Madonna Postpones Lower East Side Visit;[br] Her Rep 'Loved' 179 Ludlow, Though

Alas, it seems that the much-anticipated Madonna appearance at 179 Ludlow Street on the Lower East Side was postponed this week. A representative for the Queen of Pop, however, did tour the three floors there that could eventually house the her new kabbalah center. "Her rep loved it," neighborhood broker James Famularo told The Real Estate. "Madonna is going to come by for a tour in the coming weeks to make a decision." Mr. Famularo told The Real Estate last week that Madge had been tipped off about the spot by developer Jason Pomeranc, who is building a hotel just south of Houston Street, on Allen Street. New Jersey investor Michelangelo Russo recently purchased 179 Ludlow for $5.2 million, and plans to develop high-end rentals on the residential floors. No one has claimed the 7,200 square feet of commercial space, but that could be because the total rent is somewhere in the ballpark of $45,000 a month. The Real Estate pressed Mr. Famularo for an exact date of a Madonna visit, but the wise broker remained tight-lipped. Stay tuned. - Mark Wellborn