Everyone involved knew that the building, situated where it was, would someday command big rents.

The refurbished buildings have to command very high rents of $8.50 a square foot to justify the cost, he said.

According to Stamford brokers, trading floors are much in demand and they command premium rents.

Both apartments would command significantly higher rents if liberated from rent regulation and put on the open market.

The very best space still commands $50-plus rents.

The downtown residential market commands rents of roughly $25 to $30 a square foot annually, or $2,100 to $2,500 monthly for a 1,000-square-foot unit.

If they are the landlord has the opportunity to command higher rents when the lease term is up.

The Williamsburg side commands higher rents: one-bedrooms start around $1,300 a month.

Large apartment buildings that command market-rate rents in the neighborhood are still relatively rare.

One-bedroom apartments in prime areas command monthly rents of about $925, with some 2-bedrooms going for as much as $1,200.