Asked about earlier press reports that RFR had listed the building for $500 million in May 2007 and ultimately settled with Sotheby’s for $130 million less, Sheridan would only say, “This building is a real strategic asset for the company.” While noting that the hospitals nearby “would love to have this property,” he wouldn’t comment on whether the firm would ever be willing to sell, remarking, “Let’s get it back first.”

More to the point, with its financial reputation reinstated, will Sotheby’s once again put itself on the market, as it did unsuccessfully in 2002–03? Answers Sheridan, “I can’t speculate on what’s out there.”

"At Last, No Lease" originally appeared in the September 2008 issue of Art+Auction. For a complete list of articles from this issue available on ARTINFO, see Art+Auction's September 2008 Table of Contents.