Ameriprise Financial Inc.

• "It's almost like wiping out Carnegie Hall," said Jackie Mason about the closing of the Second Avenue Deli. (The New York Times)
• It's not local, but the fight to rebuild New Orleans? Looks like the poor neighborhoods won't be eligible for rebuilding assistance. Did anybody see this coming? (The New York Times)
• A second tenant for 7 World Trade Center has been announced: Ameriprise Financial will rent 20,000 square feet on the 39th floor. (The New York Times)
• Cecil Meed, R.I.P. A landlord that actually lowered the rent, dies in a Hamilton Heights fire. (The New York Times)
• No surprise here: Manhattan apartment prices hit record high. (Crain's)
• It's a little old, but here's an interview with Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe about Washington Square Park's redesign. A couple of nuggets: "We’re going to make sure we have all our proverbial ducks in a row"; "There’s a lot of muffins in the oven getting ready to come out.” (The Villager)

-Matthew Grace  read more »

Larry Silverstein has made it official, after six months of rumors. This morning his company announced that about 50 Ameriprise Financial employees will occupy 20,000 square feet, half of the 39th floor, under a 10-year lease, starting this summer. Next fall, the only other outside tenant (Silverstein will take a floor also), the New York Academy of Sciences, will move in on the 40th floor. Given the time it takes a company to move out of its old place and outfit a new one, New Yorkers probably won't see that building fill up for many months after its official March opening, even if there is a rush on space. -Matthew Schuerman  read more »