BY AL BARBARINO

Todd Korren joined Massey Knakal Realty Services yesterday, stepping out from the transaction-based roles that made him one of the city’s elite brokers and into a managerial role as the firm's managing director of Manhattan.

Mr. Korren, who spoke exclusively with The Commercial Observer about his new role, will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the firm’s Manhattan sales force and retail leasing division.

“This is going to be an exciting growth opportunity for me,” he said. “I’m looking forward to helping a very well-established company take things to the next level.”

Mr. Korren takes on a strong mentoring and recruiting role, coaching the sales and leasing teams and taking new brokers under his wing, in addition to pitching business, being one of the faces of the company at industry events.

“I love mentoring and working with people, and there’s a phenomenal opportunity here to work with 100-plus people and help them grow personally and financially,” he said.

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BY BILLY GRAY

Starbucks signed a 10-year lease renewal and expansion at 55 Broad Street in Lower Manhattan, it was announced yesterday.

The coffee behemoth took an additional 1,000 square feet at the Rudin Family Holdings-owned office building, bringing its total footprint there to over 3,500 square feet, making it the largest Starbucks downtown and among the biggest in the city.

Michael Rudin, vice president of Rudin Management Company, represented the landlord. David Firestein of The Shopping Center Group represented the tenant.

Starbucks has had a presence in the 40-story, 30,000-square-foot tower since 1998. Other tenants include Amerinet, ConEdison Communications and Nokia. The building, known as the New York Information Technology Center, underwent a complete modernization in 1995 that left it equipped with satellite accessibility, single and multi-mode fiber optics and high speed category five copper wire.

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BY GUS DELAPORTE

Office provider Regus completed a transaction to acquire 54,991 square feet, the entire 24th floor, at 3 World Financial Center, according to Jerry Larkin, director of leasing at Brookfield. Mr. Larkin declined to discuss terms of the deal.

Regus will build out the space to their current office standards, Mr. Larkin said.

“What attracted them was obviously the numerous renovations to the center, the quality of the dining and shopping that will be coming to Brookfield Place,” Mr. Larkin added. The World Financial Center will be renamed Brookfield Place in fall 2013.

Brookfield will be spending close to $250 million on renovations of Brookfield Place, Mr. Larkin said. Renovations will include a new entrance to the Fulton Street transit hub, new lobbies for the buildings and reconfiguring retail and dining opportunities.

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BY MICHAEL EWING

Be sure to submit your nomination to the Real Estate Board of New York’s Deal of the Year award by 5 p.m. on February 7.
Contact Desiree Jones at djones@rebny.com for more information and submissions.

How good are you at Ping-Pong? Join fellow New York members of the Real Estate Lenders Association for cocktails, appetizers, networking and a few games of Ping-Pong at SPiN.
NYC Young Member Networking Event, SPiN New York, 48 East 23rd Street; 6:30pm to 8:30pm, visit www.rela.org for more information.

Is your dog a New Yorkie? Join Jessica Cohen of Douglas Elliman for the firm’s third annual New Yorkie Runway Doggie Fashion Show. Proceeds from ticket sales will go to benefit Angel on a Leash.
Douglas Elliman’s Jessica Cohen Chair’s New Yorkie Runway Doggie Fashion Show, New Yorker Hotel, 481 Eighth Avenue; 5:30pm to 8pm, visit www.crainsnewyork.com for more information.