He attended Queens College. Over their 25+ years in the space, the firm has completed over $500 million in transactions.With several properties in the portfolio featuring additional land and development rights, HFZ will bring its expertise in ground up and restorative development to capitalize on mixed-use development opportunities, including potential development of retail, multifamily, hotel and office uses. The entities falling under the EisnerAmper brand are independently owned and are not liable for the services provided by any other entity providing services under the EisnerAmper brand. In March, CIM Group alleged that HFZ still owed it $48 million after the lender took control of four Manhattan condo conversion projects. Last month, the company did a round of layoffs, with many of the cuts happening on the construction team and in the corporate office. EisnerAmper LLP is a licensed independent CPA firm that provides attest services to its clients, and Eisner Advisory Group LLC and its subsidiary entities provide tax and business consulting services to their clients. It has seven bedrooms, four bathrooms and a pool. The lawsuit alleges that Nir illegally charged personal expenditures to HFZ, including $10,000 weekly sushi dinner parties, millions of dollars worth of wine, five different Mercedes (including an AMG model), a Cadillac Escalade, two Porsche 911s and an Aston Martin. Douglas Elliman, which handles sales at the project, has tried, unsuccessfully, to sell units in bulk at a discount. He attended Queens College. He was able to conceal his actions by virtue of his position at the company, which he used aggressively to ensure the compliance of HFZs employees by fostering a culture of fear and reprisals by Meir if staff members did not follow through on his directions.. All rights reserved 2023 The Real Deal is a registered Trademark of Korangy Publishing Inc. Watch: Developer Patrick Carroll "spits" on restaurant manager, L&L, Mitsubishi default on Plaza District office tower, NY Attorney General reviewing HFZ fraud complaint. Previously, Ziel was a Board Member at Chai Mitzvah. The lawsuit also noted that Meir was terminated when the extent of his malfeasance for his personal benefit came to light. New York Real Estate Ziel Feldman HFZ Capital Interview Part 2. But in an affidavit filed Wednesday, lawyers for Meir opposed the request. Investor Type Individual/Angel. Regions Greater New York Area, East Coast, Northeastern US. Law360 (March 24, 2021, 5:15 PM EDT) -- A subsidiary of a Maryland-based real estate investment company is seeking nearly $49 million in damages from HFZ Capital Group, claiming . {{ userNotificationState.getAlertCount('bell') }}. We had a little tiny office with no heat and Home Depot card tables for desks, Maloney has said of that period. July 09, 2021 03:36 PM. If your principal lenders have lost confidence or trust in current management, it is not a place where current management wants to take the company and still try to retain control, said Tom Lehman, an attorney with Miami-based LKLSG, speaking broadly about bankruptcy proceedings. The embattled developer amended a complaint in a . Particularly if its a spectacular location.. EisnerAmper is the brand name under which EisnerAmper LLP and Eisner Advisory Group LLC, independently owned entities, provide professional services in an alternative practice structure in accordance with applicable professional standards. (TCI is not a defendant in the case.). In two court cases, the company persuaded judges to seal documents, claiming they contained sensitive business information. . The sale of Feldmans manse comes as his firm grapples with lawsuits alleging unpaid bills and defaulted loans at its condo projects. 4 . Starwood also declined to comment. This depth and breadth of expertise enables HFZ to capitalize on opportunities worldwide in arange of asset classes including residential, office, hotel, retail, sports and entertainment.HFZs residential credentials are vast and varied; encompassing acquisition, development and construction of Manhattan mixed-use residential condominiums. Ziel Feldman is the Chairman and Founder of HFZ Capital Group, a Manhattan-based real estate investment and development company formed in 2005. People Like . Neither Ziel or Helene Feldman immediately responded to requests for comment. Meir has been described as aggressive even by New York developer standards. With allegations of intermingling of funds, HFZ might be reluctant to declare bankruptcy. Ziel Feldman puts his own UES pad on the market. By Emma Whitford. Three of the most prolific condo developers in New York got their start together at Property Markets Group, which Feldman, a Queens-born former real estate lawyer, co-founded with banker Kevin Maloney in 1991. Up to 5 With his signature project slipping from his control, HFZ Capital Groups Ziel Feldman is slinging some mud. HFZ Capital Group Chairman and Founder Ziel Feldman shares his secret to maintaining a healthy work/life balance. In one case against a purported lender to HFZ, Feldmans legal team hired a forensic handwriting expert to analyze his signatures. The complaint names Feldman and his former partner Nir Mier, along with HFZ lenders JPMorgan Chase and CIM Group, according to the source. The company has limited options for restructuring. Among the major assets in the portfolio are two noteworthy campuses based in Wisconsin: The former 1,700,000square foot Heinz Kraft-owned Oscar Mayer plant, located in the heart of Madison and an 800,000square foot campus in Milwaukee formerly occupied by Caterpillar Global Mining, LLC. 2023 Personal Tax Guide. HFZ tenants caught in the middle of its financial woes, Michael Rubin Buys Ziel Feldmans Hamptons Home for $50 Million, Luxe Condos at 'Ground Zero Mosque' Site AimHigh on Pricing. A corporate bankruptcy would force it to open its books and disclose all of its business dealings and creditors. Meirs attorney described the allegations as a desperate, last-ditch attempt to pressure Meir and said the claims were without merit. The plan was to convert the buildings 88-90 Lexington, the Astor at 235 West 75th Street and 301 West 53rd Street to condos. And with construction stalled, its unclear when buyers will be able to move in. Starwood Property Trust is suing Ziel Feldman's HFZ Capital Group for $157 million. Israeli tech magnate Avishai Abrahami, who founded Wix.com, filed a complaint Tuesday in New York State Supreme Court, alleging that in September 2020, Feldman and Meir pledged HFZs equity interest in three buildings as collateral for a $30 million loan from him only to find out later that the same properties had been used as collateral for a different lender. And then theres Donald Trump. I think theres a lot of other distress going on that people are working on quietly, behind the scenes.. When HFZ bought the Belnord from Barnett in 2015 for $575 million, it was Feldmans second bite into the fabled Upper West Side luxury rental building. Angel, Fund of Funds, Venture Capital), Number of Investments the Individual has participated in, Announced Date: Date when the Investment is announced, Organization Name: Name of the organization that received the investment, Lead Investor: This field indicates whether an investor led/organized the investment, Funding Round: Name of the funding round where the Investment is made, Money Raised: Amount of money raised in Funding Round, Total number of current Jobs the person has, CB Rank (Hub): Algorithmic rank assigned to the top 100,000 most active Hubs, Number of news articles that reference the Person. With his signature project slipping from his control, HFZ Capital Group's Ziel Feldman is slinging some mud. ET: This story has been updated to include a statement from HFZ Capital Group. Meir was a managing principal at HFZ until December. The Movie The Professional is what made Natalie Portman a Lolita. While the assemblages required to bring these restorations can be complex, it is well worth it from both an aesthetic and investment point of view. But the companys critics say responsibility also lies with HFZs lenders, which they say were aware of the developers wrongdoings and facilitated them by ignoring the problem. And a New York judge recently ruled that Israeli auto industry magnate and art collector Yoav Harlap could go after Meir for $18.5 million in loan debts, with Feldmansaying his signature on the loan was forged and that Meir signed without proper authority. The $7 million sale price was a far cry from the $20 million the 18,500-square-foot mansion was asking at one point, and didnt even cover the $13 million Feldman reportedly spent to buy and overhaul the property. August 20, 2021. HFZ is also sparring with Barry Sternlichts Starwood Capital Group, which in October claimed in a lawsuit that the firm owes $157 million on loan payments tied to its Chatsworth project. Rather than legitimate business expenses, the suit said Meir spent hundreds of thousands of dollars if not millions on investment-grade wine. The lender informed HFZ it was in default. Investor Stage Seed. Ziel Feldman, the founder and chairman of HFZ Capital Group, signed a contract Wednesday to buy the 76,425-square-foot site. Others Named Ziel Feldman. The original developers, Marc Jacobs and Ira Shapiro, were buried by debt and lawsuits, and HFZ and its partners inherited a nearly complete but stalled tower. Our Personal Tax Guide highlights tax planning ideas that may help you minimize your tax liability. Developers are required to submit the disclosures to state officials before offering units as a way to protect potential buyers. And HFZs proverbial chickens may be coming home to roost. The 36- and 26-story structures topped out in March and will contain 236 condominiums and a 137-room Six Senses Hotel Resorts Spas, the first location in the United States. UPDATE, DEC. 10, 8:30 P.M. HFZ Capital Group is a Manhattan-based real estate investment and development company formed in 2005. An HFZ project is never just astructure. Feldman once bragged to, With allegations of intermingling of funds, HFZ might be reluctant to declare bankruptcy. HFZ Capital Group. It takes a lot of drive and determination to be a real estate developer. It is the culmination of avision. A source close to Meir, who abruptly left HFZ in December, dismissed the allegation about the reference number as frivolous and fake.. The complaint comes after TCI scheduled a foreclosure auction to take control of HFZs ownership stake in the XI, a mixed-use development on the High Line. (, We had a little tiny office with no heat and Home Depot card tables for desks,, HFZ had purchased the four-building parcel, totaling nearly 750 rental units, from Westbrook Partners in 2013 for $610 million. More than asuccess model, it is proof that HFZs project involvement doesnt end once the last residence is sold. This is not the first time that Feldman has painted Meir as the main culprit for HFZs mounting financial woes. In 2015, Schneiderman used the Martin Act to reach an agreement with architect-turned developer Peter Moore, who had been accused of offering syndications in a Tribeca condo development at 39 Lispenard Street some time in 2011 before filing his proper paperwork with the AGs office. EisnerAmper Real Estate Services Group Partner Lisa Knee interviews HFZ Capital Group Chairman and Founder Ziel Feldman, who looks back on his first property, in Part 5 of this series. Abrahami is asking the court to make Feldman and Meir personally pay back the loan and accrued interest a total of $33.6 million in accordance with the original agreement. No credit card required. Feldman spent more of his time on high-level talks and deals and was removed from the nitty-gritty aspects of development. In 2018, Westbrook converted that debt position into equity. Reich Brothers, which initially assembled the seed portfolio, specializes in acquiring, repurposing and remediating shuttered manufacturing sites across the United States, inclusive of the machinery and equipment. Before HFZ an acronym for Helene, Feldman and Ziel there was PMG. Andy Gerringer, who runs new business development at the Marketing Directors, said lenders are not enthusiastic about having hulking, empty condos on their books, and many are actively working with distressed developers to find solutions. A spokesperson for Meir put the exit down to differences of opinion about the future direction of the business, adding that Meir remains committed to helping the company resolve outstanding issues surrounding its current projects., A spokesperson for HFZ, meanwhile, said only that Meir is no longer with HFZ nor authorized to act on its behalf in any capacity.. HFZ Capital Group Chairman and Founder Ziel Feldman sat down with EisnerAmper Real Estate Services Group Partner Lisa Knee to discuss the origins of HFZ, one of the most prolific condominium developers in New York City. Ziel has 1 job listed on their profile. Many developers saddled with unsold units in a sluggish market are in a tight spot. Sign up for a free account. A source close to Meir, who. Beyond their relative value per square foot versus new construction, when refreshed, these venerable properties have the power to become an enduring part of the community and the citizenry of the city in awhole newway. The suit said he was also living rent-free in the Southampton home, which was being shopped off market. Hes a smart guy.. Paradoxically, distress in the condo market could work in HFZs favor. The property Feldman unloaded, at 187 Dune Road in Bridgehampton, last sold in 2000 for $4.35 million. In conjunction with the lawsuit, HFZ asked the court for an order of attachment that would effectively put a lien on the Southampton property and prevent Meir from concealing money from the sale. Ziel Feldman is the Founder and Principal of HFZ Capital Group. The firm alleges that HFZ defaulted on loan payments for the Manhattan building the Chatsworth, the Real Deal . But now, with the principal on the loan coming due in a year and signs pointing to HFZ not being able to pay it, Childrens is looking for a developer to replace HFZ on the project, according to two people familiar with the matter. Meir allegedly used his position as managing partner at the now embattled firm and his control of its finances to divert money to his own pockets. The embattled developer amended a complaint in a lawsuit he filed earlier this year against former HFZ . With complete vertical integration and ateam with decades of experience in investing and executing on opportunities across the real estate spectrum, HFZ has the ability to act quickly and decisively when evaluating new opportunities.With assessment and mitigation of risk as akey guiding principle in formulating our strategy and business plan, HFZ boasts atrack record demonstrating success in both sourcing and executing on new opportunities throughout each point in amarket cycle.Investment Criteria Investment description: Seeking yields commensurate with opportunistic and value-add investment strategies. Asset classes: Residential, hotel, office, retail, sports and entertainment. Project type: Ground-up development as well as renovation of existing buildings; master planning opportunities. Geography: Focused on all major urban markets throughout the United States (current projects located in New York, Miami, San Francisco, Detroit, Philadelphia, Chicago and New Jersey). Ian Schrager, who partnered with HFZ on his Public Hotel and condo project on the Lower East Side at 215 Chrystie Street, said Feldman and Meir are just victims of the market and the pandemic. Some still think the XI could come out the other side with no serious wounds. Jan. 8, 2013. He said Meir has paid more than $10 million in recent months to satisfy HFZ creditors. He had been part of an investment group that had paid just $15 million for the property in 1994. This time around, Feldman hoped to convert the units into condos designed by Robert A.M. Stern and to sell them for $1.35 billion. HFZ and Meir appear to have differing accounts of the breakup. Moreover, the Brazilian mining giant Vale alleges that Israeli diamond magnate Beny Steinmetz illegally stashed money in 13 HFZ projects. HFZ brings its operational resources as well as its relationships and expertise in the capital markets in order to grow together with its partner companies. All rights reserved 2023 The Real Deal is a registered Trademark of Korangy Publishing Inc. Watch: Developer Patrick Carroll "spits" on restaurant manager, Former Westchester home of KKR co-founder list for $11M, HFZ loses control of 4 Manhattan condo projects, HFZ's Ziel Feldman takes reins, partner Nir Meir is out: sources. Allegiant is acommercial real estate investment management company that originates, acquires and manages first mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, B-notes, preferred equity and CMBS securities. Earlier this month, a judge ordered HFZ and Feldman to pay $136.2 million to TCI over defaulted loans tied to the XI. Now, it is HFZ in the crosshairs. New York, New York, NY, United States, US, View EisnerAmper LLP is a licensed CPA firm that provides attest services, and Eisner Advisory Group LLC and its subsidiary entities provide tax and business consulting services. HFZ lender Monroe Capital tried to seize the Hamptons home, at 40 Meadow Lane, last year. Still, HFZs acquisition, for an astonishing $1,100 per square foot, immediately drew skeptics. Founded in 2005 and based in Manhattan, HFZ Capital Group brings together unblinking foresight, fearless creativity and unwavering financial acumen in world class developments designed to make markets and shape cities. In the downbeat days of the Great Recession, Feldman's HFZ Capital Group reveled in the crisis. All rights reserved 2023 The Real Deal is a registered Trademark of Korangy Publishing Inc. Watch: Developer Patrick Carroll "spits" on restaurant manager, Mitsubishi UFJ to sell SF office building at expected 80% discount, BH scores approval for North Miami Beach apartment tower, Storage Wars: HFZ Capital battles to save tenants stuff from auction, Judge rules against Nir Meir in HFZs $19M default case. HFZ Capital Group is the developer of the 908,250-square-foot project, while Omnibuild is in charge of the ongoing construction at 76 Eleventh Avenue. But TRD recently uncovered documents that show Steinmetzs investment in HFZs Belnord project. Since inception, Allegiant originated over $1.5 billion of loans on behalf of an institutional investor. Zie l received a Bachelor's Degree degree from University of Oxford Queens College and a Law degree from Cardozo Law School. Please call me. You can support us for as little as $1 via PayPal at office@jewishbusinessnews.com. A representative for CIM Group said the company could not respond since it had not received a copy of the complaint, and a spokesperson for Chase declined to comment. Funding Round - Allegiant Real Estate Capital, United States Property Management Companies (Top 10K), Real Estate Companies With Less Than $50M in Revenue (Top 10K), City of New York Companies With More Than 100 Employees, Real Estate Investment Companies With More Than 100 Employees, Property Management Companies With Less Than $500M in Revenue (Top 10K), Property Management Companies With Less Than $1B in Revenue (Top 10K), Real Estate Companies With Less Than $500M in Revenue (Top 10K), East Coast Real Estate Companies (Top 10K), United States Real Estate Companies (Top 10K), Number of portfolio companies associated to the Person, Total number of current Advisors and Board roles the person has, The organization associated to the person's primary job, Where the person is located (e.g. A successful value-generating development goes way beyond the edifice. Larry Hutcher, co-managing partner at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, who represents Meir in the lawsuit, said its ludicrous for Feldman to say he had no knowledge of what took place inside his own business.. A spokesperson for Meir said at the time he remained a vested partner in the firm, which he co-founded with Feldman in 2005. Firmly established but resolutely pioneering . In December, Feldman took over day-to-day management of HFZ from Meir. What we believe we got is something thats extraordinarily well priced for the total package, he said in an, Filings with the state attorney generals office show that as of April, just 38 units, or about 16 percent of the 236 condos, were in contract. HFZs eclectic and distinguished portfolio is designed to be appreciated from both acreative and investment perspective. The new filing brings TCI into the mix, arguing that the hedge fund went along with Meirs alleged misuse of project funds on the XI and willfully ignored its due diligence duties because, HFZ argues, the lender knew that if the project went bust it could snap it up in foreclosure at a rock-bottom price. (After publication, a judge sided sided with Meir and did not sign an order of attachment on the property.). Feldman, chief executive of HFZ Capital, one of the city's swankiest developers . The projects status as a limited liability company, USIS alleged, is a fiction. (The company dropped the suit two days later. According to an affidavit from HFZs lawsuit against CIM, Feldman said it was Meir who kept him informed about loan modification talks with CIM. Leveraging HFZs wide-ranging experience across the real estate and development spectrum, the company has entered into several corporate level partnerships in order to further broaden its holdings and offerings across multiple strategies and asset classes. The suit claimed Meir lived well above his means on HFZs dime and seeks $43 million in damages. By Rich Bockmann. The deal paid off handsomely: In 2014, News Corporation chair Rupert Murdoch paid a whopping $57 million for a triplex penthouse. Rubin, a billionaire co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, has . The suit said he transferred $5 million to himself from HFZs bank account between 2017 and 2020. The venture was seeded with an existing portfolio of properties totaling over 5million square feet and featuring amix of manufacturing, warehouse, distribution, and flex office space as well as significant additional land and development rights. HFZs multifaceted organization functions seamlessly, at the highest levels, across all real estate disciplinesfrom underwriting to analytics, structured finance, investment, development, construction and asset management. Ziel Feldman calls Nir Meir a 'sociopath,' compares XI lender to mobsters. With his signature project slipping from his control, HFZ Capital Group's Ziel Feldman is slinging some mud. Last downturn, it was HFZ that was swooping in to rescue troubled projects. Filings with the state attorney generals office show that as of April, just 38 units, or about 16 percent of the 236 condos, were in contract. The expert could not determine whether Feldmans signatures were forged. Meir and Feldman parted ways in December as the HFZs real estate portfolio started unraveling and its properties faced foreclosure. UPDATED, April 15, 2021, 8:24 p.m.: HFZ Capital Group's Ziel Feldman says his former partner Nir Meir used their development firm's bank account as a "personal piggy-bank" to bankroll his . Childrens declined to comment. In 2018 he paid more than $40 million for a downtown Manhattan penthouse at 160 Leroy Street, a record price for below 14th Street. At HFZ, Feldman and Meir had a good cop/bad cop dynamic, according to multiple people who know them. Ziel Feldman is the Founder and Principal of HFZ Capital Group. It is an apt analogy because not only are Mr. Feldman and HFZ facing potential judgments in the amount of nearly $300 million, but TCI has also sought to take control of the valuable XI project through a UCC foreclosure sale, the amended complaint reads. He also owns a palatial waterfront home in the Hamptons on Dune Road. Monroes suit was discontinued in March. But after filing the original complaint, HFZ retained Morrison Cohen litigator David Scharf, an attorney known for representing high-profile real estate clients such as Donald Trump and for crafting legal complaints geared as much toward public relations as to laying out a legal argument. Hamptons Hot . Soon after, the partners landed a $300 million refinancing from Wells Fargo. Rubin, a billionaire co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, has been on a luxury real estate shopping spree in recent years, Page Six reported. Facing foreclosure on his signature project, the developer lashes out. Its just unfortunate that [Feldman] got caught in this perfect storm of the pandemic and being very long on condominium development., I wouldnt bet against Ziel, Schrager added. One investor, New York-based Arel Capital, recently filed a lawsuit alleging that JPMorgan, a lender on HFZs XI development, pressured the developer to divert money from its conversion projects to the struggling West Chelsea project. HFZs management company operates with the highest standards and aresident first philosophy, in order to provide residents with apeerless end to end experience. Ziel Feldman is committed to positively evolving the . On Wednesday, Hutcher confirmed the property was sold but declined to share the purchase price or identity of the buyer. Former HFZ principal accused of siphoning $15M from developer, HFZ founder Ziel Feldman and Nir Meir (iStock, HFZ/Illustration by Kevin Rebong for The Real Deal). To its defenders, HFZ is simply a victim of forces outside its control. The Real Deal was sent the complaint earlier this week by HFZs new spokesperson, Stu Loeser, who represented Michael Bloomberg for six of his 12 years as mayor. Childrens could have plenty of reasons for wanting another developer. An entity tied to Monroe sued in December, alleging it held title to the property but Meir was blocking it from taking possession. The complaint calls Meir a sociopath 17 times, accusing him of driving HFZs $2 billion XI condo project into the ground and keeping Feldman in the dark about its problems. HFZ has tried to keep a lid on certain information getting out. All rights reserved 2023 The Real Deal is a registered Trademark of Korangy Publishing Inc. Watch: Developer Patrick Carroll "spits" on restaurant manager, Miami luxury real estate agent pleads guilty in PPP fraud case, HFZs Ziel Feldman sells Hamptons home for $50M, How HFZ became the face of Manhattans condo woes, Take my condo, please! HFZ has claimed that Meir was fired, while Meir previously told TRD through a spokesperson that he was stepping down from HFZ but remained a vested partner.. Nir Meir and HFZ's Ziel Feldman. With 20 million square feet owned and developed, 2500 residential units brought to market and over 100 city-shaping projects in New York and beyond, HFZ defines and defies the design dictates and fiscal metrics of the luxury real estate market and has done so consistently over the past decade. All New York developers worth their salt have at least one comeback in them. E-commerce retailer Michael Rubin is the buyer of a $50 million Hamptons mansion sold last month by HFZ Capital Group's Ziel Feldman. CIM, which did not respond to a request for comment, can still go forward with another foreclosure sale if it meets certain conditions. Fanatics mogul Michael Rubin is the mystery buyer of a $50 million Bridgehampton mansion previously owned by HFZ Capital Group founder Ziel Feldman, Page Six can exclusively reveal. The allegations against HFZ and its lenders claim Feldman and Nir offered investors units in their development projects in exchange for capital contributions before HFZ had submitted its offering plans to the AGs office. One of New York's most prominent developers is battling on several fronts, Ziel Feldman (right), Nir Meir and the XI (Illustration by Zach Meyer), Whats the latest? read the text that popped up on Nir Meirs phone one Thursday afternoon in July. Former AG Eliot Spitzer used it frequently to investigate Wall Street, as did his successor Eric Schneiderman. But by early December, work at the development site was suspended. UPDATED, April 15, 2021, 8:24 p.m.: HFZ Capital Groups Ziel Feldman says his former partner Nir Meir used their development firms bank account as a personal piggy-bank to bankroll his lavish lifestyle.