JLL Capital Markets has been retained to sell 245 West 55th St., a 12-story commercial loft building in Midtown that was home to the legendary DuArt film processing company for nearly 100 years.
DuArt was founded by Al Young in the penthouse of 245 West 55th St. when it was operated as an automobile garage in 1922. The company grew to iconic status under his son, Irwin, who helped directors including Spike Lee, Michael Moore and Frederick Wiseman early in their careers. Irwin Young earned an Academy Award for technological contributions to the movie industry in 2000.
For many years, major studios used DuArt to process and develop their film, and the company’s credits include such blockbusters as Dirty Dancing, The Cider House Rules and Forrest Gump. The company pioneered a number of filmmaking technologies at 245 West 55th St., and as the industry turned from film to digital processing, Young made astute investments to help insulate
