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The 12-Story Secret Of 28 West 36th Street: Inside The NYC Building Blending 1911 History With 2025 Tech And Media Power

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28 West 36th Street in New York City is far more than just another commercial address in Midtown South; it is a fascinating 12-story structure that perfectly encapsulates Manhattan’s dynamic blend of historic architecture and cutting-edge commerce. As of late December 2025, this Class B office tower continues to be a highly sought-after location, positioned strategically between the bustling corridors of Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas), attracting a diverse mix of tenants from high-tech FinTech to major digital media enterprises.

Built in 1911, the building’s century-old foundation belies the modern, vibrant businesses operating within its walls today, from a stunning rooftop event space to a rapidly growing digital sports media company. Its prime location in the heart of the Garment District/Midtown South area—just steps from the Empire State Building—gives it a perfect Walk Score of 99 and a Transit Score of 100, making it a critical hub for New York’s evolving commercial landscape.

Building Profile and Historical Context: A 1911 Midtown South Landmark

The structure at 28 West 36th Street is a testament to the enduring quality of early 20th-century New York commercial architecture. Its history is deeply rooted in the area's development as a center for the textile and garment industries, a legacy that has now transformed into a hub for creative, media, and technology firms—the modern-day equivalent of the Garment District's entrepreneurial spirit.

  • Address: 28 West 36th Street, New York, NY 10018
  • Location: Midtown South, between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas)
  • Year Built: 1911
  • Stories: 12
  • Building Class: Class B Office
  • Zoning: M1-6 (Manufacturing, transitioning to commercial/mixed-use)
  • Neighborhood Proximity: Empire State Building, Herald Square, Penn Station, Grand Central Terminal
  • Current Market Value: Assessed at approximately $15.2 million (based on recent tax data)
  • Management/Ownership: The property has seen various owners and brokers over its long history, with Resolution Real Estate Partners often associated with recent leasing activity.

Despite its age, the building remains competitive in the Midtown South market, largely due to its desirable location and the character of its loft-style spaces. The M1-6 zoning designation reflects the area’s industrial past, but the current use is predominantly commercial office space and unique event venues, aligning with the broader trend of office-to-creative-space conversions in the neighborhood.

The Unexpected Tenants: From Penthouse Lofts to FinTech Security

The true story of 28 West 36th Street lies in the diverse and often surprising mix of companies and operations it houses. The building is a micro-ecosystem of New York industry, where high-end event planning, digital media, and regulatory technology all share the same historic address.

Gary's Loft: The Premier Penthouse Event Space

One of the most notable features of the building is Gary's Loft, a highly sought-after studio and event venue occupying the upper floors, including a spectacular penthouse space. This venue is a prime example of a creative conversion, leveraging the building’s height and location to offer a unique experience.

  • Key Features: The venue offers three distinct indoor loft spaces—the Tenth Floor, Eleventh Floor, and the Penthouse.
  • The Draw: The most significant asset is the stunning roof deck, which provides panoramic, 360-degree city views encompassing the iconic Manhattan skyline.
  • Use Case: It is frequently rented for corporate events, fashion shoots, media launches, and high-end weddings, making it a fixture in the NYC event planning industry.

This event space significantly boosts the building’s profile, transforming the top floors of a Class B office building into a premium destination space, driving foot traffic and prestige to the entire property.

The Digital Media and FinTech Presence

Beyond the event space, the remaining floors are home to forward-thinking office tenants. These companies highlight the building's appeal to businesses that require a central, well-connected Manhattan address.

  • Snapback Sports: This social and digital sports media company recently signed a double net lease for office space within the building. Their presence underscores the building's draw for modern media and content creation businesses that thrive on connectivity and a central location for talent and partnerships. The lease was brokered by professionals like Michael Gammal, Donald Lai, and Aron Rosenberg, indicating active commercial real estate transactions at the property.
  • DIRO (Document Verification): DIRO, a RegTech company specializing in document verification technology, is headquartered here (Suite 401). Their work is critical in the financial sector, focusing on mitigating risks like financial fraud and reducing friction in KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) compliance processes. The presence of a sophisticated technology firm like DIRO demonstrates the building's suitability for high-security, compliance-focused operations.

The combination of these entities—a luxury event venue, a dynamic digital media firm, and a crucial FinTech security provider—creates a unique and powerful ecosystem at 28 West 36th Street, far surpassing the typical tenant mix of a traditional Class B office building.

Midtown South Market Trends: Why 28 W 36th Street Remains a Hot Commodity

The enduring relevance of 28 West 36th Street is best understood in the context of the greater Midtown South office market, which is showing strong recovery and shifting dynamics in late 2025.

Current Market Dynamics (Q3 2025 Data)

The Midtown South submarket, which includes the 36th Street corridor, has seen positive momentum. The overall trend indicates a tightening of supply for quality office space, making buildings like 28 W 36th Street more valuable.

  • Falling Availability: The availability rate for Class B office spaces in Midtown South has been on a downward trend, dropping to approximately 15.20% in Q2 2025 from a high of 18.30% in Q2 2024. This positive absorption suggests strong demand.
  • Rising Rents: The average asking rent for Class B properties in the area has shown stability and even slight increases, hovering around $59.27 per square foot per year in the most recent quarters. This stable pricing environment is a key indicator of market confidence.
  • The Conversion Effect: A significant factor is the upward trend in office-to-residential conversions across Manhattan. While this helps revitalize older buildings, it simultaneously limits the supply of commercial office inventory, which keeps demand high for existing, well-located buildings like 28 West 36th Street.

Unbeatable Connectivity and Amenity Access

The building's location is its ultimate competitive advantage. Its perfect Transit Score is a direct result of its proximity to major transit hubs, including the subway lines at Herald Square and easy access to both Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal, facilitating commutes for employees across the tri-state area.

Furthermore, the high Walk Score (99) means tenants have immediate access to the retail, dining, and service amenities of Fifth Avenue, the vibrant Korean Town (K-Town), and the broader Midtown South area. This access to amenities is a non-negotiable factor for companies looking to attract and retain talent in the competitive New York labor market.

In summary, 28 West 36th Street stands as a powerful commercial asset. It is a historic structure that has successfully adapted to the demands of the modern, post-pandemic New York office market, providing a charming, centrally-located, and highly functional home for a fascinating mix of successful enterprises in technology, media, and events.

The 12-Story Secret of 28 West 36th Street: Inside the NYC Building Blending 1911 History with 2025 Tech and Media Power
28 w 36th st new york
28 w 36th st new york

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