BCN Development reported planning to create 108 condo apartments at 45 East 33rd St.

BCN Development of which Craig Nassi is a principal has a contract to buy the six-story mid-block building at 45 East 33rd Street where he plans to add about 12 floors and create a 108-unit residential condominium building, according to an article today by Adam Pincus at therealdeal.com

The article said that "several sources put the price at approximately $20 million," adding that "the building would be delivered vacant."

According to the article, "the property was tied up in litigation for nearly a year after a development entity called Empire 33rd LLC, which included the builder of the Toren condominium in Brooklyn, Donald Capoccia, failed to conclude the purchase of the building after signing a contract in March 2007 to buy it for $34.9 million."

"Cappocia's group," the article continued, "also paid $13 million for neighboring properties and air rights to build its project, where it planned to build a hotel, court papers indicate. In April, a judge ruled against Empire 33rd, and it lost its effort to win back its $5.3 million deposit."

The building is owned by the Forward Association and Workmen's Circle/Arbeter Ring.

Mr. Nassi began developing real estate in Colorado, "but in recent years he turned his attention to Manhattan, where in 2007 he paid $265 million for 315 Park Avenue South," the article said, adding that "the office building was purchased at the height of the market, and now the $219 million loan is on a watchlist along with many Manhattan commercial buildings, but is performing in part because the building is 85 percent leased by lender Credit Suisse until 2017, securitized loan documents show."