Shaya Boymelgreen

Lev Leviev and Shaya Boymelgreen have set the terms to their break-up. The two were a seemingly ubiquitous part of the city's recent real estate building boom, but not any more. Still, like most breakups, theirs will linger until it's permanent.

A press release comes from Israel with lots of juicy details, and it's Lev Leviev who's the big-time winner.

Lev Leviev will gain full development control on the group's most valued projects at 23 Wall Street and 88 Leonard Street; and also the commercial part of the 15 Broad Street project, Gowanus Village; and the commercial and parking parts of the W Squared project. Shaya Boymelgreen will assume full control of Atlantic Court, 10 Chelsea, Beachfront Community and the commercial parts of 84 Front Street and 85 Adams Street.

The hot press release from Israel is found after the jump.

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A coalition of activists in parts of Brooklyn that includes ACORN is organizing against prolific real estate developer Shaya Boymelgreen, circulating fliers and putting up a website to stop him from developing land near the Gowanus Canal until toxins below the surface are cleaned up.

Boymelgreen, who has been called a "mega developer," has been a prolific contributor to local candidates.

This should be interesting to watch.

Shaya Boymelgreen tells The Brooklyn Paper how sometimes even real estate developers don't like their buildings:

Sometimes, I see something in my head that I think will be beautiful. But at the end of the day, it doesn't come out like I want, because of the zoning, because of the architect, because of the finishing. You're not 100 percent in control. ... Sometimes I see something that's finished, and I can't quite change it.

- Matthew Schuerman

Forest City Ratner says that the judge's decision invalidating its control of two properties in the Atlantic Yards footprint will be appealed. An e-mailed statement on Wednesday afternoon reads:

"We cannot comment in detail on the decision today because the suit did not directly involve Forest City Ratner Companies (FCRC), said Jeffrey Braun, an attorney for Forest City Ratner. "FCRC purchased the leases for the property in question from another developer. That developer of course believed he had the right to sell those leases under his contract with the landlord, as is often the case with leases such as these held for extended periods of time. The decision issued today by Judge Harkavy says that he did not. The developer has advised us that he will appeal the decision. Finally, we do not believe that this decision will have any impact of the project and are continuing with the preparatory work begun last week."

- Matthew Schuerman Correction: An earlier post said that Forest City would appeal the ruling. Since the case is between the landlord and leasee (which then tried to sell the lease to Ratner), the development company has no direct role in the litigation. It will be the leasee, Shaya Boymelgreen, who will appeal.

• The polish immigrant who confessed to triggering the city's biggest fire since 9/11--the blaze that consumed historic Brooklyn waterfront warehouses--may be an innocent man. "It would have been impossible for him to have started that fire," swears his boss, upstate in scenic Pond Eddy. "Because he was here, working for me." (New York Daily News)
• Real estate tycoon Shaya Boymelgreen and longtime business partner Lev Leviev have gone their separate ways. Boymelgreen is leaving one Israeli millionaire (Leviev) for another (Nochi Dankner), and will turn his attention from Brooklyn developments--condos in Park Slope, Beacon Tower in Dumbo-- toward the riches of India. (Globes, via Curbed)
• On September 10, we'll all open our Times and find something that may be "extraordinarily hot"--brand new Key, a biannual high-end real estate rag. Crain's graciously calls it "yet another special interest supplement." (But we knew about it first). (Crain's)
• "Multiple sources" say big red Rothko, a Lower East Side indie rock mecca, has closed its doors forever. RIP. (Brooklyn Vegan)
• The Port Authority chairman gives "his most explicit warning to date," and things over at the Freedom Tower aren't looking so sunny. "I think there's every reason to be optimistic," Deputy Mayor Doctoroff chirps. We disagree. Meanwhile, Senator Schumer constructively adds: "We have a plan to move forward. What we don't have is explicit certainty..." (The New York Times)
- Max Abelson
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• A wealthy Prince is not paying his bills over at Trump Park Avenue (nearby A-Rod's new spread). At another Trump building, Bruce Willis is dropping a record $60,000 a month on condo. No word yet on whether Mr. Willis is still planning to spend $10 million on a penthouse at Giuseppe Cipriani's 55 Wall Street. (New York Post)
• Developers David Walentas and Shaya Boymelgreen battle it out in Brooklyn. Also, $20 million co-ops are in short supply and moving fast. (Just check out 720 and 730 Park as examples). (New York Times)

-Michael Calderone  read more »

Although the Plaza’s new ceiling is certainly newsworthy, what's more exciting is that the state attorney general’s office just approved the conversion plan, which had been expected about two months ago. The 6,300-square-foot triplex is being offered at $32.5 million.

After famously battling De Beers, how tough could Manhattan’s condo world be for billionaire Lev Leviev? Now, alongside Shaya Boymelgreen, the developers go beyond Downtown by Starck with the conversion of http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/11/realestate/11deal.html ">20 Pine Street.

Speaking of downtown luxury condos, Bruce Willis is heading for a penthouse at Cipriani’s 55 Wall Street for $10 million, according to the New York Post. And contrary to The Times star witness, there seems to be more evidence that Lenny Kravitz is not dropping $50 million on the Duke Semans mansion.

Staying nearby her Strokes beau, Drew Barrymore buys a Bleecker Street duplex for about $2.5 million, according to New York magazine.  read more »

And even though the G Train “smelled like a sewer,” an intrepid grad student moves to Greenpoint anyway. See you at the Pencil Factory, dude!

-Michael Calderone