Ford Models is packing up its New York operation and heading to a fresh address in Midtown South, signing a 11,986-square-foot office lease at 36 East 31st Street and grabbing the entire eighth floor under a five-year, five-month deal. While the new digs are being built out, the agency will camp out in a temporary ninth-floor suite at 135 Madison Avenue, then make the jump once construction wraps. The move highlights how established names are still hunting for tight, well-located Manhattan offices, even without the splashy trophy towers.
As reported by New York Real Estate Journal, Koeppel Rosen LLC, the leasing and management agent for the Rosen family portfolio, represented the building owner, while Bradley Cohn and Alan Bonett of Adams & Company Real Estate handled the deal for Ford Models. Max Koeppel, director of leasing at Koeppel Rosen, said his team is pleased to welcome the agency to 36 East 31st Street and pointed to the lease as proof that demand is still there for efficient office options in Midtown South.
Historic building, modern fit-outs
The new office will sit in a 12-story loft-and-office property that dates back to 1914 and is known for its fluted-column façade, according to Koeppel Rosen. Ownership controls roughly 146,199 rentable square feet on the block between Park and Madison avenues and has upgraded lobbies and elevators in recent years to appeal to tenants chasing Class B-plus creative space instead of sky-high rents.
What the deal means for Midtown South
Bringing a legacy modeling agency into the building adds some extra gloss to a tenant roster that already includes North Shore Community Services, Gramercy Park Administrative Services, Clover II and Hilldun, according to New York Real Estate Journal. Brokers say signings like this one show Midtown South still has strong pull for firms that want transit access and neighborhood amenities without shelling out for top-tier trophy towers.
Dealmakers and next steps
Koeppel Rosen is overseeing the buildout of Ford Models’ new floor while the agency operates from 135 Madison, and brokers expect the timeline to track a typical fit-out schedule for midtown creative offices. The building’s pitch leans hard on its transit connections and nearby dining, according to a Noah & Co. listing for the property, which helps explain why a high-profile tenant like Ford Models is willing to wait for the space to be ready.
