Pam Liebman

The heftiest brokerage in the city just lost three hefty senior vice presidents (and a VP too). Uber-broker Wendy Maitland (whom you may remember from this weekend as Madonna's broker) is one of the recently departed (she's at the top, on the middle left).

"Sometimes issues come up that make it better for the brokers and the company to part ways," Corcoran CEO Pam Liebman told The Real Estate on Monday afternoon. "In this case, that's the path we chose to take." (Ms. Liebman was using the royal we.) "They're good brokers, we wish them well."

Those good brokers include Wilbur Gonzalez (on the far left above), who brought in $200 million for Corcoran in 2004 and 2005 alone--and who had the honor of representing Courtney Love's Soho loft. Another departed SVP, Erin Boisson Aries (above, far right), has been one of the firm's top-producing brokers. Then there's vice president Reid Price, who had already produced "more than $800 million in sales" in a decade.

All that information comes from Corcoran's Web profiles of its brokers. Eerily, those pages have been taken down from the Internet.

Why the exodus? "Maybe you should get that from them," Ms. Liebman said. "I don't feel comfortable speaking on internal politics." But the four brokers couldn't immediately be reached for comment--so, naturally, there's more soon to come.

- Max Abelson

Monolithic real estate firm NRT acquired Bridgehampton's Allan M. Schnieder Associates this afternoon. (Sales prices, sadly, were not disclosed). Schneider will be absorbed into the Corcoran Group, thus combining the East End's two biggest real estate brokerages.

We talked to the young couple, including Corcoran CEO Pam Liebman and Schneider principals (now Corcoran senior managing directors) Peter Hallock, Timothy Davis and Peggy Griffin.

Mr. Davis on today's dour Times Hamptons piece: "We've actually experienced a record year so far--and 2005 was a 30% boost over the year before. People like to report on negative news."

Mr. Hallock on Hamptons negativity: "One house not selling doesn't make or break the market." (And earlier: "We're happy campers!")

Mr. Hallock on the Hamptons allure: "To have the pristine beaches and the wonderful zoning and being a hundred miles from the best city in the world? It's a world class wateringhole."

Ms. Liebman on Corcoran's future Hamptons growth: "We never pass up a good opportunity. But it doesn't get much better than this. Certainly there may be some small boutiques, though. We always look for new business opportunities."

Mr. Hallock on hip Hamptons 'hoods: "You know for years we've been watching Hampton Bays, and wondering when to jump in. We jumped in about a year and a half ago, when Starbucks opened. We thought: 'You know what? We're taking the place next door'... Now the waterfront is on fire. And the Flanders area, which people thought twice about, is very hot."  read more »

Ms. Liebman on Hamptons expectations: "I think our market share will continue to grow, and I hope we expand our number of listings. I think this is a great opportunity for us to add some new brokers... I'm looking forward to getting bigger and better."

- Max Abelson

In December, Barbara Corcoran told The Observer that if she wasn't invited to the Gods and Goddesses-themed holiday party, she would probably crash it.

We're actually not sure if Babs ever made it, but from the sound of this "event report," Corcoran CEO Pam Liebman was definitely in control of the festivities.

"Liebman then commanded everyone to “have the best time ever,” at which point New Kids on the Block’s “Hangin’ Tough” blared through the room. An intentional goof, the music stopped as soon as Liebman declared that the song did not belong at the party, and she needed the emperor to bring out a new DJ. Soon the emperor emerged (another actor), followed by a troupe of dancers, as the DJ switched the soundtrack to Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl.” Then dancers dressed in Roman garb performed onstage, and the guards handed out red feather fans to the Corcoran employees."

Yes, this is where all those broker commissions wind up at the end of the year. (BizBash via Gawker)  read more »

-Michael Calderone

After brisk sales, some billionaires are taking a step back from the 15 Central Park West, according to the New York Post. And at Trump Park Avenue, a prince moves into the apartment above A-Rod for $6.2 million.

Barbara Corcoran first joked about firing CEO Pam Liebman, and then rode off into the sunset.

The New York Post looks at what $1 million can buy you these days in Manhattan.

Richard Meier and Renzo Piano have a friendly chat in the New York Times. Piano: “The fact that art is robbery is well known--robbery without masks. In some ways that's good. It's robbery where you give back, like Robin Hood.”  read more »

And the Top of the Rock is ready to battle the Empire State Building.

-Michael Calderone

Yesterday, Corcoran's elite brokers and executives mixed it up with a few hundred burly construction workers on the 51st floor of The Orion, Gary Barnett's recent development that will soon be the sixth-tallest residential building in the city. Guests were nervously transported up a rickety elevator to the "topping out party," an event staged when the highest point is reached during construction.

CEO Pam Liebman and new marketing COO Jeff Yamaguchi--who just arrived from Las Vegas this week--were among the real-estate big-wigs on hand.

And to let the workers know their sweat was not excreted in vain, Ms. Liebman informed the crowd that she bought one of the first apartments available. "I know where I'm going," said one brawny guy while giving his friend an elbow in the ribs.

Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff spoke, too, and received thunderous applause every time he flashed his union cred. Mr. Doctoroff enthusiastically proclaimed that New Yorkers would soon witness "one of the greatest building booms in the city's history." What West Side Stadium?

Mr. Barnett, whose Extell Development Company is popping up everywhere lately, appeared jubilant with his 60-story building topping out after breaking ground only 15 months earlier. Afterwards, he dodged a reporter's question about the M.T.A. overlooking Extell's proposal for a development in downtown Brooklyn on the spot where Bruce Ratner wants to build Stadiumland.

People came here to party, not answer uncomfortable questions!

After the speeches, brokers and starving real-estate reporters took off their bright-white hardhats and headed toward the potato salad and star-shaped brownies ("Far above the city lights, right below the stars!" read the invitation to the event). One floor below, the workers chowed down together and presented each other with various awards.

For about an hour or so, we felt some real unity. This must be what it's like to build in Des Moines!  read more »

- Michael Calderone Orion construction photo courtesy of Edward Sudentas (Wired New York)

The air in the upper stories of Manhattan's most expensive apartment buildings has always been a bit  read more »

It was going to be a lavish affair: The 600 brokers of the Corcoran Group gathered on top of the ice  read more »

On May 2, 118 Manhattan real-estate firms announced that they could not work together–even to attr  read more »