 1400 Broadway is strong and gaining momentum. For example, Excelled Sheepskin and Leather Coat Corp. recently took possession of the entire 31st floor, consisting of nearly 15,000 square feet, and IFG (Innovative Fashion Group), a division of Adjmi Apparel Group, will soon move into 10,500 square feet on the 22nd floor.

Also, current tenant Federal Knitwork has elected to expand its showroom and office at 1400 Broadway. Its occupancy now exceeds 13,000 square feet.

Occupying a prime location in the rapidly growing Times Square South district, 1400 Broadway is undergoing an $81 million capital improvement program, which recently achieved a milestone with the completion of a beautiful new lobby. Designed by lobby specialist firm Fifield Piaker Elman, it features an eye-catching ornate ceiling, new entrance doors, new canopy, new high-efficiency lighting, and new security desks with 24/7 concierge services.

"An attractive, well-designed lobby is a critical element in projecting Class-A status for firms whose clients will be coming from around the world to see fashion collections," Mr. Posniak observes. "We've created just the right entrance environment for the world-class fashion center this building has become."

Now underway are the remainder of the improvements, including renovation of restrooms and air-conditioned public corridors, new windows and HVAC systems, and upgrades to all building systems.