DESIGN
The Flatiron Building, one of New York's iconic buildings, goes up for auction
Does it seem impossible that one of New York's iconic buildings, the Flatiron Building, should suddenly be put up for auction? Strangely enough, it is a real thing and depends, as it often does, on a dispute between owners.
The building, a city monument since 1966 and inaugurated in 1902, is much loved by New Yorkers but has in fact been abandoned for a few years now, with many disputes between the various owners who have decided to wash their hands of it and sell, although the aim would be to wrest 25% of the ownership from one of the partners, the only one who has problems with all the others.
Soon, therefore, the famous Flatiron, so renamed by the citizens, could have new owners and a new life.
The Flatiron Building, one of New York's iconic buildings, goes up for auction
Does it seem impossible that one of New York's iconic buildings, the Flatiron Building, should suddenly be put up for auction? Strangely enough, it is a real thing and depends, as it often does, on a dispute between owners. The building, a city monument since 1966 and inaugurated in 1902, is much loved by New Yorkers but has in fact been abandoned for a few years now, with many disputes between the various owners who have decided to wash their hands of it and sell, although the aim would be to wrest 25% of the ownership from one of the partners, the only one who has problems with all the others. Soon, therefore, the famous Flatiron, so renamed by the citizens, could have new owners and a new life.
Flatiron Building up for auction
Do you dream of buying a palace in New York? On 22 March, you can. In fact, the historic Flatiron Building, one of the most iconic buildings in all of Manatthan, will go up for auction that very day, with an auction open to the public. So anyone with the necessary means can become the sole owner.
The Flatiron Building on the Fifth Avenue
Officially called the Fuller Building, the citizens of the Big Apple named it the Flatiron because its shape resembles that of an iron. Built in 1902 by the Chicago architect Daniel Burnham in the Beaux-Arts style, it stands on a triangular lot between 23rd Street, Fifth Avenue and Broadway looking towards the Madison Square Park Conservancy. At the time of its opening, New Yorkers wondered how much this unusual building would be able to withstand the gusts of wind that are very prevalent in this part of the island.
The situation of the owners of the Flatiron Building
Currently, ownership of the building is reportedly divided between five real estate companies. As reported by the ANSA news agency, GFP Real Estate, Newmark, ABS Real Estate Partners, and the Sorgente group (who together hold 75 per cent of the skyscraper), want to 'divorce' from the fifth partner, Nathan Silverstein, who holds the remaining 25 per cent, after years of squabbling over what to do with the now almost deserted building.
The causes of discord between owners
For a long time, the building was the headquarter of the British publishing house Macmillan, which occupied the property until 2019. After the departure of the publishing house, it seems that one of the owners, specifically Newmark, tried to rent the building to a company for flexible offices, below market price. This earned the complaint of one of the other owners, Silverstain, which in turn is accused of doing nothing concrete to resolve the situation. One of the owners, who spoke to Hyperallergic and was quoted by ElleDecor magazine, said: 'The idea is to keep the property by getting he 25 per cent of Silverstein.
A little trivia about the Flatiron Building
The Flatiron Building also has its own importance in the world of comic books, being the historic home of the Daily Bugle, the Marvel Universe's fictional newspaper, and the place where Peter Parker, a.k.a. Spider-Man, and one of his main antagonists, editor J. Jonah Jameson (author of an uninterrupted smear campaign against the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man). He also appeared in a cameo in the 1962 Fantastic 4.
Art galleries private collections
Art galleries private collections
Art galleries private collections
Art galleries private collections
Art galleries private collections
Art galleries private collections
Tablet computers and tech gadgets
14/06/2024
The four main consumer rights are: the right to product safety, to full information, to a free choice and to be heard. Often, however, especially in online transactions, not everything is as clear as it should be, and one often runs the risk of running into scams.
Suspicious e-mails, random links, false information, fake websites: these and many other things undermine our computer security, as do outdated passwords and careless consumers. The phenomenon of online scams is much more widespread than people think, with hundreds of thousands of victims worldwide every year.
However, there are some very simple guidelines to help you defend yourself. Nothing complicated, just a few behaviours to follow if you want to surf more safely. Here are some tips on how to arm yourself against online scams.
Art galleries private collections
12/06/2024
The Neolithic site of Stonehenge, is located a few miles from Salisbury, England. Formed of huge stones, it is believed to have been an astronomical observatory in ancient times, with special significance at the solstice and equinox.
Specifically, these are huge megaliths positioned in a circular shape, topped by equally huge connecting lintels. The current position of the stones is the result of massive restoration that took place in the early part of the 20th century.
To this day, historians and scientists remain debated about its real significance. Included in UNESCO protected sites, today it is a popular tourist destination. The myths behind this place, even in 2023, are wasted.