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1 June 2014

First Look Media Spy Targets in New York City

USG investigates those holding the Snowden documents by probing locations of document processing and by interception of communications. The addresses of the offices of First Look Media and The Intercept, in New York City, Washington DC and San Francisco, CA, have not be published. A real estate news site in March 2014 suggested two addresses in NYC were under consideration:

First Look Media Negotiating Space at L&L’s 114 Fifth Avenue

In the interim, the online news venture will be subletting nearby space vacated by entertainment talent rep agency CAA

By Lauren Elkies Schram 3/28 12:01pm

New online news venture First Look Media is negotiating a full-floor lease at L&L Holdings‘ redeveloped office tower 114 Fifth Avenue, Commercial Observer has learned from someone with knowledge of the deal. The floors are just shy of 20,000 square feet.

In the interim, the news start-up, which was financed with $50 million by the eBay founder and billionaire Pierre Omidyar, will be subletting a floor (which are about 11,000 square feet each) at 162 Fifth Avenue between 18th and 19th Streets that was leased by major Hollywood talent agency, CAA. CAA has relocated to the Chrysler Building, as Commercial Observer previously reported.

Cyptome visited these two locations on 1 June 2014 and from the outside found no evidence First Look Media was in occupancy at either site although construction was underway at both. It is possible these locations are decoys and their potential use by First Look was a leaked ruse.

114 5th Avenue

This building is under renovation.

1 June 2014. Entrance

Promotional images follow.

Roof terrace

View from roof

Sample construction file for 114 5th Avenue

162 5th Avenue

1 June 2014. Front entrance

Service entrance

Underground cable manholes nearby both buildings. ECS stands for Empire City Subway which constructs and maintains underground cabling for Verizon and others. Verizon is a top provider of communications interceptions for the USG.