In our debut Spotlight story, Real Estate New Yorkfeatures Harlem real estate developer EugeneGiscombe's penchant for business, his passionfor his community, his love for exotic animals andartist Grimanesa Amoros who captured it all.

By Barbara l. NelsonEditor .-',-

STROLLING BY THE LEE BUILDING AT 125TH STREETand Park Avenue after twilight, you will see shadowy crea-tures and lightening bolts seemingly moving along the back-drop of the second-story windows, The techno-art project,the inspiration of Peruvian-born American artist GrimanesaAmoros, depicts the experiences of Eugene Giscombe inhis many travels around the globe hunting wild game,

The art display Frente Ferol (Ferocious Front), was com-missioned by Giscombe, owner of The Lee Building andpresident of real estate company Giscombe HendersonInc Giscombe grew up in Harlem's heyday in the 1940s,but his curiosity for the wilderness drew him to rural areas,Many summers spent at his aunt's home in rural WatkinsGlen, NY and at Boy Scout summer camp in the CatskillMountains instilled a thirst to discover the mysteries ofnature foreign to city living, Later he became an avid

game hunter, traveling to sev-eral countries throughout the

world.Frente Feroz is meant to cap-

ture the attention, however fleet-ing, of passers-by on the street

and commuters on the adjacentMTA Metro North platform.

Giscombe realizes that manyyouths who gaze up the second

story windows of The Lee Buildingwill never see the animals representedin their natural habitat. "Time and cir-

cumstances allowed me the freedom toexplore nature and wild places in the US

and abroad," says Giscombe. "Thiswildlife montage featuring wild animals

from every corner of the earth representsmy attempt to share with city dwellers thewonders of nature around the world right

here in Harlem."The artwork is part of the ongoing

Eugene Giscombe stands amongst the artworkcreated for The Lee Building.

$3-million renovation of The Lee Building, theheadquarters for Giscombe Henderson. Thestructure was designed as a cold-storage ware-house for the Lee Brothers in 1901 by notedarchitect C.P.H. Gilbert, who later designed theWoolworth Building.

A century of exposure to the elements causedthe natural breakdown of pointing mortar, roofflashing and steel. To "bring back a bygoneera," Giscombe chose architect JonathanRaible, who suggested he do something differ-ent with the second-floor office space, since thewindows were especially large.

Apple Restoration and Waterproofing Inc.,engineer EdyZingher of ETNA Consultants andproject architect Raible have meticulouslyrestored the pressed-metal cornice and parapet,masonry and cast-iron work on the intricatesouth and west facades.

"Jonathan said he had this great artist thatwould give some pizzazz to the building,"Giscombe explains.

Raible states his work with Giscombe hasbeen very rewarding. "The project has a lot todo with his passions, the way he works, hischemistry," Raible says. "He's a very good busi-

ness man, but he develops a personal relation-ship with you. Everything is done on a hand-shake. He's wonderful to work with. Grimanesahas captured a little of his personality in FrenteFeroz."

EUGENE GISCOMBEGiscombe Henderson Inc.

"Time andcircumstancesallowed me thefreedom toexplore natureand wild placesin the US andabroad. "

Amoros' purpose was to have the art evoke aresponse. "Every individual who views the sil-houettes will have a different and lingeringinterpretation, making it public yet personal,"

she says. "The display creates a desire to returnto the location aswell as to bring others to viewthis unique scene."

The montage was created by projecting col-ored lights in a deliberate, looped sequence,controlled by a computer onto rear-projectionscreens covering the large windows. Over-sizedsilhouettes of animals made of black foamboard create moving shadows in the windows.

"I wanted to say something about Eugenethat was personal," Amoros explains. "He lovesthe animal - yes, he shoots them but he lovesthem too. They are not just trophies to him."

As with any innovative idea, a leap of faith inthe final product and the artist's ability to createit was involved. "No matter how many render-ings you do, they have to put it into your hands

and trust you," she says.The sequence begins just before sunset and

ends just before sunrise. A lighting controllerwas necessary to calculate the astronomicalevents based on the location of New York City(400 46'N x 730 58'W). As the seasons change,the controller tracks the exact times of duskand dawn, as well as accounting for daylightsaving time.

The Lee Building, currently 80% leased, is inits third year of renovation. Ahead is thereplacement of elevators and the transformationof the lobby that will include a video displayterminal and a plate-glass entryway.Washington Mutual is currently building abranch at the building's base. The renovation

will be completed in late 2006.Giscombe, also the chairman of Harlem's

125th Street Business Improvement District, isquite pleased with Amoros' creation. "We werelooking for ideas to put 125th Street on themap," he says. "I think this will be like a lightbulb to this area. It's no Times Square, but itgives light to the corneL" -RENY

Ciscombe Henderson is a full-service real estatecompany that manages more than 500,000 sf ofretail, office and residential in the New Yorkmetropolitan area.

Amoros has lived in New York City since7984. She has exhibited throughout the US,most recently at Artspace in Raleigh,NC. Next year, she and Peruvian-singerSusana Baca will be collaborating on a multi-disciplinary project at the Hostos Center forthe Arts and the Longwood Callery at HostosCollege in the Bronx. .