Cityfile: New York's Most Notable and Influential

Marc Ecko's financial troubles are nothing new. Back in March, it was reported that the hip hop designer was looking to refinance more than $170 million in debt, but was having so trouble doing so that it was looking increasingly likely that his empire would have to be dismantled to pay back in creditors; a month later, his publicist confirmed that Ecko was looking to get out of the blingtastic office he's occupied for the last few years, a 280,000-square-foot space on West 23rd Street that comes with a half-size basketball court. It seems things haven't improved much since then. Ecko's office, which apparently costs him a stunning $9 million a year to lease, is now officially on the market. But Ecko's pain may be your gain. The listing on the website of commercial leasing firm FirstService Williams says the "price is negotiable." If you're looking for new office space and you think having an in-house basketball court would be perfect for some of those "team-building" exercises the people in human resources keep talking about, you'll find a few photos of the space after the jump.More

Office Space Available, Price Negotiable | If you're in need of office space and you're not at all superstitious, bear in mind that Bernie Madoff's old office is now available. One of the three floors that Madoff's firm occupied in the Lipstick building is now available for lease. The 17th floor space is 16,182 square feet and comes with lovely river views. If you move into the former CEO suite, you won't even need to bring a TV: "Only a pair of built-in cabinets and a wall-mounted television, easily 10 years old, remain." [AP]