Clarett, Goldman Lose Control of Forte

Not everything Goldman Sachs touches turns to gold. A multi-million-dollar bet on the Fort Greene condo market appears to have backfired, with the Crain’s report yesterday that control of the Forté Condos at 230 Ashland Place would shift from Goldman, the 75 percent equity holder, and The Clarett Group, the developer, to the lender, Eurohypo Bank, which is into the project for $41 million. (Prudential Real Estate Investors also has a small equity stake.) Clarett is proud to have delivered such a beautiful, high quality property—on time and on budget—to enhance the skyline and contribute to the renaissance of downtown Brooklyn, the developer said, in a statement. Unfortunately, the sales market in Brooklyn has not been as strong as Forté itself. A last-ditch marketing makeover by The Developers Group in recent months as well as behind-the-scenes efforts to sell blocks of apartments apparently weren’t enough to save the equity investors, as the project was less than 40 percent sold after two years on the market. Clarett’s nearby project on Lawrence Street, the 51-story Brooklyner, is still expected to begin renting early next year.
Goldman Sachs’ Brooklyn Condo Bet Sours [Crain’s] GMAP