NEW YORK | Hard Rock Hotel (159 West 48 Street ) | 403 FT | 35 FLOORS

[chris08876]

News emerged last week that the Hard Rock brand would make a major real estate announcement on Monday, and publications have since started speculating on the site of what is expected to be the city's first Hard Rock Hotel.

Hard Rock is partnering with Extell Development Company on the project, and Crain's speculated last week that it might be a site on Eighth Avenue between West 45th and 46th Streets.

On Sunday, the New York Post printed an exact address — 159 West 48th Street, currently home to a seven-story garage. That section of West 48th Street, between the Avenue of the Americas and Seventh Avenue, is also fittingly known as Music Row. The last of the music shops on the street shuttered down last year, and according to the Post, Hard Rock wants to recreate that atmosphere on the street.

For Extell, this is just the latest sign of the company's expanding real estate empire in Midtown. Apart from Central Park Tower, there's also speculation about a giant shopping mall on Fifth Avenue between West 46th and 47th Streets.

Representatives for Hard Rock and Extell have declined to comment on the development just yet, but the group is set to unveil details about the project at an event this afternoon. Curbed will be in attendance, so check back later in the day for updates.

Hard Rock Hotel to bring the beat back to Manhattan’s Music Row

Rock is returning to Manhattan’s Music Row.

A new Hard Rock Hotel will rise on the West 48th Street strip between Avenue of the Americas and Seventh Avenue just off Times Square, which was once lined with music stores such as Manny’s Music and Rudy’s guitar shop.

The Post has learned the hospitality company has come to an agreement with Extell Development’s Gary Barnett to create a new music-themed hotel on his site, at 159 W. 48 St., where there currently sits a seven-story garage.

The permits are in place to begin demolition. The garage is within the special Times Square zoning district that allows the transfer of theater air rights on the site. None of the parties would comment.

Sam Ash had a shop in the base of the garage, which is across the street from the now-shuttered Manny’s. The garage is directly behind the office tower at 1221 Ave. of the Americas.

Since the 1930s, the block had been filled with stores where musicians like Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones could hang out and buy instruments.

But one by one, they were shuttered for higher rents and higher towers.

The music died in 2015, when Alex Carozza’s accordion store moved off the block after 50 years.

As a music and celebrity magnet, the new Hard Rock Hotel aims to bring some of the old energy back to the street.

The now global restaurant, hotel, resort and casino chain was born as a café on West 57th Street. Ironically, it was forced to move after Barnett bought that building.

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CBNY
http://nypost.com/2016/06/05/hard-ro...ans-music-row/