New York Real Estate Journal

Canyon-Johnson Urban Funds provide $22.6m in financing

September 13, 2010 - Owners Developers & Managers
The Canyon-Johnson Urban Funds (CJUF) have provided a $22.6 million loan to OL Washington LLC (an affiliate of Garden City, N.Y.-based Ornstein Leyton Company) to acquire existing construction and mezzanine loans and to complete construction of the Isabella, a 63-unit residential condominium project located in the Clinton Hill neighborhood. Canyon's loan will not only facilitate the completion of the residences, but will also help to launch an active sales and marketing campaign later this year. OL Washington will retain its current general contractor, Triton Construction Company, to finish construction and has engaged The Corcoran Group - one of the largest residential brokerage firms in Brooklyn - to market the units for sale upon completion. The Isabella is a seven-story residential property located on half an acre in the north-central portion of Brooklyn. "CJUF has years of experience and a number of investments in Brooklyn," said Bobby Turner, managing partner of Canyon. "We are excited to welcome Canyon-Johnson as our lender to complete this project," said OL Washington principal Alec Ornstein. "Our development expertise together with Canyon's ability to structure and execute complex transactions will enable us to successfully complete the Isabella," added OL Washington principal Scott Leyton. The Isabella's collection of 63 condominiums consists of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom homes, with an average unit size of 1,060 square feet. At an average price of $530,000, these residences provide attractively priced housing options in the up-and-coming Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. Unit interiors feature large windows and excellent neighborhood views, and include contemporary Italian cabinetry, Silestone countertops, full Bosch appliance packages and oak flooring. Upon completion, building amenities will include a large health club, an indoor parking garage, a "virtual doorman" system as well as an expansive landscaped roof deck for residents.