Bronx Academy Relocates to New MXD

NEW YORK CITY-Jonas Bronck Academy is relocating to 50,000 square feet at Fordham Place, a $120-million mixed-use complex in the Bronx. Terms of the lease were not disclosed; however, it’s been reported that the progressive middle school has signed for a 20-year lease at $39 per square foot.

The New York School Construction Authority leased the three-level space on behalf of Jonas Bronck Academy, which was named for the borough’s founder. The academy was previously housed on the Bronx campus of Manhattan College.

A spokesman for Acadia Realty Trust and PA Associates, the developers of Fordham Place, tells GlobeSt.com that the academy is the second tenant to sign on at the project’s 160,000-square-foot office component at 400 E. Fordham Rd. The US Census Bureau signed on for 8,250 square feet earlier this month.

“This property is the first class A office building to be built in the Bronx in over 20 years,” says PA principal Aaron Malinsky in a release. He cites “new facilities, flexible footprint opportunities, Manhattan views and accessibility to transportation” as elements in its favor. The office component opened in January; 110,000 square feet of retail space has been up and running since late last year, anchored by Best Buy, Walgreen’s, Sears, 24 Hour Fitness and Healthfirst.

The building offers flexible floor plates ranging in size from 8,200 to 22,000 rentable square feet and pre-built units ready for immediate occupancy ranging from 2,000 to 3,500 rentable square feet, according to a release. In 2008, the US Green Building Council awarded Fordham Place pre-certification under the LEED Core & Shell rating system. The developers are seeking LEED certification on the project.

Alexander P. Jinishian and Greg Wang of FirstService Williams represented Acadia and PA in the transaction. Greenberg Farrow served as the architectural firm for Fordham Place.