"Yesterday.But it won't be public knowledge for another few days."Archer pointed to a circled date on one of the forms."They're planning to close operations by the end of the month and put the entire property up for sale, though most of their manufacturing has already wound down."
I whistled low.The factory complex was enormous—easily spanning three city blocks.This change wouldn’t just eliminate jobs and restructure the neighborhood.It would create a massive opportunity for developers to swoop in and transform the entire area…for better or for worse.
It was the kind of transformation that could see revitalization or price out every working-class family within a mile radius.
"What’s the estimated economic impact?"I asked.
"In the immediate area?It’s not looking great.This is the type of place that both your momandyour grandma worked at."Archer's expression was grim."Nash, when this gets out, every vulture developer in the city is going to descend on this place like locusts.It’s massive and has a pristine view of the Manhattan skyline.They’ll only see the dollar signs."
I studied the aerial photos, my mind already working through the possibilities.Meridian Manufacturing's closure would be devastating for the community, which was whywewanted control of it.We could lessen the damage.Make sure it didn’t turn into luxury condos nobody could afford, or push out all the working class families that had been in the area for generations.
"What's our timeline?"I asked.
"The bankruptcy filing becomes public record in five days.Once that happens, the feeding frenzy begins."
Five days to secure funding and start making offers.It was tight, but doable.
"And you’re thinking…what?Hold and see?"It was our term for when we acquired properties with the sole intent of gatekeeping who moved in next.We owned thousands of properties like this—being landlords, essentially, so that we could screen and control.If we could acquire this property, we could make sure it brought in new industry or was renovated to allow various new factories or businesses to emerge, instead of the looming threat of the entire place being turned into a playground for the one percent.
“Pretty much.The company was vital to the neighborhood, and there’ve been tons of opinion pieces about why this factory in particular is going down.There’s going to be a glut of unemployed or underemployed residents in the area.Not good.We need to get something similar back into that space.Or convert it into smaller parcels for new businesses.”
“I agree.Did we get a cost estimate?”
“I’m working on it.”Archer frowned at his laptop, typing in a couple things, before shaking his head.“I’m gonna call Julia.”
I leaned back in my chair to mull over the information while Archer put the call with Julia on speakerphone.She was our broker, the direct connection to some of our biggest purchases.
“Hey, Julia.It’s Archer.Nash and I are looking over the property I emailed you about this morning and I want to know if you’ve dialed in on a price.”
“Oooh, the manufacturing site, right?”Papers rustled in the background of the call.“There’s not been a price released yet, which is odd.But for the square footage, the neighborhood, and the infrastructure, I’d estimate seven fifty.”
Of course she meant 750million.Almost a billion dollars.
“You’re thinking it’ll be a cash deal, too?”Archer asked, already grimacing.I rubbed at my forehead, awaiting the inevitable bad news.
“That’s one of the few details listed, yes.”She sighed.“Not ideal, but what do you think?Can you make it work?”
“That’s what we’re figuring out right now.”Archer’s defeated gaze slid my way.“We want this one though.Bad.We’ll call later, Julia.”
The line went dead and we stared at each other across the table.I already knew the answer in my gut, and I didn’t like it.Nightly Developments was successful, but we weren't 750-million-in-cash-right-now successful.We could finance part of it, leverage our existing properties, maybe bring in some investors.But all that required time, which we didn’t have.
"It's not impossible," I said slowly."But it would require some serious financial gymnastics."
“Yeah.Gymnastics is putting it lightly.”My brother’s gaze drifted to the table, and then he hefted with a laugh."You know what would help with that acquisition?"He had a strange note in his voice."Some sort of wild inheritance that could completely pay for it in one fell swoop."
The words sounded like a joke but they didn’t land like one.
Even if only one of us got the inheritance, it would be enough to fund this entire operation without breaking a sweat.But we’d already decided that was out of the question.
"Are you seriously suggesting that one or both of us get married for cash?"I asked.
"I'm just saying the math works out pretty conveniently."
“You know what doesn’t work out conveniently?Having wives we love.”
Archer snorted.“They could be procured.”
“You don’tprocurea loving wife.This isn’t an arranged marriage.I can’t just call up some dealer and ask for a woman who’s wildly in love with me,” I spat.
