A local developer who years ago acquired several former Jehovah’s Witnesses properties that were later transformed into luxury residential buildings has scooped up an industrial site in Greenpoint for just over $17 million, records show.
Shelly Listokin of Midtown-based Urban Realty Partners purchased the corner lot at 168 Banker St. for $17.3 million, according to a deed that appeared in the city register Friday. Bounded by Norman, Wythe and Meserole avenues and Gem and North 15th streets, the roughly 21,000-square-foot lot is currently occupied by the contracting company Corzo Maintenance. James Lema, the contractor’s president, signed the deed on behalf of the seller, records show.
Listokin, who purchased the North Brooklyn site with the help of a $13 million loan from Bronx-based Ponce Bank, has previously made many moves in South Brooklyn, including in Dumbo, Vinegar Hill and Brooklyn Heights.
In 2021 he acquired the then-industrial development site at 218 Front St. for about $50 million, which he has since leased to developer Chess Builders, records show. It is now a 7-story, two-building residential complex developed by Chess Builders. And in 2013 Listokin took over three Dumbo parcels — 173 and 177 Front St. and 200 Water St. — for about $30 million from the Jehovah’s Witnesses, according to records and reports from the time. Listokin offloaded two of those properties, 173 Front St. and 200 Water St., a year later to the Carlyle Group for roughly the same price; they have since been turned into luxury condos and rental apartments. Listokin appears to still own 177 Front St., records show, in partnership with Midtown-based real estate firm Megalith Capital Management.
It’s unclear what Listokin’s plans are for the Greenpoint lot, which sits across the street from the popular Japanese restaurant Rule of Thirds. No plans have been filed for the site, and attempts to reach Listokin were unsuccessful. Attorneys at the Midtown-based firm Hansen Law, which appears to have represented Listokin in the transaction, did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
