Taconic Partners, The Prusik Group, L+M Development Partners and BRP Companies, announced that they signed a lease with the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation (UMEZ) for new headquarters space at the Urban League Empowerment Center at 119 West 125th Street.
The lease brings UMEZ, with a 30-year legacy of community investment in Upper Manhattan, into a mission-aligned development where it will continue to provide mission-driven programs, funding and support to the communities it serves.
Developed by Taconic Partners, L+M Development Partners, Prusik Group and BRP Companies in collaboration with Empire State Development, the Urban League Empowerment Center is a mixed-use development bringing together 90,000 square feet of office space, 84,000 square feet of retail and 171 affordable residences. The project is also home to the National Urban League’s headquarters and the forthcoming Urban Civil Rights Museum, New York City’s first museum dedicated to the civil rights experience in the urban north.
UMEZ will occupy 9,000 square feet on the 6th floor at the mixed-use development, joining existing office tenants The Studio Museum in Harlem, United Negro College Fund and Virginia Union University at the building. Following the lease with UMEZ, the office component will have 28,000 square feet of Class A office space remaining for lease on the 6th floor, which includes a 7,500 square foot private terrace for office occupants.
UMEZ has been closely involved with the Urban League Empowerment Center since 2020, serving as a lender on the construction of the project. The investment advanced the development of affordable housing, commercial office and retail space, and the Urban Civil Rights Museum. With its new office lease, UMEZ will become part of the ecosystem it helped bring to life, furthering its longstanding mission to promote economic opportunity, investment and cultural vitality throughout Upper Manhattan.
“We’re so honored to welcome UMEZ to the Urban League Empowerment Center,” said George Tsapelas of Taconic Partners. “This lease further solidifies this groundbreaking building as a leader in impactful, mission-driven development and an economic driver for the community. It is fitting for UMEZ to join the building as a tenant after years of supporting the larger development.”
“Relocating our headquarters within the Urban League Empowerment Center is an exciting next chapter for UMEZ,” said Blair Duncan, CEO of UMEZ. “We have been a committed lender and community development partner for over 30 years in Upper Manhattan, expanding access to capital that has strengthened the fabric of our community. We are honored to join so many like-minded organizations in this innovative mixed-use project.”
Ownership was represented in the transaction by Chris Mongeluzo, Brian Cohen, Eric Zemachson and Chris Ventura from Newmark. UMEZ was represented by Ruth Colp-Haber from Wharton Property Advisors.
