Irwin Cohen (developer)

For the judoka, see Irwin Cohen.

Irwin Cohen
Born
Irwin Bernard Cohen

(1933-09-29)September 29, 1933
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 18, 2023(2023-12-18) (aged 90)
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
OccupationReal Estate Developer
Years active1958–2023
Known forChelsea Market

Irwin Cohen (29 September 1933 – 18 December 2023) was an American lawyer, investor and real estate developer known for the creation of the Chelsea Market in New York City.[1] The development, which included purchase of the buildings and renting the upper floors to tech companies,[2] is credited with the revitalization and gentrification of the Chelsea, Manhattan neighborhood in the 1990s and after which he consulted on similar projects.[3][4][5]

Early life

Irwin Bernard Cohen was born on 29 September 1933, in Brooklyn, New York. His father was a tailor and owned a candy store, where Cohen's mother ran the soda fountain.[1]

Cohen graduated from Tilden High School, then earned a business degree from New York University in 1954 and a law degree from Brooklyn Law School in 1958. To pay for his law school tuition, he worked as a photographer.[1]

Career

Cohen had previously developed old warehouses in Long Island City into retail buildings during the 1960s and helped revitalize an area north of Philadelphia City Hall by converting old buildings into mixed-use facilities in the 1970s.[6]

Cohen, who is known for his eclectic design in the properties he developed,[7][1]

Personal

Cohen married Jill Framer in 1957 and lived in Manhattan. The couple had three daughters, 17 grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren. Cohen died of pneumonia.[1] Cohen was a longtime donor to Brooklyn Law School, which features spaces named for Jill Cohen.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Roberts, Sam (December 22, 2023). "Irwin Cohen, Who Turned a Factory Into Chelsea Market, Dies at 90". New York Times. p. B10.
  2. ^ Smith, Andrew F. (2015). Savoring Gotham: A Food Lover's Companion to New York City. Oxford University Press. pp. 108–9. ISBN 978-0-19-939702-0.
  3. ^ Cuozzo, Steve (March 1, 2018). "How the birthplace of the Oreo became Google's $2B food court". New York Post.
  4. ^ Martinelli, Katherine (March 21, 2018). "The Factory That Oreos Built". Smithsonian Magazine.
  5. ^ Brown, Lori A. (2016-04-15). Feminist Practices: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Women in Architecture. Routledge. p. 359. ISBN 978-1-317-13564-7.
  6. ^ "Visionary Real Estate Developer Irwin B. Cohen '58 Dies at 90". Brooklyn Law School. December 20, 2023.
  7. ^ Holusha, John (2004-10-10). "Uncommon Aesthetics in an Old Factory Site". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  8. ^ "Meet Brooklyn Law School Graduates Who Are Transforming the New York City Skyline and Beyond".